My NYC-based brother recently took his family west for spring break. I received a steady stream of emails as they travelled through California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada; visiting Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon National Parks, as well as seeing the dinosaur footprints on a Navajo reservation, a spaceport and an aircraft graveyard in the Mojave Desert, and plenty else.
Including these.
At first glance I thought it was an early 70’s Toronado; but those curvy hips confirm it as a 1970 Mercury Marquis hardtop coupe. From the lack of fender-top trim, this is probably the lower grade non-Brougham. Amazingly, we have not covered this model from this year here on CC; the closest I could find is Paul’s piece on a 1970 Marauder – the other Merc two-door fullsizer with the hidden headlights.
Sitting next to it is another product of the Fomoco; a 1959 Edsel Ranger. Being a pillared sedan makes it the base model and also the most numerous with a whopping 12,814 made – the only variant to reach five figure production during that model year. Jason Shafer covered this exact model for us, albeit in two-tone.
Moving up the MEL ladder is a Lincoln MkIV. Unfortunately it’s not a 72 with its more delicate front bumper and evocative JP Cavanaugh story. Even still, a nicer shape than the MkIII, though I daresay there will be many of you who disagree.
And behind, we move back down to the base marque – a 1968 Ford intermediate wagon. Being a longroof, my favourite so far.
This is one of those fast-disappearing automotive wonders that sit in hope and repose; the cars still presentable if not in action anymore. Deteriorating yes, but thankfully not (yet) crushed.
And this collector has great taste.
There are at least four cars here I’d pick first, but first of the first has to be that 68 Buick LeSabre. Not quite a Wildcat or Electra but who cares?
Top row: 70 Riv. Bottom row: Ford truck. Again, the first amongst riches.
Shout out to Will and Tom, doing it Brooklyn-style right now.
…
What a difference 10 model years made back then…
So true. Same with popular music.
Yes, that 67 Imp Sport Coupe would have to be on anyone’s list.
That old ’67-’72 Chevy truck looks like it’s a solid runner and possibly in semi-regular use.
These a re the type of “junkyards” that you now longer see near large cities. Presenting the opportunity to walk among the vehicles and dream of what could/might be done with these jewels is a vanishing pleasure. Most “automotive recycling” centers as they are called now, have a fast turnover rate, and seldom, if ever, is anything found more than ten-fifteen years old.Just like Don, I see at least four vehicles that I’d like to grab!! 🙂
Back in 1999 two of us took a drive out to a private airfield in Ione, CA. for the USS Hornet to pick up a complete gun turret. Had never driven the back road two lane CA highway if you will. Past three places in that two hour drive wtere there were large backyards fenced and filled with 40-50 old cars. House out front, not a business like a junk yard.
I still think about those backyards and this story brought them right back to my mind. It was CA 88 between Stockton and Ione. I do know a retired Navy Commander who does have at least 53 Buicks, between 1950-75, in his back yard down in the San Joaquin Valley after being chased out of a San Diego suburb.
There was one like you described on the coast road between Melbourne and Sydney. About 50 cars set up a hill rising away from the road. Driving past was the perfect viewpoint but I never stopped to go in.
I really like that Marquis 2 door. That 69-70 Marquis was the first Mercury in ages that made a solid case for upgrading from a high-end Ford.
And the Mark IV has a glass sunroof (I think they called it a moonroof). That was never a common option on those.
After all these years I still cannot make up my mind about the 59 Edsel.
Mercury had a pretty good 10 year run from ‘69 to the debut of the Panther cars. Recognizably different and unique in several respects. The Panther Mercurys were nice, but seemed to revert back to fancy Fords, with the Grand Marquis not too different from Crown Vic LX’s.
No fan here of the ‘59 Edsel. The long wheelbase Citation and Pacer were gone, as well as many of the unique features (Tele-touch, drum speedometer, etc.) of the ‘58. Styling was toned down as well. FMC seemed to strip all the personality and uniqueness from the ‘58
I see the obligatory ’57 Chevy. Day made.
So, these are the dinosaur footprints they saw?
Forgotten Lincoln Continental Mark IV trivia: In 1979 stunt driver Ken Carter planned to jump the Saint Lawrence River using a Mark IV bodied rocket car. The documentary made about it is worth watching. The car broke apart shortly after leaving the ramp. The terrible condition of the ramp contributing. The Rocket Lincoln is impressive.
It would appear that the aerodynamics of the Rocket Lincoln were not ideal, either.
Yes. A $250,000 contract was signed with ABC’s Wide World of Sports to air the attempt. The contract was later nixed. The Lincoln looking good for TV, probably more important than its actual ability to complete the jump.
MkIV with wings. hehehe
The ‘69-‘70 Mercury Marquis was a handsome full sizer, too bad there was such a big blind spot on the two door. Mopar designers admired the Mercury so much it provided the inspiration for the ‘72-‘73 Dodge Monaco.
I believe the Ford wagon behind the Mark IV is a mid sized ‘68 Fairlane/Torino.
I always like to see an Edsel in the wild – even one decomposing.
Thanks for the correction Paul. Amended. Yep, I love this Marquis face as well, but I’d rather have it on a wagon.
If you think that Marquis had a blind spot, you must never have seen the Marauder X100 from the same year.
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo! All our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Kipling. Nice
I’ll take the Cat D7F, please!
I was just about to post my question if anyone knew what kind of dozer that was. A D7F, you say?
Since we have been on a windshield wiper kick here lately, has there ever been a car with wipers that parked so perfectly atop the base molding of the windshield as the 1969-70 full size Ford and Mercury? As a kid I noticed the military precision with which they left no gap between the wiper arms and the base of the windshield.
Although looking at that 59 Edsel next to it, they did a pretty good job too.
This was due to the incomparable attention to detail that could only be found at your Mercury dealership (it rubbed off on Ford). Mercury was at the top of its game during this period.
Of the 1969-72 Mercury Marquis’s I prefer the coupe design’s of the 1969-70 models and the sedan design’s of the 1971-72 models, also what is the Buick model next to the early 2000’s Chevy Impala?
No mention of the 1967 and 1968 Marquis? Painted black it would had look like McGarrett’s Parklane in Hawaii Five-0. 😉
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-review/vintage-review-1973-mercury-marquis-brougham-getting-ready-for-steve-mcgarrett/
To be honest I’ve totally forgotten all about the 1967-68 Mercury Marquis, I don’t get why they were never available as a 4 door, they were nice cars that I’ve only seen one time in my life (I’m born in 1980).
The 4-door versions were called Broughams. It was the same trim level, they just elected to give the Coupe it’s own model name.
1968 Buick, LeSabre from body shape, marker lights and wheel covers
There is just something that says “Help” to me when I see a car up to its steel wheels in the clay or mud that has been sitting in one spot that long as has the Edsel. Surely its value is greater to someone than its rear glass and a rear wheel or brake assembly? Maybe one day.
The Marquis and Mark IV are good examples on how cars rust in the dry southwest – from the top down, especially those with a vinyl roof. The sun bakes the vinyl until it cracks, then the pad underneath holds any moisture from rain against the metal. If let go the it will rust through and leak into cabin to further the deterioration. Painted examples are similar, just takes longer. The sun bakes the paint and primer off, which leaves the bare metal to the elements.
Nice selection of dream projects.
The Mark IV is a ’73 as it still has the pretty yet delicate rear bumper. While most ’73’s had a weird combo of bumpers the ’73 Corvette did it best, IMHO, with the soft front and the slim rear chrome bumper…
+1 to the Corvette, but 73 Mustang as well. Most people don’t even realize it different from the 72s.
The various 73s with the delicate rear/battering ram fronts have some interesting examples. Ford was probably the worst, the Torino sportsroof was ruined by its front bumper
+2 on the C3. Right through to its end, that body didn’t look compromised. I could go either small chrome bumpers or foam, but I’d prefer a tunnelback.
Even still, a nicer shape than the MkIII, though I daresay there will be many of you who disagree.
*Raises hand*
The Mark IV looks like a bloated Torino coupe, which itself isn’t exactly slender. The Mark III is one of the best looking Lincoln’s ever to my eye.
I love you man, but no.
Don, I agree. The Mark III has always looked a bit clunky. The Mark IV was a truly handsome car and its sister Thunderbird looked great also.
I love you man.
The only taste you guys have is in your mouths. 🙂 Sorry, but the Mark III is as sleek and elegant as the Mark IV is fat and bloated. Looking at the Mark III IV and V it is like looking at the family with 3 kids where you are pretty sure one of them was fathered by the mailman.
Just about made me spray my coffee there, JPC. I agree the III and V are nicer, but that’s a wee bit harsh!
Everyone has an opinion about these cars; I totally agree with XRMatt. The Mark III is a real beauty. The IV was less distinctive, more broad in the beam, more corporate. The December 2019 issue of Collectible Automobile has a great interview with Ford/Lincoln/Mercury designer Richard Schierloh who provides present at the creation insights into the Mark III and its far-ranging impact on styling for years to come. His acerbic comments about the 1958 Lincolns/Continentals are really interesting. Highly recommend the article, a really fun and insightful read.
The CAT.., The sound of a Pony Engine starting a large diesel is intoxicating . The only better sound is a 820 JD 2 cyl diesiel starting up …
Collections of cars like this are getting rare here though I drove past one six times today very little old interesting stuff though just old Falcons and Jappas, there are couple of others about its where those imports end up that Tatra keeps finding in good condition I see them here at the other end of the scale, yeah thinking about it perched up high in a truck I do see a few private junk yards usually the buy em cheap drive em till they stop park it over there variety. Rinse and repeat for 50 years
Great call on the Mercury’s face’s resemblance to a 1971 – ’72 Toronado.