2. Mercury Marauder
Despite the fact the Grand Marquis was never intended to be a performance car, Mercury decided to turn it into one. They installed a highly-tuned 4.6-liter V8 that delivered 302 HP, and a revised suspension, gearbox, and brakes. All those changes turned this sleepy, comfy sedan into a sharp muscle car.
One of three colors available, the black paint gave the Marauder menacing looks and an aggressive stance, clearly differentiating it from its more sedate cousins. The performance was surprising for a big, heavy sedan with a 0 to 60 mph time of around seven seconds. But the biggest asset was its appearance. Just the sight of a big black sedan in your rearview mirror made most people move over.