The Biggest "M"
Big M’s mysterious and forgotten ‘58 400-hp 3x2 Super Marauder makes a big comeback
by Tom Shaw
photos by Tom Shaw
Other engine details are conventional — hydraulic cam, shaft-mounted rockers, cast aluminum pistons and 2-bolt mains. Exhaust manifolds are ram’s horn style, reminiscent of early small-block Chevrolets.
Transmission choices were the old cast iron Merc-O-Matic, or a column –shift 3-speed manual. Brian went with the stick. It differs from the Ford gearbox in that it has bigger shafts and gears.
Through the same network of Mercury enthusiasts that produced the breather, Brian found a clean, West coast ’58 Monterey body and bought it, along with a couple parts cars to supply the various bits and pieces — seat valance, rubber door handle gaskets and window seals, electric wiper motor (a rare option), etc. — that are on the verge of extinction.
Brian disassembled the body, then took it to restoration ace Scott Tiemann in Portland, Michigan for his special touch. Ditto the frame. A quintessential ‘50s color scheme, Holly Green with Parisenne Green accents, was chosen.
Brian built the engine (it dyno’d at 420hp @ 5500 rpm), axle, chassis, and freshened up the factory heavy-duty Borg-Warner 3-speed. He got original seatcover material from SMS Auto Fabric in Oregon, and a friend’s wife stitched it together. He pieced the exhaust system together and had it finish welded, then coated. Brian used NOS parts in key places like taillights, trunk medallion, lenses, electrical switches, valve covers, and front grills and rear bumper inserts. All optional extras like heater, clock, and radio were deleted.
As the finished product took shape, it was clear that this was going to a very special car. It debuted at Detroit’s Autorama, an indoor show in Cobo Hall, where Motor City’s hardcore car enthusiasts did a collective head scratch. A steady stream of people filed by and stared in wonderment, only to return with friends who did likewise. Not surprisingly, it won 1st Place in the 58-65 Restored class.
“What surprised me is how little this whole thing was known. I thought it would dumbfound a few people, but it really caught a lot of people off guard. I have friends in their 60s, and they’ll say, “You know, I thought I knew Fords but you pulled one on my.”
But Brian built the car for another event — the Pure Stock Drags. Crowds in the motel parking lot the night before got a sneak peek. In the sunlight at the track Friday morning, the mighty Merc was stunning.
A leisurely shakedown pass to make sure the car drove straight and the brakes worked produced a 15.17 second ET. From there Brian worked the Merc down into the 14s, but had his work cut out for him trying to launch the 4,264 pounder on super skinny 8.00 x 14 tires. Finessing the 3-on-the-tree shifter also some practice.
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