28th May 2009, 15:05

Can you image a barn-door-of-a-car like that going down the highway at speeds anywhere near 150mph?

With that suspension and those brakes it would be the automotive equivalent of suicide or worse.

29th May 2009, 13:03

Way to go man! I'm 19 and own a 98' mint-condition Crown Vic. While it can't compare to the 70's full-sized cars, it is superior to the uni-body front drive waste that's crowding up the streets.

29th May 2009, 16:31

Actually I find 150 mph pretty dubious, and I absolutely love these old cars. I've owned many from both GM and Ford, and I never drove any of them over 100. The best way to enjoy these is just loafing around, cruising slow and easy.

If you drive like you have an egg under your foot, these old boys don't really get intolerable mileage, especially when you consider you have no car payment, as the previous poster points out.

29th May 2009, 19:40

"Car had serious acceleration and it tops out at about 150 MPH."

Well, a top end of 150 MPH would be possible with that car if you dropped it out of a B-52.

19th Dec 2009, 22:03

My families 73 Merc wagon with the 429 4 bbl and 3.90-1 towing gears would easily peg the 120 MPH speedo back in the day of high octane leaded gas and the 70 MPH speed limit. If it had higher gearing (lower numerically) it wouldn't have topped out so soon. I doubt a low compression 351 in a 78 Marquis could even break 100 MPH. Maybe if your speedometer gears are wrong or you were reading the speed in kilometers km/h? But you would need a 514 stroker engine with 600+ HP in order to hit 150 MPH, and have anyone believe you? But if a 4,000 + pound Jaguar of the day could hit 150 with 263 HP V12 and a 3 speed TH400 GM automatic transmission, maybe a warmed over big block car could do it.

25th Jan 2010, 18:15

I'm only 24 and JUST bought a 78 2dr. It has 68k on it and is all black. Very few small spots of rust starting, but I only paid 1000 for it. From about 5ft the car looks show room.

I have a 95 Z28, and this Marquis is way more fun to drive. You just don't see these anymore, plain and simple.

So far all the people asking me about the car has been crazy. I had a guy say it's refreshing to see a big American car nowadays with all the small plastic ones around.

Love this car, it's the best!

2nd Apr 2011, 13:39

I am 21, and drive an 03 Grand Marquis myself. LOVE THE CAR! Also, I have a 1979 Lincoln Continental with the 400 in it, that thing flies! So yes, I can see how 150 mph would be possible.

3rd Apr 2011, 17:43

I am 26, and love to see the old barges from the 70's (a rare treat these days). I've always loved the big American cars, especially the GM and Ford products from the mid-seventies. It is really sad to see how boring and small cars are now compared to then. I would hate to have to fill the tank in one of those cars every week (if you're lucky) though!

4th Apr 2011, 15:19

I'm 28 and love the old land yachts too. Currently driving a 1986 Ford Country Squire wagon with a 351 4 barrel.

GM and Ford full size cars from the 70s to early 90s were very reliable, solid, and well made.

I have had a few with well over 300k, engines still running like new! You just cannot kill these smallblocks.

Very low maintenance too, easy to fix even if you know nothing about cars, my mechanic makes no money off me when I own these cars!

I have owned a few Caprices, Buick LeSabres, Crown Vics, etc.. they are most comfortable and relaxing ride. After driving a full size V-8 land yacht with rear wheel drive on the open highway for a roadtrip, you will never want to travel any other way!

I used to own smaller economy cars too, and for the small difference in fuel economy, you compromise everything else a car has to offer; comfort, luxury, safety, ride quality, and of course, rear wheel drive.

I don't care about the price of gas, I will continue to pay the small difference to ride a real car, full size, North American V-8 land yacht. It's totally worth it to me..

Also people notice these cars a lot as they are loaded with real chrome trim, while the new cars are all plastic.

You get a lot of compliments from young and old alike.

Long live the land yachts!

7th Jan 2012, 11:49

Yup, I know what you mean. I myself have 12 cars including:

1970 Maverick

(2) 1971 Mavericks's (2dr and 4dr)

1973 Maverick

1976 Maverick

1974 Mercury Montego (been in family since new)

1974 Chevy Impala

1976 Grand Marquis

1978 Pinto Wagon with Cruising Package

1979 Thunderbird

1979 Lincoln Continental 4dr

1988 Taurus MT-5

Of all these cars, the 88 Taurus needs the most stuff done to it. CV joints, climate control panel has quit functioning altogether, etc., etc.

The 70's cars are much simpler and only require basically maintenance. I took 21 years to build this collection by being picky about what I bought. So although I only spent $6750 dollars for all of 'em (562 a piece average), they all had less than 100,000 miles on them and were usually one owner vehicles that had been well maintained. So even now, after 30 plus years, none of 'em are junk.

The cheapest two were free, the most expensive was $1200. They have all proven over the years to be stone cold reliable, and I have taken 1000 mile vacations in them. I love 'em!

As far as gas, well I only travel 10 miles a day round trip to work five days a week, so I can, for example, get a MONTH out of a tank of gas. So that's not an issue for me. I do however spend as much as I need to to maintain and repair them, so they don't become unreliable pieces of junk.

I can honestly say since buying my first one in Nov. 1983, not once have I ever been stranded on the side of the road. Now I have walked outside to dead batteries, etc. etc., but never have had to pull over to the side of the road (except for flats). Not yet anyway. I know it will eventually happen, but I do keep close tabs on their maintenance and repair needs. I don't hesitate to spend what I have to for that!

6th Mar 2013, 11:48

150 mph in one of these cars? Not possible, even with the big engines. A big Mercury with the 460 is only capable of about 116 mph, and that's a theoretical estimate (rolling downhill with the wind blowing in its favor).

While I love these cars and think they were perfect in practically every way, they simply weren't geared for speed. Also remember that the C6 transmission severely hurts performance and fuel economy, but is tough and smooth. So statements of these vehicles going up to 150 mph are obviously dubious, especially since the speedometers usually stop at 85 mph.