Full-Size 1973 Mercury: Best F——n' Car Ever Made!

Last time I was in Denver, I risked the wrath of our secret overlords by photographing their Mind Control Pinto at the airport; so far I haven't been shipped off to a re-education facility located at a defunct drive-in theater, but we all know it's best not to cross the Shadow Government. Now I'm back in the Mile High City, and this time I've found a pair of '73 Mercuries (one Marquis and one Monterey) whose owner was overjoyed to have his car photographed. He was taking advantage of a nice 55-degree day to change the coolant in his pair of 35-year-old daily drivers.

The front car is a 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham 4-door hardtop, equipped with all the Early Malaise Era luxury goodies... some of which may even be functional today!

The other one is a 1973 Mercury Monterey 4-door sedan. Other than some rear quarter rust, it's in pretty nice shape.

The Marquis has a peeling vinyl top and has been hit pretty hard (the owner described rear-ending "some fuckin' idiot," and we must assume the other vehicle didn't look so good after this barge plowed into it.

460 cubic inches, complete with 4-barrel carb. I don't have my reference guide handy, but '73 was early enough in the Malaise Era that the power numbers were still respectable. Bet this car can do some pretty mean burnouts! The Monterey has the 400 engine, which is quite well endowed in the torque department in spite of having fewer cubes.

Now that's class! Detroit might consider a return to unabashed cheeze such as faux-royal crests- it's much more fun than hard plastic imitations of European luxury interiors.