The call of the open road is getting louder and louder…mainly because everybody and their mother is currently rolling across the Midwest area together and will be in my backyard tomorrow. They have great stories to tell, great photos to share. Meanwhile, my junk is sitting without an engine and my daily is being babied for the time being. Besides, nothing against the Chrysler, but it looks like it escaped a low-rent used car lot three days ago…it’s fun to drive and comfortable, but it doesn’t have much going in the way of style, something I feel you need to have if you’re going to join a group of cruisers that number more than some good sized cities in the area.

This 1970 Mercury Marquis two-door is much, much more like it. It’s actually kind of strange to see how many big-boy Mercury vehicles have survived in nearly perfect shape…seriously, check out eBay sometime and you’ll see what I mean…but the draw for this Marquis is threefold. One is the color combination…I’m a sucker for great black paint with chrome trim. Two is the interior…much as I’d love to run windows-down, being pampered by an air-conditioner on those seats isn’t a bad way to go at all. And finally, there’s the 429 under the hood. No Marquis can claim to be a musclecar, but that isn’t what a sled like this is all about. This is highway horsepower, authoritative horsepower, mature in application. You move out with a purpose, not with the rear end shaking like a dancer.

Stately, strong and subtle. This Mercury would be perfect.

eBay Link: 1970 Mercury Marquis Brougham two-door