The Box History to End all Box Histories

[johnunit]

From my experience I'd say AT LEAST 15-20% of the Canadian CVs and Grand Marqs still around are 5.8s. Obviously as the variable venturis got a worse reputation and the switch from carbed to CFI and then to SEFI was made the 5.8's probably became less popular. I have also seen them as late as 1990... so I'm going to assume they went right up to 1991.

It's also worth noting that they appear to have had the Police exhaust but no other Police equipment aside from what actually hung off the engine. That means standalone tranny cooler, oil cooler, etc. were all extra. I've also heard rumours that they came with Police chassis specifications but mine absolutely does not have police springs, shocks, swaybars, etc.


My big book of Ford specs and info (feel free to contact me for reference from it) DOES list an S model, but I forget when it stops. But absolutely the single headlight ones until at least 1982 were listed as S models in Ford bookkeeping.

[marquisman]

iv seen the 5.8L right up to '91. seems like '88-'91 5.8L equiped cars are ubber rare, even more so with grand marquis'. its been a long time since iv seen a '88+ 5.8L panther. like john said, seems that less were sold equiped that way, after the SEFI 5L was introduced.

[tjc78]

iv seen the 5.8L right up to '91. seems like '88-'91 5.8L equiped cars are ubber rare, even more so with grand marquis'. its been a long time since iv seen a '88+ 5.8L panther. like john said, seems that less were sold equiped that way, after the SEFI 5L was introduced.

Well, think about it. It wasn't that much more powerful (than a 5.0 SEFI), was carb'd and got less FE. I know I probably wouldn't have wanted it, if I was buying new back then.

[Brown_Muscle]

The LTD-S (2 headlights) started in 1979. One of our members has one actually. Has that 1 year only side mirror and such. flyb0t is his username i believe.

[Tiggie]

Did some additional research in the Encyclopedia of American Cars (published 1996) and the original dealership broshures. These are my findings - if any of you guys have other resources that spell out something different, I'll be glad to consider them also.
My sources indicate 1979 had no official S-Model. There was no model code listed as their was in the 1980-82 years. The 1980 LTD broshure also mentions, pictures, and has specifications on the "new, low priced LTD S series."

I am thinking the confusion comes from the two-vs-four headlight deal. Yes - that's the main identifer for the 1980-1982 S-Models since only S-models had two headlights. But in 1979, two-headlight cars were all LTD's except the Landau and Country Squire. That's 209,690 Two-Headlight Cars vs 146,845 Four-Headlight Cars.

Here's my ideas on the 1979-1980 model name changes:

• The 1979 low-option LTD (body code 62 two-door/64 four-door/74 wagon, all two-headlights) turned into the 1980 LTD-S (body code 61 four-door/72 wagon, all two-headlights). Note that no body code is listed for the 2-Door LTD-S, although 553 are said to have been produced...
• The 1979 mid-option LTD (body code 62 two-door/64 four-door/74 wagon, all two-headlights) turned into the 1980 LTD (matching 1979 codes, but with four-headlights standard).
• The 1979 LTD Landau (body code 64 two-door/65 four-door. four-headlights) became the 1980 LTD Crown Victoria (same as 1979 Laudau body codes, four-headlights).

What do you guys think?

Edit: uploaded the updated Box History, did some rewording to help with S-Models and also updated the section on Merc PI package.

[zoomie]

I dont know if this is covered, but i think the grand marquis had the most color and trim options and the only box panther i have seen with black carpet, just something i thought could be added in there.

[Sign of the Cat]

I came across the history online... great write up. Good job everyone...

I noticed there was little about the 1979 marquis...thought I could add to the 1979 year... Mercury style that is... The 1979 Marquis was the base model, followed by Marquis Brougham, And finally Grand marquis. Wagons were marquis or Colony park (marquis did not have the wood aplique) In Canada the Marquis, as it was badged on the car, is found on paper as a Marquis-Meteor. There was only one Tu-tone Option in 1979 Light Silver over dark silver (Unless it was a Diamond Jubilee) 1979 also had a one year only: Front Bumper, Center mount Front plate, Crystal insert hood ornament, No chrome trim around tail lights or on the trunk lip, rear coat hanger hooks, turn signal lever, steering wheel insert, C- Pillar louvers on all models, Full vinyl roof (not padded) on certain models, No option of 15" rims, chrome rear window moldings on all models, and the ever rare Diamond Juiblee option. I cannot find numbers on them but they were offered on both merc and ford. They were top of the line for the few I have seen and were both four door or two door. They came in a Light blue over dark blue Tu-Tone with the famous blue interior for 1979. From what I could tell these 79 cars were only built in 1978 and are far and few.

from 1979 thru 1982 the mercury line kept its 3 trim levels along with ford... The LTD II and mercury marquis built on the fox platform brought the end to these. For 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986 the LTD S was replaced by the LTD II - The LTD remained for primarly Fleet sales. The Marquis and Marquis brougham were now offered on the fox platform as well. The Grand marquis remained on the panther platform along with Crown Victoria. (I am not sure but I think this change made Power windows standard Equipment on these two models now)

unfortunatly the fox platform cars could not compete with the taurus and sable sales and were dropped.

(just a note on the clear parking light lens for 1979 LTD - All 1979 info I have ever crossed paths with show clear on all quad headlight models - also could be a canadian thing)

hope this helps... I am sure i could send more about the 80-82 models as i have a soft spot for them and have what can only be explained as OCD issues !!

cheers all

[Mainemantom]

OCD issues. Sometimes that is a good thing especially working around cars. Thanks for your info. Were front non power vent windows an option in 1990 on a P72 model ?

[Tiggie]

It has been pointed out to me that the CV LX debuted for 86 not 87 as stated. I still have the files for this but I'm not even sure I can update the file on the server any longer.

Who wants to take this project over? Also taking suggestions on FTP software that's free.

[sly]

FTP software: Filezilla

[Quincy]

Maybe it's been covered somewhere before, my '79 base LTD station wagon does not have the outside rear-view mirrors that are wedged into the door frame like most other '79's I've seen, nor does it have the fancy GMq remote adjustable types. Mine appears to have come with a single small rectangular cheapo Ford mirror of the type you would see on a Maverick and such in earlier years. There is no evidence that this has ever been changed or modified. On the pass side, someone had clumsily installed a plastic Kmart-style mirror, which I have removed and replaced with a small rectangular Ford chrome to match the driver's side (a difficult find! - scored it at the last swap meet @ Moultrie GA).

[Mainemantom]

My 79 CV S wagon had the same cheap mirror. Don't remember if it had one on the passenger side. That was back in the early 90s.

[Quincy]

That's good to know, mine's not alone.

[Grand1]

Can confirm that a 79 Marquis Brougham has the cool hood ornament...is it glass or crystal? Found it in my glove compartment.