Superb S55

“What a cool car” is a phrase often heard by Lloyd Baker, owner of this 1963 Mercury Marauder S55. That’s likely to be followed by. “I’ve never heard of one”.

Then a conversation ensues, which describes the pedigree and roots of Mercury’s production car then bookended with history on this stunning example. Both are interesting tales, so follow along.

The Mercury Marauder was simply a full-size Monterey coupe with a Ford Galaxie fastback roof. It was destined for competition and greatness on the racetracks of America, winning stock-car racing events outright and even taking home the trophy at Pikes Peak.

For Mercury engineers, the temptation to combine the sporty body style with a sporty interior was too hard to resist. The production version dubbed the S55 pulled the most desirable bits from across the option sheet into one sporting package. The S55 options included bucket seats and console, dual exhaust, lights in the doors, some special trim, and the 300hp, 4-barrel 390ci FE