Back in the 1950s, automakers noticed a trend in which affluent buyers were looking for cars that combined the luxury and reliability of a sedan with the styling of a sports car. Voilà! What's the ultimate "personal luxury" car?
The personal luxury car peaked by the 1970s, with numerous personal luxury offerings from the big three, including the Ford Thunderbird, Oldsmobile Toronado, Buick Rivera and Chrysler Cordoba. But the ultimate? We're going with the 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. Built on a Marquis chassis, the Marauder had a shortened wheelbase and body, but still weighed 4,500 pounds. It was powered by Ford's 429ci V8 producing 360 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Bias-ply whitewalls rode on Kelsey-Hayes "MagStar" five-spoke aluminum wheels. Sure, it was a luxury car with muscle-car conceit, but it defined personal luxury.
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