I imagine the moment when this car was new. Someone saved money, chose it, waited, first meeting, first trip. So many events in the family. Where are these people now?
The individual who bought this new would, considering the demographics of these full-size cars in the 1970s, probably be over 100 now. Their first car was probably something old enough to have a crank starter. Unfortunately, cars like people, don’t stay with us forever.
I couldn't help but shed a tear when the player started playing. It was as if that old Grand Marquis was singing one last time like it used to before it left forever.
This will make men cry. Imagine all the places that machine went, all the people it took their destinations day by day. The grocery store, the doctor, trips to the Christmas party. Now, all gone, back to the earth it goes. RIP
@@satendersingh8130I've often thought that very thing when in the boneyard. The memories, the places they've been, how they meant something to someone.
كذلك الإنسان سوف يعود إلى الأرض التي تم خلقه منها وبعد العودة يذوب في الأرض إلى حين يأذن الله بعودته للحياة الأبدية التي تكون خيرا للبشر الصالحين الموحدين ، وتكون وبالا وعذابا على الأشرار .
Am I the only one who really enjoys the no talking part of all these videos. As a car guy my whole life . unable to really wtench much anymore. this is so relaxing and fullfilling!!
@@GalaxieMarauder for sure, I was a little surprised that I watched till the end. However the vision communicated everything I needed to know without a verbal explanation . Actually it very well shot and edited. PS I hate having to read (captions) a video.
@@liamgross7217 i understand the comment about Restored though. Those guys do a little too much SCRIPTED talking. Its like watching a Car show on QVC. My problem is using music as filler creates copyright issues. And using copyright free music leaves you guessing what it is as you try to create a theme for the show
I see cars like this and cant help but think of all of the people it took to build this machine. I see it moving down a factory line as workers assemble their parts. The time that it took to design and create. Engineers working to create every single part. How many hands touched this car to make it a reality? The lives of the people who built this to make a living and support their families. It is truly amazing.
Dude, finalizing this particular video with the sounds off that 8-track, where your videos are normal fairly silent, was a stroke of genius. Perfectly played. You managed to humanize this old car. Well done, as always!!!
@@SimonFordman How were you able to film that mouse, were you using a drone It zoomed right in on it. BTW, Ford has the best electrical systems of any car. Have you noticed how almost everything worked after all these years sitting in a field?
my dad has a lincoln continental sitting in his garrage. The windows were tempered glass, full leather interior, leather roof, the whole mile. it was a beauty, and took up 2x the space a normal car would. As a kid whenever i could i would sit in the driver seat and imagine driving it. It was my dream to ride it one day, but it was constantly broken all the time. You fix one thing, another breaks and the loop begins. Despite the years, its in almost perfect condition, with only visible discrepancies being the out of shape rear fender (my dad couldnt bend it into place himself). It was the car my father and mother drove on their wedding, and it was also a car other pepole rented for theirs. We still have the orginal (i think its either california or colorado) license plate from the states. She's a beauty. Im glad you mannaged to restore this piece of history to working order. Cheers from Poland.
It never ceases to amaze me how people will take perfectly good vehicles and do things like park them in a field. I can understand wanting to hold on to something for sentimental reasons, but if you're just gonna neglect it, sell the damn thing. At lease then it could have stayed on the road and been taken care of.
one of the most beautiful movies that i have ever seen, mad respect no music, no talking, phenomenal minimalistic shots cheers from poland, made my day
Something about the camera angles, the vista of that lonely field, the title, and the general quiet atmosphere made this video an oddly emotional watch. Hearing the last gasp of that 8 track player as the car was pulled away felt bittersweet. You can't save them all, but its the respectfulness of your efforts that make these videos such gems. Here's hoping that engine/trans goes to good use! Thanks for another great watch.
You nailed it! The door lock button with the cobwebs,those shots and the silence and the way he does certain things brings a slight humor that only a car guy would understand.
Could almost see the smile on the veteran giant racing through the field where he had sat for so long, an honorable last ride. There might also have been a hint of a peaceful expression during the windy ride being towed to your garage. And that's not to mention the amazing quality and good taste of the shooting angles, editing and the bittersweet farewell with the song. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this generous deed.
i like to think of this car in the showroom in 1977, polished and eager to be driven. Heartbreakingly sad that it came to this, but you restored much of its dignity before it made its final journey. This, and your other videos, although dialogue-free, speak volumes about their subject matter, the human condition, and much more. Thank you.
You mention 1977. Funny thing is the Grand Marquis only came in two colors for 1976, canary yellow and dove grey. For 1977 it was the first year you could order it in any color.
I spent my childhood until 1993 in a black 1978 Grand Marquis (there's a shot of it in a video on my channel). I could remember the antenna motor, the light covers open and closing, the smell of that old leather, the tinny speakers playing some banger 8-tracks, the massive back seat (where my car seat once was, and as i was older, where i laid without a seatbelt for naps). Thank you for this video. Seeing this land yacht get a proper send-off was a better film than has any motion picture released in years.
That car was a beautiful luxury ride once upon a time. Big block engine. Plush interior. I had a 78 Marquis with vinyl covered headlamp covers. White with green cloth interior. Vinyl top. Gutless. But rode like floating on a cloud. I did the same thing. Got a big bearing 9" rear end, C6 and a 460.
If you are planning to drive one of these old land yachts, but need to do engine and transmission, go for a 351W built to 1989 Panther spec. More horsepower and more torque than the old 460. Backed by a mechanical AOD with carb linkage, and then a dual 2¼ exhaust. That will even return 30+ miles to the gallon in the highway.
É triste ver o carro se acabar dessa maneira jogado no campo… Pelo menos ele teve uma última volta honrosa. Para nós que não temos o prazer de ter naves como essa no Brasil parece que dói mais né ver o fim dessa grande máquina.
@@peterphillips1493 Would have to agree - that tune was very popular back in the day, and was commonly heard on easy-listening radio stations. However, prior to this video, it was a few decades since I last heard this tune.
The car was resigned to rotting in the field for decades, never to be used again Yet a miracle let it take one last spin, and one last tune. It was a blessing for it But after the ride, it was apparent this could only be for the one time And that cool donor 460, it will live on in another car
@@man.506 This doesn't sound like the original version, but it's titled "Love's Theme" originally by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra released in 1973. As I mentioned earlier, this was a popular tune throughout the 70s - not surprised it is on an eight track tape for a late 70s car. Original song can be found here: ruclips.net/video/RLTJ95kj9ng/видео.html - I prefer the original to the version played. Edit: If you read the description to the video, it's stated this is Henry Mancini's version of Love's Theme. If you prefer this version, you can listen to it here: ruclips.net/video/jy0XaTWUi_Q/видео.html. Mancini's version is a medley, and transitions from Love's Theme into The Sound of Philadelphia (as stated in the video description). Happy listening!
The poor beast was beyond saving, it’s soul was still there but it’s body was gone, thank you for taking it somewhere and giving it the chance to be useful again in something else. It’s like watching the song of a titanic white swan, the last noise of an 8 track past. Thank you a thousand times for giving it a loving end.
Shame no one was interested about the interior and those electrically adjustable seats. Glad you saved the engine + drivetrain. That degree of frame rot was the first I've ever seen
@@GalaxieMarauderthe car needed to roll, most likely, and they aren't as valuable as they once were, now that one can simply build a brand new one to order.
Man, the 8 track drove the point home really nicely... I'm not a car guy by any means but this got me to sit down and watch one and a half hour of this. It was great.
I guess I have more to say. Simon, you are such a great story teller, even without speaking. I have to admit, I spent a good bit of today, mourning the loss of that poor old MGM. There truly was not much left to save. The damage was done and there wasn't much you could do. I hope you find an appropriate recipient for her powerplant. I feel a little goofy for feeling sad about the car. Still, you conjured that up in me, and that is to your credit. I look forward to what you have for us next.
Almost shed a tear at the end, loved when you lit the cigar and embarked on your hell lap, at least its heart will live on in another project, i would have taken the ford nine inch diff out, they are sought after over here in down under. A fitting tribute !
Confidence, drive, and intellect are the cornerstones of success. People possess varying degrees of all three, lack them altogether, or only have one or two of these qualities. When people do impressive work like this guy, you know they’re not lacking in any area. It’s a rare thing to behold.
@@j.r4985 I had pondered this man's want to do this (first time here @SimonFordman) out in that field alone akin to Derek sans the lingo jingle dangle but DB has been at it for a long time now and this kid has been posting on RUclips for just about, what 2 years, I digress though, just to see how much drive this kid has along with his confidence which seemed unending and ya gotta give him props for intellect to boot...
Man, I don't even like cars and this video was wonderful. The shot selection, the atmosphere, the dedication to the effort - genuinely a piece of art. This could easily have been an hour-plus long narrated walkthrough of a car restoration, but you really made it your own and added a ton of character. Love it love it love it.
I've become obsessed with your channel. This is my favorite because my first car was a 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis Brougham with a 460. We got it some time around 1987 or 88. I loved that car. I've been living in MN since 1997 and as far as I can tell that's where you are too. Keep up the good work! I'm sure you have haters in the comments from time to time talking about how you're doing things wrong. Ignore them. You're out there getting it done, and we appreciate that you take the time to post it for us to see.
Who the hell would have thought of that! The Mercury makes music as it rocks off into the distance. You have a brilliant way of putting together over an hours worth of unbelievably entertaining magicness( ooo I've just come up with a new word). I can only imagine the effort you put in to edit, let alone the spanner energy. I can't do much these days as I'm sat around waiting for a back operation. Watching your efforts, the way you go about your work, the super great transitions from spanners one minute to a pigeon cooing away on a rooftop the next, it one of the things that makee my day good.. Superb, Love it, very special and real. Thanks Buddy. You're a pleasure to watch. ❤
Why am i crying??i can feel the sentiment..it was a big deal in those days,to own a car like that.a job,a car,wife and children,white picket fence,and friends and bbq s on saturdays,thats a whole life going by❤😢❤❤❤🚗thanks for bringing the old lady to life once more.❤❤❤
Thanks kindly for a blast from the past. Have owned several Grand Marquis over the last four decades, and seeing you send it off in style with the tape deck, shows you are a man beyond your years. Not trying to be a comedian, just doing some work. I enjoy some of those guys as well, but you are a breath of fresh air. Much respect to you. Thanks for your effort you put into your videos,it is thoroughly enjoyed. Enjoy the endings as well. Always enjoy a cat video. 😎
Quelle belle vidéo, merci! Quand je vois cette vieille Américaine j'ai un petit pincement au cœur, doublé d'une curieuse nostalgie car cette "Grande Marquise" (comme nous dirions en Français parce que "voiture" pour nous est féminin) parcourait déjà les Etats-Unis depuis 14 ans quand je suis né. Si les voitures pouvaient parler elles auraient bien des choses à nous raconter!
Wow, you made my day. Your video gave me memories of each of my last rides to the crusher. I was always last user of some old car. You elevated it to such a high level. Such a wonderful ritual of the One. Last. Ride. Thank you so much.
thank you for your truly amazing, relaxing, and peaceful video. it was what i needed. some detoxication from short form content and drama. this felt like a movie and i never got bored. i hope the Grand Marquis is in car heaven now. you really blessed it with that one last drive and in the end where you made it play one final song on the speakers. bravo.
It gave me great joy to see you bring the car back to life for one last ride, having fun driving around the field where it sat for so long.. And gave me such solemn feelings of sadness but respect hearing the 8 track radio playing the car off with the music as it gets sent off to the grave.
This was amazing!! That car sat since the mid-90’s until now. Can’t believe you got it started! This was awesome video editing! That music at the end was epic!! Absolutely phenomenal!!
It's really nice to see a vehicle being saved. Imagine how much history it must have gone through since it left the factory. It's even sadder when it reaches its final moment of life. The end of the video was sad. I believe it will be shredded. =(
Don’t leave your truck door open. I had a mouse jump into my ‘83 250 and took up residence under my seat. I tried to scare it out and it jumped behind side floor vent wall, died there and stunk the truck up something awful.
I was doing an injector on a 7.3, i left my door open to play the radio, when i took the injector out i decided to crank it over one good turn with the starter to clear the cylinder of oil, it fucking fired oil all over the engine bay, hood, fender, truck next to it, my tools, my driver seat, door, dash, windshield inside and out, and steering wheel. Gotta shut them doors lmao
Amazing! So simple. Yet, so powerful and captivating. I watched it all to the end. It felt like participating in real life. You are an excellent mechanic.
what get me is the ending when the tow truck hauling away the car drives away and seeing the restored old blue or silver ford on the side of the road just goes to show how life in old cars can survive, but others serve their purpose and come to and end.
Can't imagine how long these take to edit... must be 24 hours of editing work for every hour of finished product... I appreciate all the many nice touches, incl. the fire extinguisher at hand.
Watching you romp her around in the fields one last time was great! She wasn't rusty and falling apart. She was undergoing natural weight reduction to get faster fir that last run! A friend of mine had a 1969(I think) Thunderbird with a 460 Jet Thrush? Or maybe just a 460 Jet. The back seat was bigger than most NY apartments!😅
You sir are the Howard Carter of auto archeology , Sergio Leone of car western. and the Resto Daddy extraordinaire. Very cool ending. I actually had that eight track back in the day. It was a demo that Mercury gave with a new car purchase. You remind me of myself. I was taking cars apart and putting them back together as a teenager. I got all of my repair parts at a local junk yard. I had built two hot rods and had six cars before ever getting a drivers permit. Although, I had no where near the skills that you have. I’m an old codger now and can barely do much on anything. It is so refreshing to see a young man having a passion for work such as this and going out and doing it as opposed to sitting on the couch glued to a device. Thanks very much for your dedication, hard work, and sharing with folks . Cheers!!
The Last 3 minute of that video brings me tears in my eyes. The music tell me , goodbye my Love, and thanks for so many mile with you. My heart ist hit to see that.
Dude, this came up in my feed tonight and I’ve never seen you before. Maybe watching Marty T, South Main Auto, Andrew Camarata ,triggered the algorithm. Just WOW on the cinematography. I love no music and just the sounds of you working. I’m hard of hearing so subtitles and CC are the best (even auto generated is better than none). Thanks for not pointing the camera at your face and blah blah blahing all day long. I immediately change channels when I see content like that. Now some are ok Watch Wes Work is one as he isn’t blathering to blather. Anyway if you read this being a few months along then great if not no worries. I’ll go back in your vids and find some more to watch.
Dude you're the best on RUclips, great vidéos, always good pictures ,and sweet cats ,thanks a lot for to give us the best car videos on RUclips, your work is just perfect !!
You're working in tall grass, you pop a small c clip into the atmosphere, and it lands on your shirt?!?!?!?!? Buddy, you need to motor down to your local stop and rob and get yourself a lottery ticket, lol. Excellent video, again!
This was an incredible and very inventive bit of film making. No dialogue, no wise cracks, no making up words as you go, you just went in balls deep and turned ruined metal into gold. You honestly should be doing short films, and I'm not talking doing RUclips shorts, I mean, stuff that tours festivals. Really engaging, and very well done! Thank you for sharing.
I feel sorry for this poor car considering the state it was in. She must have been a beauty in her glory days. Thanks a lot for giving a last tribute 🙌
There's so much garbage on tv/netflix/whatever, THANK GOD for youtube channels like yours! Your filming and editing is top notch - what a pleasure to watch. Keep it up, please! 🙂
This young man's cinematography story telling skills can evoke more emotional investment than Hollywood can manage with a block-buster budget. Just as impressive is his mechanic talent that seems well advanced beyond his years. A very gifted lad.
Thank you for giving the time and energy to give it one last ride. Still a sad ending, but a bit happier knowing it got to putter around one final time.
Hate see an old one die but shows how well that were built, rusted to nothing and still got it running. Try that with these new cars in 40 years. I wonder where the old engine is going to end up in?😂
@@SimonFordman would be nice if you could find the same type of car like the LTD types and give it new life 😁. But those engines were in everything back then I’m sure you’ll find something it will work in
I don't understand YT. I've never sought out "last ride" videos or similar. And just a few hours ago a tow truck came to environmentally dispose of our car, which has been in the family for 29 years - a Skoda Felicia combi. A car that had really served faithfully, no faults, just consumables. I still feel anxious...it's just that the bodywork was already rusty. I'm not a mechanic and nobody wanted it for free. I started the car yesterday after six months just in case, and today it drove itself onto the undercarriage of a tow truck. You suddenly remember your dad who bought the car all the more, you remember the trips abroad, what it all carried. It was a faithful, modest machine. Literally.
I like how you see things... way to go !! I was dropped off in elementary school with the same car. As was many other kids (with similar cars). Keep doing the silent, no guitar-solo videos ! Love your stuff and style.
I've said it before and I'll say it again 'you're the best-of-the-best' when it comes to saving & maintaining classic American Iron, in this case your gave the old Mercury a truly Grand send off, another great video as always it felt like being there step by step, once again a perfect farewell to the wreckers yard in the sky.
I had a '77 Grand Marquis as a company car, what a boat! The hood had as much sheet metal as a Corolla. Towed to 750 Hondas from Chicago to Daytona and back for bike week with it. This one you have is "bale-a-car" worthy. Love your cat, he/she is a "squealer'!
Your mechanical and cinematography skills are amazing. Hollywood should take note. The last scene was very moving, sad, actually. It reminded me of the ending of Tinker, Tailor ,Soldier, Spy (2011). Your cat is funny; he/she likes being drummed on. :)
You can tell, in that final lap you gave 'er, the roar of that 460 was the whoop and holler of an old soul, given life once more. in the Warhammer 40k universe, there's the Adeptus Mechanicus. One of the things they believe is that all machines have a "Machine Spirit" within them. This one most certainly did. A proud spirit, and one that was not ready to simply give up and die. Thank you, for giving the machine the final send-off it deserved.
At some point it rolled off the assembly line, proudly inspected by a worker who has long passed away. It was brought to a dealership where the first owner looked at it with shiny eyes, signed on the dotted line and drove home his brand new purchase. Many years later someone parked that perfectly fine Mercury in a field where - left to fight the elements on its own - it slowly wasted away. This video was its final ride, long after the Mercury brand had been dissolved, before it was finally given the coup de grace. With its death there is now one less automobile that witnessed America in its glory and stood the test of time to show the younger generation what has once been.
I have had my vehicle 28 years and counting. We have been through so much together, far more than any human would ever stay with me. She is my best friend, by far. I never dreamed she would be my last vehicle when I started our long journey together in 1996. She was so new, so untouched. Today, at 447,000 miles on the odometer and climbing, she still seems so very new and so very liberating to me. I love her more each day. I believe we have another 25 to 30 years together. One day, it will come that my final days will be numbered. It will be then that my dear Stargazer will be laid to rest, before I finally disappear. I was there to take her off the show room floor in 1996. I will be there for her to be crushed into a worthless steel cube. Shortly after, I will join her in oblivion. I love you Stargazer. I love you forever. Thank you for so many wonderful years of freedom and adventure.
An old car should never die alone without taking its last lap around the neighborhood and thanking it for the wonderful years on the road.
every car does its last lap eventually
Not true many classic cars still on road as daily drivers or weekend drivers or car show cruisers
You wont see a 50 year old EV In the future. Cars progress went down from when they started all the emissions crap
@@bluesatmosphere4659 Sometimes the control arm breaks off and you steer into a tree.
@@bluesatmosphere4659Not every car
I imagine the moment when this car was new. Someone saved money, chose it, waited, first meeting, first trip. So many events in the family. Where are these people now?
🪦🪦
Given the age of the car they're probably long dead by now.
6 feet under
The individual who bought this new would, considering the demographics of these full-size cars in the 1970s, probably be over 100 now. Their first car was probably something old enough to have a crank starter. Unfortunately, cars like people, don’t stay with us forever.
@@anonuser5852Was definitely bought by a 40/50 year old new. I could imagine an old man/ old lady had been driving it in the 90s. Makes me sad.
I couldn't help but shed a tear when the player started playing. It was as if that old Grand Marquis was singing one last time like it used to before it left forever.
Изясняйтесь чтобы вас могли понимать не только чурки но и. Русские
I'm surprised that tape even played and wasn't all gummed up. They tend to absorb moisture.
@@scaryfakevirus I strongly suspect the music was edited in.
It reminded me of Christine alot
Timestamp?
This will make men cry. Imagine all the places that machine went, all the people it took their destinations day by day. The grocery store, the doctor, trips to the Christmas party.
Now, all gone, back to the earth it goes. RIP
I appreciate your words
@@satendersingh8130I've often thought that very thing when in the boneyard. The memories, the places they've been, how they meant something to someone.
@@zezezosezadafrak8210 yes
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain
كذلك الإنسان سوف يعود إلى الأرض التي تم خلقه منها وبعد العودة يذوب في الأرض إلى حين يأذن الله بعودته للحياة الأبدية التي تكون خيرا للبشر الصالحين الموحدين ،
وتكون وبالا وعذابا على الأشرار .
Am I the only one who really enjoys the no talking part of all these videos. As a car guy my whole life . unable to really wtench much anymore. this is so relaxing and fullfilling!!
Definitely better than some of the big channels like restored that's way over edited and commercialized with stupid music added in
Talking wasn’t necessary was it.
@@liamgross7217 well...not always but sometimes its better than reading captions. Just my take
@@GalaxieMarauder for sure, I was a little surprised that I watched till the end. However the vision communicated everything I needed to know without a verbal explanation . Actually it very well shot and edited. PS I hate having to read (captions) a video.
@@liamgross7217 i understand the comment about Restored though. Those guys do a little too much SCRIPTED talking. Its like watching a Car show on QVC. My problem is using music as filler creates copyright issues. And using copyright free music leaves you guessing what it is as you try to create a theme for the show
I see cars like this and cant help but think of all of the people it took to build this machine. I see it moving down a factory line as workers assemble their parts. The time that it took to design and create. Engineers working to create every single part. How many hands touched this car to make it a reality? The lives of the people who built this to make a living and support their families. It is truly amazing.
Dude, finalizing this particular video with the sounds off that 8-track, where your videos are normal fairly silent, was a stroke of genius. Perfectly played. You managed to humanize this old car. Well done, as always!!!
Thanks!
@@SimonFordman How were you able to film that mouse, were you using a drone It zoomed right in on it. BTW, Ford has the best electrical systems of any car. Have you noticed how almost everything worked after all these years sitting in a field?
@@edwardskoda2409Tripod i guess?
@@edwardskoda2409he changer the battery
my dad has a lincoln continental sitting in his garrage. The windows were tempered glass, full leather interior, leather roof, the whole mile. it was a beauty, and took up 2x the space a normal car would. As a kid whenever i could i would sit in the driver seat and imagine driving it. It was my dream to ride it one day, but it was constantly broken all the time. You fix one thing, another breaks and the loop begins. Despite the years, its in almost perfect condition, with only visible discrepancies being the out of shape rear fender (my dad couldnt bend it into place himself). It was the car my father and mother drove on their wedding, and it was also a car other pepole rented for theirs. We still have the orginal (i think its either california or colorado) license plate from the states. She's a beauty. Im glad you mannaged to restore this piece of history to working order. Cheers from Poland.
You better make sure he never lets go of that thing
It never ceases to amaze me how people will take perfectly good vehicles and do things like park them in a field. I can understand wanting to hold on to something for sentimental reasons, but if you're just gonna neglect it, sell the damn thing. At lease then it could have stayed on the road and been taken care of.
Yea, it's a shame.
once had a car that was driven until it was too rotten to pass inspection, it ended up living a second life as a garden shed
bro that frame was prolly snapped before parking it lmao rust dont do that
@@spike_-pw9izclearly you don't know what you talking about rust 100% does that😂 especially the Rainy Minnesota climate
Come and buy my pieces of crap then and they wont go to waste
This young man is the real deal - no bullsh**, just pure gold of mechanics. Wondeful job, my friend. Thank you for share knowledge.
I enjoyed every minute of it ❤
You gave her a beautiful send off. Breaks my heart to see these giants rot away like this one. Your efforts were worth it in the end. Cheers.
The
👍
one of the most beautiful movies that i have ever seen, mad respect
no music, no talking, phenomenal minimalistic shots
cheers from poland, made my day
Something about the camera angles, the vista of that lonely field, the title, and the general quiet atmosphere made this video an oddly emotional watch. Hearing the last gasp of that 8 track player as the car was pulled away felt bittersweet. You can't save them all, but its the respectfulness of your efforts that make these videos such gems. Here's hoping that engine/trans goes to good use! Thanks for another great watch.
Thanks for enjoying it!
You nailed it! The door lock button with the cobwebs,those shots and the silence and the way he does certain things brings a slight humor that only a car guy would understand.
Could almost see the smile on the veteran giant racing through the field where he had sat for so long, an honorable last ride. There might also have been a hint of a peaceful expression during the windy ride being towed to your garage. And that's not to mention the amazing quality and good taste of the shooting angles, editing and the bittersweet farewell with the song. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this generous deed.
i like to think of this car in the showroom in 1977, polished and eager to be driven. Heartbreakingly sad that it came to this, but you restored much of its dignity before it made its final journey. This, and your other videos, although dialogue-free, speak volumes about their subject matter, the human condition, and much more. Thank you.
It's really something to imagine this car when it was brand new, seems so far away.
You mention 1977. Funny thing is the Grand Marquis only came in two colors for 1976, canary yellow and dove grey. For 1977 it was the first year you could order it in any color.
Everybody's gotta go somehow... Don't be sad that it ended, be happy that it happened
I spent my childhood until 1993 in a black 1978 Grand Marquis (there's a shot of it in a video on my channel). I could remember the antenna motor, the light covers open and closing, the smell of that old leather, the tinny speakers playing some banger 8-tracks, the massive back seat (where my car seat once was, and as i was older, where i laid without a seatbelt for naps). Thank you for this video. Seeing this land yacht get a proper send-off was a better film than has any motion picture released in years.
That car was a beautiful luxury ride once upon a time. Big block engine. Plush interior. I had a 78 Marquis with vinyl covered headlamp covers. White with green cloth interior. Vinyl top. Gutless. But rode like floating on a cloud. I did the same thing. Got a big bearing 9" rear end, C6 and a 460.
Very nice
If you are planning to drive one of these old land yachts, but need to do engine and transmission, go for a 351W built to 1989 Panther spec. More horsepower and more torque than the old 460. Backed by a mechanical AOD with carb linkage, and then a dual 2¼ exhaust. That will even return 30+ miles to the gallon in the highway.
Noted@@michaeltutty1540
Here in Brazil, seeing this spectacular work, American cars really are top notch, especially the old ones🇧🇷🇧🇷🇦🇷🇧🇷🇦🇷
É triste ver o carro se acabar dessa maneira jogado no campo… Pelo menos ele teve uma última volta honrosa. Para nós que não temos o prazer de ter naves como essa no Brasil parece que dói mais né ver o fim dessa grande máquina.
This was really THE LAST RIDE of this car. With that music ending with its life, when this car was launched made really a point.
Probably the last time that those songs will ever be heard by a human ear.
@@peterphillips1493 Would have to agree - that tune was very popular back in the day, and was commonly heard on easy-listening radio stations. However, prior to this video, it was a few decades since I last heard this tune.
Whats the name of this song, i wish i could listen it on my free time
The car was resigned to rotting in the field for decades, never to be used again
Yet a miracle let it take one last spin, and one last tune. It was a blessing for it
But after the ride, it was apparent this could only be for the one time
And that cool donor 460, it will live on in another car
@@man.506 This doesn't sound like the original version, but it's titled "Love's Theme" originally by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra released in 1973. As I mentioned earlier, this was a popular tune throughout the 70s - not surprised it is on an eight track tape for a late 70s car. Original song can be found here: ruclips.net/video/RLTJ95kj9ng/видео.html - I prefer the original to the version played.
Edit: If you read the description to the video, it's stated this is Henry Mancini's version of Love's Theme. If you prefer this version, you can listen to it here: ruclips.net/video/jy0XaTWUi_Q/видео.html. Mancini's version is a medley, and transitions from Love's Theme into The Sound of Philadelphia (as stated in the video description). Happy listening!
The poor beast was beyond saving, it’s soul was still there but it’s body was gone, thank you for taking it somewhere and giving it the chance to be useful again in something else. It’s like watching the song of a titanic white swan, the last noise of an 8 track past. Thank you a thousand times for giving it a loving end.
Shame no one was interested about the interior and those electrically adjustable seats. Glad you saved the engine + drivetrain. That degree of frame rot was the first I've ever seen
Yea I never saw a frame so bad either
@@SimonFordman why didnt you take the rear end? A Ford 9" is valuable even if you dont use it.
@@GalaxieMarauderthe car needed to roll, most likely, and they aren't as valuable as they once were, now that one can simply build a brand new one to order.
@@twoeightythreez yea you dont know what you are talking about. Silence is your friend. 9" are beloved by all.
@@GalaxieMarauder Sure they are, but obviously this one wasnt. Probably rotten like the car
This is fr the best video I've ever seen on youtube related to cars. No stupid music, no unnecessary explanation, just straight up what you are doing.
Once a gleaming luxury car that someone was proud to own to a pile of rust in a field. Those old 400 and 351 motors are bullet proof.
This one is a 460
Man, the 8 track drove the point home really nicely... I'm not a car guy by any means but this got me to sit down and watch one and a half hour of this. It was great.
Watching as the engine springs back to life always puts an smile in my face
I guess I have more to say. Simon, you are such a great story teller, even without speaking. I have to admit, I spent a good bit of today, mourning the loss of that poor old MGM. There truly was not much left to save. The damage was done and there wasn't much you could do. I hope you find an appropriate recipient for her powerplant. I feel a little goofy for feeling sad about the car. Still, you conjured that up in me, and that is to your credit. I look forward to what you have for us next.
When that trunk opened and there was 2 full size spare tires back there, I yelled and woke the misses up. Good job brother.👍🏻👍🏻
I was also very excited in that moment
Almost shed a tear at the end, loved when you lit the cigar and embarked on your hell lap, at least its heart will live on in another project, i would have taken the ford nine inch diff out, they are sought after over here in down under.
A fitting tribute !
Its fascinating how youre able to make these great films so often, please keep it up!
Confidence, drive, and intellect are the cornerstones of success. People possess varying degrees of all three, lack them altogether, or only have one or two of these qualities. When people do impressive work like this guy, you know they’re not lacking in any area. It’s a rare thing to behold.
@@j.r4985 Yeah, I wish I was half as cool as this guy
Simon must be a student of film making.
@@j.r4985 I had pondered this man's want to do this (first time here @SimonFordman) out in that field alone akin to Derek sans the lingo jingle dangle but DB has been at it for a long time now and this kid has been posting on RUclips for just about, what 2 years, I digress though, just to see how much drive this kid has along with his confidence which seemed unending and ya gotta give him props for intellect to boot...
Man, I don't even like cars and this video was wonderful. The shot selection, the atmosphere, the dedication to the effort - genuinely a piece of art. This could easily have been an hour-plus long narrated walkthrough of a car restoration, but you really made it your own and added a ton of character. Love it love it love it.
Thanks so much, that means a lot!
Glamorous ending the previous owner possibly played that 8 track when he drove of the forecourt.
I've become obsessed with your channel. This is my favorite because my first car was a 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis Brougham with a 460. We got it some time around 1987 or 88. I loved that car. I've been living in MN since 1997 and as far as I can tell that's where you are too. Keep up the good work! I'm sure you have haters in the comments from time to time talking about how you're doing things wrong. Ignore them. You're out there getting it done, and we appreciate that you take the time to post it for us to see.
Thank you for the kind words, it really means a lot. And it’s always nice to hear from another Minnesotan.
Who the hell would have thought of that! The Mercury makes music as it rocks off into the distance.
You have a brilliant way of putting together over an hours worth of unbelievably entertaining magicness( ooo I've just come up with a new word).
I can only imagine the effort you put in to edit, let alone the spanner energy.
I can't do much these days as I'm sat around waiting for a back operation. Watching your efforts, the way you go about your work, the super great transitions from spanners one minute to a pigeon cooing away on a rooftop the next, it one of the things that makee my day good..
Superb, Love it, very special and real. Thanks Buddy. You're a pleasure to watch. ❤
My sentiments exactly !!
😊
Thanks for watching! Best wishes about your back operation
24 minutes in... "Imma need gloves now" .
Incredible knowledge and ability, so so interesting to watch you revive this vehicle. Thanks for sharing.
I was not expecting it to get that emotional at the end
Why am i crying??i can feel the sentiment..it was a big deal in those days,to own a car like that.a job,a car,wife and children,white picket fence,and friends and bbq s on saturdays,thats a whole life going by❤😢❤❤❤🚗thanks for bringing the old lady to life once more.❤❤❤
Thanks kindly for a blast from the past. Have owned several Grand Marquis over the last four decades, and seeing you send it off in style with the tape deck, shows you are a man beyond your years. Not trying to be a comedian, just doing some work. I enjoy some of those guys as well, but you are a breath of fresh air. Much respect to you. Thanks for your effort you put into your videos,it is thoroughly enjoyed. Enjoy the endings as well. Always enjoy a cat video. 😎
Thank you for watching!
Quelle belle vidéo, merci! Quand je vois cette vieille Américaine j'ai un petit pincement au cœur, doublé d'une curieuse nostalgie car cette "Grande Marquise" (comme nous dirions en Français parce que "voiture" pour nous est féminin) parcourait déjà les Etats-Unis depuis 14 ans quand je suis né. Si les voitures pouvaient parler elles auraient bien des choses à nous raconter!
1:20:43 The ending is absolute cinema, rest in peace Grand Marquis 🙏
🙏🏾🙏🏾
I think that's what cinema has left aside for a long time. hollywood just make movies empty of content lately.
Wow, you made my day. Your video gave me memories of each of my last rides to the crusher. I was always last user of some old car. You elevated it to such a high level. Such a wonderful ritual of the One. Last. Ride. Thank you so much.
Simon, you pulled it out of its grave and let it live for a short time more. Amazing.
thank you for your truly amazing, relaxing, and peaceful video. it was what i needed. some detoxication from short form content and drama. this felt like a movie and i never got bored. i hope the Grand Marquis is in car heaven now. you really blessed it with that one last drive and in the end where you made it play one final song on the speakers. bravo.
It gave me great joy to see you bring the car back to life for one last ride, having fun driving around the field where it sat for so long..
And gave me such solemn feelings of sadness but respect hearing the 8 track radio playing the car off with the music as it gets sent off to the grave.
This video.... is art. And that mercury really told his story. Amazing work friend. Thank you!
This was amazing!! That car sat since the mid-90’s until now. Can’t believe you got it started! This was awesome video editing! That music at the end was epic!! Absolutely phenomenal!!
Thanks!
What year was that Mercury???
I watched it until the end without getting bored. I admired your respect for nature and your talent. American, love from Istanbul. 🙋🏽♂️
The majestic Grand Marquis fades into oblivion. Terribly sad end to what must have been such a plush car. The music was absolutely perfect. 💔✨
Bravo!!!! 🇺🇦 ❤️ 🇺🇲
Beautiful video. You gave the car a wonderful last ride. So much love is shown here, not only for the car but the history it had. Best ending ever!
It's really nice to see a vehicle being saved. Imagine how much history it must have gone through since it left the factory. It's even sadder when it reaches its final moment of life. The end of the video was sad. I believe it will be shredded. =(
Unfortunately so
@@SimonFordman REMOVE TRIM AND CHROME. ALWAYS.
Man, congratulations for your work! and the superb editing of the footage! You are the Tarkovsky of car restoration!
Don’t leave your truck door open. I had a mouse jump into my ‘83 250 and took up residence under my seat. I tried to scare it out and it jumped behind side floor vent wall, died there and stunk the truck up something awful.
Mmm yea, I didn't even think of that.
I was doing an injector on a 7.3, i left my door open to play the radio, when i took the injector out i decided to crank it over one good turn with the starter to clear the cylinder of oil, it fucking fired oil all over the engine bay, hood, fender, truck next to it, my tools, my driver seat, door, dash, windshield inside and out, and steering wheel. Gotta shut them doors lmao
@@ColdStartAuto I think we could say, this backfired real bad
@@SimonFordmanDid you save and keep it?
I let my windows open all year to get that vintage mildew smell out of some cars sitting in my barn, never though of that 😂
Amazing! So simple. Yet, so powerful and captivating. I watched it all to the end. It felt like participating in real life. You are an excellent mechanic.
what get me is the ending when the tow truck hauling away the car drives away and seeing the restored old blue or silver ford on the side of the road just goes to show how life in old cars can survive, but others serve their purpose and come to and end.
Well said
@@SimonFordmanthanks for the memories!
You did a great job at making the entire video cinematically pleasing. I felt at peace after watching this. Bravo
Can't imagine how long these take to edit... must be 24 hours of editing work for every hour of finished product... I appreciate all the many nice touches, incl. the fire extinguisher at hand.
That interior was just like my 73 LTD Brougham. Awesome that the electricals still worked.
That thing was half returned to the earth when you decided to bring it back. Well done, hahaha.
Watching you romp her around in the fields one last time was great! She wasn't rusty and falling apart. She was undergoing natural weight reduction to get faster fir that last run! A friend of mine had a 1969(I think) Thunderbird with a 460 Jet Thrush? Or maybe just a 460 Jet. The back seat was bigger than most NY apartments!😅
0:58 The mouse: What's up buddy? You wanna take a ride?
haha
I personally prefer at 58:52 where the mouse is like OMG where am I? Where have you taken my home? 😂
Pay a rent!
Never!
You sir are the Howard Carter of auto archeology , Sergio Leone of car western. and the Resto Daddy extraordinaire.
Very cool ending. I actually had that eight track back in the day. It was a demo that Mercury gave with a new car purchase.
You remind me of myself. I was taking cars apart and putting them back together as a teenager. I got all of my repair parts at a local junk yard. I had built two hot rods and had six cars before ever getting a drivers permit. Although, I had no where near the skills that you have.
I’m an old codger now and can barely do much on anything.
It is so refreshing to see a young man having a passion for work such as this and going out and doing it as opposed to sitting on the couch glued to a device. Thanks very much for your dedication, hard work, and sharing with folks . Cheers!!
The Last 3 minute of that video brings me tears in my eyes. The music tell me , goodbye my Love, and thanks for so many mile with you. My heart ist hit to see that.
The passion you put into the vehicle without talking......I couldn't resist but subscribe to your channel. ❤❤❤
Old Fords and Mercurys never really die they just fade away. 😢
Dude, this came up in my feed tonight and I’ve never seen you before. Maybe watching Marty T, South Main Auto, Andrew Camarata ,triggered the algorithm. Just WOW on the cinematography. I love no music and just the sounds of you working. I’m hard of hearing so subtitles and CC are the best (even auto generated is better than none). Thanks for not pointing the camera at your face and blah blah blahing all day long. I immediately change channels when I see content like that. Now some are ok Watch Wes Work is one as he isn’t blathering to blather. Anyway if you read this being a few months along then great if not no worries. I’ll go back in your vids and find some more to watch.
I'm glad to hear you like the channel. I really appreciate the kind words.
At the end that was a nice car funeral, music and all. Great job of filming.
That was a sweet ride. I remember playing with my grandfathers electric antenna. Great job. The gas tank strapped to the front is classic.
Fantastic work, SimonFordman. The nostalgic 8-track music at the end really wrapped it up for a heartfelt sendoff. What a journey!
This is poetry. Thank you for sharing and documenting it the way you did.
Never seen such a moving video about a car like this.
Dude you're the best on RUclips, great vidéos, always good pictures ,and sweet cats ,thanks a lot for to give us the best car videos on RUclips, your work is just perfect !!
Much appreciated!
Man, what is it with old cars being romanticized so easily? 10 sad movies in a row couldn't make me almost cry like this video does.
You're working in tall grass, you pop a small c clip into the atmosphere, and it lands on your shirt?!?!?!?!? Buddy, you need to motor down to your local stop and rob and get yourself a lottery ticket, lol. Excellent video, again!
Dang, you're right. Thanks
It was emotional, truly. As if old man finaly found peace before passing away.
This was an incredible and very inventive bit of film making. No dialogue, no wise cracks, no making up words as you go, you just went in balls deep and turned ruined metal into gold. You honestly should be doing short films, and I'm not talking doing RUclips shorts, I mean, stuff that tours festivals.
Really engaging, and very well done! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
I feel sorry for this poor car considering the state it was in.
She must have been a beauty in her glory days.
Thanks a lot for giving a last tribute
🙌
There's so much garbage on tv/netflix/whatever, THANK GOD for youtube channels like yours! Your filming and editing is top notch - what a pleasure to watch. Keep it up, please! 🙂
Thanks!
Amazing a 460 big block from 1977. Worth between $300 - $800. Nice score.
Wow. She sounds healthy for the state she’s in!
This young man's cinematography story telling skills can evoke more emotional investment than Hollywood can manage with a block-buster budget. Just as impressive is his mechanic talent that seems well advanced beyond his years. A very gifted lad.
what a nice liitle mouse in the air filter !!
I believe that, that is a Deer Mouse. They have big eyes and a white underbelly.
It's just a common brown mouse. You're making things up
Quite a cute little fellow indeed, despite having wreaked havoc on my luxury automobile.
Not really, look up the difference between a House mouse and a Deer mouse. They have subtle but noticeable differences.
@@SimonFordman Probably thought "Ain't nobody going to mess with THIS particular car - I'll live here, then".
Life sucks, Mousie. Assume nothing!
it served its purpose to go fast one last time, and its beating heart will go on to bring new life to another car in need. Salute.
Thank you for giving the time and energy to give it one last ride. Still a sad ending, but a bit happier knowing it got to putter around one final time.
I picture myself there out in the country working to start these old Ford motors on again. Love what you do, regards from ARG.
Hate see an old one die but shows how well that were built, rusted to nothing and still got it running. Try that with these new cars in 40 years. I wonder where the old engine is going to end up in?😂
I agree. I'm on the lookout for something to drop the engine and transmission into.
@@SimonFordman would be nice if you could find the same type of car like the LTD types and give it new life 😁. But those engines were in everything back then I’m sure you’ll find something it will work in
Putting it into another boat would be nice, I was thinking more of a lightweight race car though
@@SimonFordman both of those could be screaming 😂
The connection between man and his vehicle is a beautiful thing.
You can always tell a 1970's car. People always put that Prestone flush fitting in their heater hoses.
Haha yea, you're totally right
My 72 F250 has one…I should probably get it outta there
She still has that power, thank you sir for bringing her back to life ❤❤, hope to see it restored
I don't understand YT. I've never sought out "last ride" videos or similar. And just a few hours ago a tow truck came to environmentally dispose of our car, which has been in the family for 29 years - a Skoda Felicia combi. A car that had really served faithfully, no faults, just consumables. I still feel anxious...it's just that the bodywork was already rusty. I'm not a mechanic and nobody wanted it for free. I started the car yesterday after six months just in case, and today it drove itself onto the undercarriage of a tow truck. You suddenly remember your dad who bought the car all the more, you remember the trips abroad, what it all carried. It was a faithful, modest machine. Literally.
lol the 8 track head is stuck on at least two tracks at once. the solenoids get tired after a while and stuff misaligns. fantastic video, thank you!
I like how you see things... way to go !! I was dropped off in elementary school with the same car. As was many other kids (with similar cars). Keep doing the silent, no guitar-solo videos ! Love your stuff and style.
Very cool, thanks!
When they finally start it always be a sound that makes us smile , shid most of them end up running way better than we ever thought
I've said it before and I'll say it again 'you're the best-of-the-best' when it comes to saving & maintaining classic American Iron, in this case your gave the old Mercury a truly Grand send off, another great video as always it felt like being there step by step, once again a perfect farewell to the wreckers yard in the sky.
Thank you!
I had a '77 Grand Marquis as a company car, what a boat! The hood had as much sheet metal as a Corolla. Towed to 750 Hondas from Chicago to Daytona and back for bike week with it. This one you have is "bale-a-car" worthy. Love your cat, he/she is a "squealer'!
Your mechanical and cinematography skills are amazing. Hollywood should take note. The last scene was very moving, sad, actually. It reminded me of the ending of Tinker, Tailor ,Soldier, Spy (2011). Your cat is funny; he/she likes being drummed on. :)
You can tell, in that final lap you gave 'er, the roar of that 460 was the whoop and holler of an old soul, given life once more.
in the Warhammer 40k universe, there's the Adeptus Mechanicus. One of the things they believe is that all machines have a "Machine Spirit" within them. This one most certainly did. A proud spirit, and one that was not ready to simply give up and die.
Thank you, for giving the machine the final send-off it deserved.
Fantastic video. Playing the 8 Track was the best!. Like resurrecting a dead soul.
At some point it rolled off the assembly line, proudly inspected by a worker who has long passed away. It was brought to a dealership where the first owner looked at it with shiny eyes, signed on the dotted line and drove home his brand new purchase.
Many years later someone parked that perfectly fine Mercury in a field where - left to fight the elements on its own - it slowly wasted away. This video was its final ride, long after the Mercury brand had been dissolved, before it was finally given the coup de grace. With its death there is now one less automobile that witnessed America in its glory and stood the test of time to show the younger generation what has once been.
It looked rode hard and put away wet when it was left in that pasture 🤔
I love your videos. I loved the way you ended this one with the cars own soundtrack 😮
Sooo good
I have had my vehicle 28 years and counting. We have been through so much together, far more than any human would ever stay with me. She is my best friend, by far. I never dreamed she would be my last vehicle when I started our long journey together in 1996. She was so new, so untouched. Today, at 447,000 miles on the odometer and climbing, she still seems so very new and so very liberating to me. I love her more each day. I believe we have another 25 to 30 years together. One day, it will come that my final days will be numbered. It will be then that my dear Stargazer will be laid to rest, before I finally disappear. I was there to take her off the show room floor in 1996. I will be there for her to be crushed into a worthless steel cube. Shortly after, I will join her in oblivion.
I love you Stargazer. I love you forever. Thank you for so many wonderful years of freedom and adventure.
You are the best on youtube, better then Vicegrip garage for sure. Love your videos.
Much appreciated
This masterpiece deserves to be in the Criterion collection ( collection of world’s great films). Great work sir!