You say “Marquis”, I say “Zephyr wagon with a nose job”. Neither one of us is really wrong…the station wagon form of the Fox Body didn’t really do much from introduction until it’s death in 1986 except change names, interiors and nose cones. That has made interesting conversions like Aero Mustang noses on a hot-rodded station wagon possible, and while purists twitch at the cross-breeding, a hot station wagon has it’s place in society…it beats the hell out of another crossover, for sure!
At some point along the way, this ’86 Marquis wagon got a neat drivetrain swap: the 2.3L turbocharged four and five-speed manual trans from a 1983 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. This car was being built up into something wicked before the current owner fell on hard times and decided to post this wagon up for sale. It always sucks seeing that, but maybe one of you Blue Oval aficionados can make some connections. With the turbine-style wheels and it’s more-or-less stock paint, some well-hidden tweaking underhood could really hurt feelings and driven like Miss Daisy, the Marquis should deliver respectable fuel economy too. At $3,000, our only questions to the guy would be to find out what’s still needed to finish the car up!
Craigslist Link: 1986 Mercury Marquis station wagon
DANG IT!! I wanted one of these about 3-4yrs ago. It’s so close to CA legal even, would need to prove the 83 is the same as the 86 setup (or just swap to a later intercooled setup out of a turbocoupe or SVO). Though its on the wrong coast and definitely not wife approved since I’d need “mess with it”.
About 10 hr drive up the coast for me! What would be a better swap, 86 SVO or newer Ecoboost?
neither, in my opinion; just an intercooler, a cam, and eventually a head.
Given that, I think it’s pretty neat as is.
Maybe just give Jon Huber a call!