1965 Mercury Marauder Fastback

[74-911]

Just reminiscing I guess:

Stopped by a local trim shop today to get an estimate. They were putting a new interior in a 1965 Mercury Marauder Fastback the owner was restoring. Car appeared in excellent condition with a new paint job and you could eat off the valve covers the engine compartment was so clean (390 with a big 4 bbl carb). I distinctly remember when FoMoCo brought out the fastbacks in I think 1962 1/2 models - quite revolutionary looking in those days.

Being a luddite my cell phone doesn't have a camera so no pics. The main thing that hits you is just how big those old 1960's Detroit Iron cars were. When in high school in the early 1960's, my parents had a 1962 Pontiac Catalina which was not exactly a compact car. It was a good thing gas was cheap as you had to stop at about every other gas station with cars gas mileage back in those days.

[intakexhaust]

Bud of mine had a 1965 two door fastback in 'acres' of red. Fitted with a 428c.i. Love those cars... it's so in your face and I don't care what a gallon of gas cost.

As for myself, I have a 72 Ford Thunderturd - 100% virgin brown paint original car including the build sheet. Has the 428 too.

[herr_oberst]

I'd always thought that the barracuda was the first fastback; my dad's buddy had one (the early Valient variety) and I recall thinking it was about the coolest car I'd ever seen. I was maybe 5.

You're probably right about the Ford fastback being first.

[rouxroux]

I think he was referring to Fords. I sort of liked the Tucker design as well.

[Jim Richards]

I think you're right, herr_O. Although the Marauder had a forward slanted roofline, I don't think it was continuous like you saw on the Barracuda. Didn't the Marauder have a distinct transition from the rear roofline to the trunck?

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I think you're right, herr_O. Although the Marauder had a forward slanted roofline, I don't think it was continuous like you saw on the Barracuda. Didn't the Marauder have a distinct transition from the rear roofline to the trunck?

Yes, the Marauder had a distinct transition at the trunk line. Would not be considered a fastback i.e. the Barracuda. The rear roofline had a radical forward slant in comparison to other cars of the day. The GM rear roofline for 2 door HTs in those years was meant to resemble a convertible top.
The FoMoCo products were just the first brand that I recall actually using the term FastBack.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I think you're right, herr_O. Although the Marauder had a forward slanted roofline, I don't think it was continuous like you saw on the Barracuda. Didn't the Marauder have a distinct transition from the rear roofline to the trunck?

Yes, it's really just a gigantic 2 door coupe with a sloping roof. Definite break.


Remember the 1949 Chevrolet fastback?... really was a fastback...

[74-911]

Originally Posted by tcar

Remember the 1949 Chevrolet fastback?... really was a fastback...

Definitely remember those. Friend in HS stuffed a 265 cu.in. SBC with power pack heads and a big 4 bbl in his. Ran like a bat out of hlll in a straight line but cornering or stopping it were seriously big pucker factors...

[Jim Richards]

The '49 Chevy Fleetline:



The '48 Tucker Torpedo:



The '50 Nash Statesman:

[masraum]

I didn't start driving until 1986, but this was my first car. It was big, but I still love the lines.

Not quite a fastback



But much closer than the year before, yuck!

[RWebb]

don't fergit the Bugs & Citroens...

[rick-l]

I had one of these in my youth but without the door guard down the side (same color even).

File:1969 Mercury Marauder X100.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

my headlights were alsways opne also