eBay Find of the Day: '63 R-Code 427 Mercury S-55 Marauder

Factory photo of the 1963 Monterey S-55 Marauder Image: The Old Car Manual Project

When Ford started the 1963 model year, its top engine was the 406, available in two flavors: The B-code 385-horsepower four-barrel version and the G-code with 405 horses and three two-barrels. Mid-year brought a 406 replacement with two 427s: The Q-code with a single four-barrel rated at 410 horsepower and the R-code with 2x4s and 425 horses. Despite the midyear introduction, it is estimated that FoMoCo installed 4,895 427s its all its big cars.

And that would include Mercury…yes, Mercury also offered the 427 in its full-size cars. This one on eBay is estimated to be one of 58 R-code Mercs for 1963.

A little rough, but this R-code S-55 has potential in spades. Image: eBay

When FoMoCo introduced the 427 in the middle of the 1963 model year, the company also introduced a NASCAR-inspired semi-fastback roofline. Previous Ford hardtops were formal, just like the Thunderbird’s. In Mercury’s case, “Breezeway” styling with a reverse-slant C-pillar and retractable rear window was the only hardtop choice. Ford called its new style the Sports Hardtop, while Mercury used the Marauder name. This style was available for all full-size Mercury series, from the Monterey, Monterey Custom, and Monterey S-55.

1963 Monterey Custom two-door hardtop shows the 'Breezeway' window. Image: American Cars by Hans Tore Tangerud

The S-55 was Mercury’s version of the buckets-and-console sporty car that was becoming popular at the time, much like Ford’s Galaxie 500/XL, both of which were introduced in 1962. The S-55 was available as both the Breezeway two- and four-door hardtops, the convertible, and the mid-year Marauder.

The seller of this car claims it is one of 56 427 cars and 11 of them were like his, but according to whom? It is known that 2,317 Mercury S-55 Marauders were built, but there’s no solid FoMoCo records on how many of those were 427 cars. This site claims that 83 Mercury 427s were built, with 58 being R-codes. Of those, it’s been rumored that 21 of those were S-55s. The 427 Galaxie Registry offers no more proof. However, no proof is needed in understanding there are few early muscle cars that can top the rarity/horsepower quotient of this 427 Marauder.