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With the brand long defunct, many enthusiasts tend to forget just how great some of Mercury's early luxury and muscle cars really were.

Mercury was born out of desperation. In the 1930s, Ford was being crushed by Oldsmobile and Dodge and created Mercury as a bridge between Ford and the luxury Lincoln division. It worked well as Mercury went on to produce some terrific cars from the 1950s to the 2000s before its end in 2011.

But, while it had a score of great cars, it’s notable how in the 1960s, Mercury provided several outstanding muscle cars to compete with the likes of the Ford Mustang.

Like many manufacturers, Mercury’s muscle output was curtailed by the oil crisis of the mid-1970s. But before that, they were providing some amazing machines backed by top-notch engines. Some were better than others, with a few powered in a way that could challenge the best NASCAR machines of the time.

Every car manufacturer has that one model that becomes a game-changer for the company. For Mercury, it's the Marauder. To this day, the name conjures images of a fantastic muscle machine, yet it can be forgotten just how great it truly was. The most potent models packed 427 big-block V8s with up to 425 hp.

For the regular customers, they had the “lesser” 390 ci, which ranged from 250 hp to 330 hp. There was also the styling, looking like a lean and mean machine meant to tear up the road.

For a car originally meant to be an Edsel, the Comet was a pleasant surpirse. The base engine for a Comet was a simple straight six, making barely over 101 hp. The Cyclone version, on the other hand, had a beefy 289 cubic-inch V8 good for up to 271 hp.

The rare treat was the Comet with the massive 427 c.i. (70-liter) V8 with 425 hp. But whether it had a base engine or a higher-spec one, the Cyclone was a nice change from its run-of-the-mill rivals.

When it was introduced in 1967, the Cougar was an immediate hit, including Motor Trend naming it Car of the Year. So, it’s little wonder Mercury went about adding some fantastic trims for it. The 1969 Eliminator is the best of the bunch. The base engine was a 351 V8 good for 290 hp.

For those wanting a little more push, they could upgrade to a 390 with 320 hp or even a Cobra Jet 428 that was underrated at 335 hp. That was joined to the already classic Cougar look and in road tests, the Eliminator lived up to its name, leaving numerous competitors in the dust.

Related: Ranking The Fastest Mercury Cars Ever Built

With the Cyclone declining in popularity, Mercury tried to revive it as a clone of the Torino. That did lead to some new life, although the power of the model can vary depending on what engine is in it. The base model was a 302ci V8 with 210 hp.

However, options ranged from there to a Marauder 390 to a 427ci with 390 hp. The cool style set the tone for future Mercury muscle cars. While it didn’t totally save the Cyclone, the Fastback options made it a good buy.

A truly rare model even for Mercury, only 341 lucky customers could buy the Cyclone Spoiler 429 in 1970. They were rewarded with a fantastic machine. The 429ci Cobra Jet V8 engine produced 375 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm.

That led to zero to 60 in six seconds and a top speed of 125 mph for a car nearly two tons in weight. As a performance-oriented machine with rear-wheel drive, it’s powerful in handling, and that spoiler makes it look even cooler. It’s hard to find a near-pristine model, but it’s worth the price.

By Sicnag - 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7, CC BY 2.0, 

Mercury had a knack for producing cars in only a single model year that became magical. The 1968 Cougar XR7 GTE is a fine example. Depending on when in the year you ordered it, the GTE came with either a 427ci big-block with a hydraulic camshaft or a 428ci Cobra Jet with greater torque and horsepower ratings.

Thus, horsepower ranged from 335 to nearly 400 and the latter models boasted 445 lb-ft of torque. That was cheaper than a Roadrunner but still offered fantastic performance married to the Cougar frame. Less than 400 in total were built, yet the GTE is a great ride if you manage to find one.

Related: 5 Awesome Mercury Cars (& 5 That Put Them Out Of Business)

One of those cars overlooked even by Mercury buffs, the 1969 Cyclone Cobra Jet doesn’t deserve to be overshadowed. Of course, the fact only 2,175 were made in a single year contributes to it being so rare, yet they were beauties. The 428ci V8 was advertised at 355 hp but felt more like 400 with a zero to 60 time of 6.2 seconds.

Likewise, the supposed 440 lb-ft of torque was likely underrated. It’s a hard car to find, but this version of the Cyclone lived up to the name of a jet on wheels.

While Mercury built over 180,000 cars in 1969, just 5,635 examples of the Marauder X100 were made. However, this rare beast has attained a strong following as one of the best models Mercury built. Slightly smaller than a typical Marauder, it still boasted a great broad frame and, while labeled as “luxury,” it was true muscle power.

That included the 429ci V8 good for 360 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. A 4500-pound car going zero to 60 in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 126 mph was pretty impressive. Even the standard 390-cid, 290-hp engine was something special, so while the X100 didn’t become a huge hit in its time, history has proven it was a marvel for Mercury.

Long-time writer online on sports, celebs, entertainment, etc. Enjoy cars in movies and various TV shows (reality and fiction) and enjoying learning more about them even as I share that with others.