I actually know where there is an X100 parked in San Diego. Cool old beast. Unfortunately it appears to have been attacked by the tin worm since it's not far from the beach. #1969
How does someone not realize the value of this car. They could have gotten way more for this car selling it at a discount on craigslist, then selling it for a little pocket change from the crusher #1969
The X-100 was theoretically available with matt-black finish on the trunk lid area. Don't remember ever seeing one on the road.
The Marauder was Mercury's on-the-cheap attempt at a big personal coupe similar to the pre-1969 Grand Prix. It looked better than its Ford counterpart, but 1969 production didn't top 15,000 and in 1970 it dwindled to 6,000.
I like the Chrysler 300 better. This year was arguably the high point for the big Chrysler styling-wise, and the 300 was the coolest model even though it didn't have the performance of the departed 300-letter series. #1969
Aw, man - this is so sad. Both cars are collector-worthy. They're amongst the last attempts by Detroit to make sporty full-size coupes before the malaise set in. I particularly like the 300 - long, lean lines with front-end styling that should be in an art museum. Worth a picture, I'd say. #1969
@Ralph Wiley Is Poised: Yeah, full-size muscle cars were on their way out beginning in 1965 or so. Ponycars and intermediates became the favorites for performance, with souped-up compacts becoming popular a little later. The very last of the hot full-size breed was the 1971 Plymouth Sport Fury GT (see picture) with only 375 produced. #1969
@tonyola: Your example illustrates how Chrysler kept a toehold in big performance cars longer than GM and Ford. In 1971 Plymouth's top-end big car was the Sport Fury -- they didn't even offer a luxury version fully on par with the LTD and Caprice.
In a way it made sense that the Big Three downsized their performance coupes -- smaller cars had a much better power-to-weight ratio. They also just plain looked the part better than increasingly baroque full-sized cars.
Exhibit A: The 1969 Marauder looks bipolar because designers attached Mercury's upright, Continentalesque front sheetmetal to a fastback bodystyle adorned with racy, bescooped hips.
The Marauder didn't work a whole lot better than the Sport Fury, whose pool table-sized hood and "donut" front bumper looked ungainly next to the taunt and curvy new mid-sized Road Runner. #1969
@DrLemming: Plymouth tried to offer a luxury version against the LTD and Caprice in 1966 with the VIP but it didn't had the success as the Caprice and LTD had and the VIP was retired after 1969 [jimgrey.wordpress.com]#1969
@DrLemming: As stephdumas says elsewhere in this thread, Plymouth had a VIP from 1966 through 1969. Plymouth may not have had a true luxury line for 1970 (though the Sport Fury somewhat made up for that role), but they did a very curious thing mid year. A low-line Fury II pillared coupe was given Sport Fury trim, had just about every option thrown at it, and was re-christened Gran Coupe with a price that was exceeded only by the Sport Fury GT. It sold pretty well and the experiment was repeated for 1971 as an option package for hardtop coupes. By 1972, a full line of luxury Gran Furys replaced the Sport Fury. #1969
Green and huge. I recall the A/C being positively frostbite cold. Plus it had turn signal indicators on the fenders. Bonus points for a very smart design which has gone away.
...of course it's not like people use turn signals anymore, anyway. Hell, I feel like I should replace my rear bulbs because the amber is a little burned off the glass. #1969
@tonyola: The original Gran Coupe was an odd one for that time -- a pillared luxury coupe? As you note, Plymouth did get back on the luxury bus, but it was interesting that they steered more toward sportiness for awhile. #1969
Wow, such a shame. What kind of sicko would turn these babies over to the crusher? I mean, look at the front of the 300. Can't get any cooler than that. #1969
@nollid51: I'd put my money on the misses. After the elderly husband passes on the wife gets to get rid of the car moldering in the garage. A friend's mother celebrated the removal of her husbands Cougar. She said it gave a big fight in the end. Tires having rotted to nothing the rims as if fingernails dug into the floor as the tow truck yanked it out of her life forever. #1969
I haven't done one on this particular generation of Chrysler 300's, but here's one I did on the 300 Hurst.
While I can't possibly explain why either of these cars are now scrap metal bound for China, I will say that they would have made excellent LeMons racers..... #1969
@UDMan: Thank you for spreading the word on these cars a little bit.
Don't overdo it, though, or else two of the greatest budget cruisers will climb in price. Seriously, both the Marauder and the latter 300s are undervalued and make great boulevard cruisers. #1969
Edited by that ain't the way to have fun, son at 10/25/09 9:55 PM
that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred
that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
I'll believe it when i see a real version. That's still a rendering as far as I can tell. You know, Im pretty good in AutoCad and Solidworks as well. Therefore I say "SHOW IT TO ME CHRSYLER" Let me have to put my foot in my mouth, Show me your not dead yet
@djthekidd: It was real, and it actually made it to some cars. I swear I recall seeing one about 15 years ago, but I seem to remember the owner was exceedingly proud of it, so I got the impression there were very few of them that actually got installed in cars.
10/25/09
I love big-block land-yachts. #1969
10/25/09
What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you take pleasure in making us cry!?!?
Love,
Tomsk #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
10/25/09
The Marauder was Mercury's on-the-cheap attempt at a big personal coupe similar to the pre-1969 Grand Prix. It looked better than its Ford counterpart, but 1969 production didn't top 15,000 and in 1970 it dwindled to 6,000.
I like the Chrysler 300 better. This year was arguably the high point for the big Chrysler styling-wise, and the 300 was the coolest model even though it didn't have the performance of the departed 300-letter series. #1969
10/25/09
Aw, man - this is so sad. Both cars are collector-worthy. They're amongst the last attempts by Detroit to make sporty full-size coupes before the malaise set in. I particularly like the 300 - long, lean lines with front-end styling that should be in an art museum. Worth a picture, I'd say. #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
@Ralph Wiley Is Poised: Yeah, full-size muscle cars were on their way out beginning in 1965 or so. Ponycars and intermediates became the favorites for performance, with souped-up compacts becoming popular a little later. The very last of the hot full-size breed was the 1971 Plymouth Sport Fury GT (see picture) with only 375 produced. #1969
10/25/09
In a way it made sense that the Big Three downsized their performance coupes -- smaller cars had a much better power-to-weight ratio. They also just plain looked the part better than increasingly baroque full-sized cars.
Exhibit A: The 1969 Marauder looks bipolar because designers attached Mercury's upright, Continentalesque front sheetmetal to a fastback bodystyle adorned with racy, bescooped hips.
The Marauder didn't work a whole lot better than the Sport Fury, whose pool table-sized hood and "donut" front bumper looked ungainly next to the taunt and curvy new mid-sized Road Runner. #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
@DrLemming: As stephdumas says elsewhere in this thread, Plymouth had a VIP from 1966 through 1969. Plymouth may not have had a true luxury line for 1970 (though the Sport Fury somewhat made up for that role), but they did a very curious thing mid year. A low-line Fury II pillared coupe was given Sport Fury trim, had just about every option thrown at it, and was re-christened Gran Coupe with a price that was exceeded only by the Sport Fury GT. It sold pretty well and the experiment was repeated for 1971 as an option package for hardtop coupes. By 1972, a full line of luxury Gran Furys replaced the Sport Fury. #1969
10/25/09
I barely remember my folks' '70 four door sedan.
Green and huge. I recall the A/C being positively frostbite cold. Plus it had turn signal indicators on the fenders. Bonus points for a very smart design which has gone away.
...of course it's not like people use turn signals anymore, anyway. Hell, I feel like I should replace my rear bulbs because the amber is a little burned off the glass. #1969
10/26/09
10/25/09
...no, actually, there really isn't. Can't even blame it on smog, or CfCs, or the other usual culprits. #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
10/25/09
*runs sobbing from screen*
10/25/09
OK People, if you want to know more about the Mercury Marauder X-100, here is an article I penned a while ago.
I haven't done one on this particular generation of Chrysler 300's, but here's one I did on the 300 Hurst.
While I can't possibly explain why either of these cars are now scrap metal bound for China, I will say that they would have made excellent LeMons racers..... #1969
10/25/09
Don't overdo it, though, or else two of the greatest budget cruisers will climb in price. Seriously, both the Marauder and the latter 300s are undervalued and make great boulevard cruisers. #1969
10/25/09
I remember seeing one, only one, of these, in my 41 years...35 of which I've been a dedicated car nut.
I'm not a FoMoCo fan, but like these, the late-50's Continentals, and the 70's Mercury Marquis.
10/25/09
Don't you have teams to torture instead of us, right now?
At least these can't be blamed on Cash for Clunkers... #1969
04/08/09
04/08/09
They finally go away from the daimler corporate switch gear that never worked well.
Radio controls on back of steering wheel
Cruise Control on front of steering wheel - not the stupid poney pecker at 1
04/08/09
Also, what is this pony pecker at 11 of which you speak? (Braces for NSFW responses).
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[www.imperialclub.com]
04/08/09
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