1963 Mercury Monterey S-55 Hardtop Coupe

The Mercury line of vehicles launched in 1939 was named after the mythological 'messenger of the gods.' The early Marauder was a large, V8 engined automobile. It started as a 1963.5 model as a two-door 'fastback' hardtop version of the full-size Mercury. Marauders were offered from the 1963 1/2 to 1965 model years, then again from 1969 to 1970.

This fastback roofline was developed for both the Mercury Marauder and the Ford Galaxie for NASCAR competition, and may have helped with the many 1963-1964 Ford and Mercury victories.

The 1963-1964 Mercury Marauder marked the first time the name Marauder was applied to a car - after Mercury used the Marauder moniker to denote its brawniest engines in the late 1950's.

It's a handle that probably wouldn't be considered today: The safety lobby would surly condemn it as fostering reckless driving, while Mercury marketers would likely veto it as not reflecting the typical buyer's lifestyle. But Mercury was on the prowl even in those pre-Cougar days, and 'Marauder' was perfect for what it was trying to accomplish.