In Part I, we read of how I met Olga and came to buy her 43 year old ’77 Monte Carlo.
In 2004, Olga and her husband bought a Mercury Grand Marquis GS, and as you can see, it was still a beautiful car 16 years later in 2020. I called these cars Grand Ma, short for Grand Marquis, and the fact that these were quintessential Grand Ma cars.
This car, like her Monte Carlo, was bought new in San Antonio and spent all its life being pampered and cleaned. When’s the last time you’ve seen a 16 year old trunk so clean you could eat out of it?
Whenever the car needed service, it was always done at the dealer. So the Grand Ma was in better than good condition when Olga and her husband decided they no longer needed it. She asked, Would I like to buy it? Yes, please. I bought it in August 2020, replaced a window regulator or two, replaced the tires, and repaired a failing torque converter.
After getting this beauty in top condition, it was time for a road trip. My wife and I loaded up that cavernous trunk with luggage, coolers and more for a 5 day trip from San Antonio to Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Staying a day or two at this cozy cabin in Eureka Springs was a treat and stopping at a casino in Bossier City was cool too.
And doesn’t this 16 year old car look perfectly fine at the entrance of a casino?
While I must admit this was a great road car, I have to say I’m probably in the minority when I say I was not a fan overall. I prefer bigger trucks and SUVs, so I sold the Grand Ma in November. I should have known better, but I let the buyer keep the plates, which resulted in me getting unpaid toll booth fines for months and months. Yeesh.
Anyway, here is a picture with both of Olga’s cars of a lifetime. The sad and worn out Monte Carlo and the still looking great after 16 years Grand Marquis.
End of Part II. Will there be a Part III? Sadly, we’ve come to the end of Olga’s cars.
Related CC reading:
Classic CARmentary: 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis LS
I share your appreciation for these comfortable, easy to work on, and good looking automobiles. After our horrible experience with the 2003 Aztek, my son found us a 2004 Town Car. A very clean, well cared for example with minor bruises. The original owner, the seller’s daughter-in -law was a 91 year old WW2 vet. Unfortunately, his vision wasn’t very good and the driver’s side fender, bumper cover had been replaced once but still bore the scars of a second small hit to his garage. No worries, the work was done well.The next morning after purchasing it, changing the oil, topping off the fluids, a wash and vacuum by him we were off on a 400 mile trip north. One of the most pleasurable drives in some time.
Brings back memories of my 2006 Crown Victoria. I bought that car new, but was one of the few who had a bad experience with one of these cars – it suffered all kinds of electrical and build-quality problems, and we sold it in 2018 with only about 75,000 mi.
It was a great road car though. There’s nothing like a bid sedan for cruising down the Interstate!
That Grand Marquis is definitely a keeper for the books, just like my dad’s current 1989 Town Car. Hopefully “Grand Ma” is still in good care under the current owner. And it for sure looked GREAT in front of that casino entrance! 🙂
Two years ago when my father in law had to give up driving, we needed a car for me to run he and my MIL to the store, doctors, etc. He was quite depressed about the loss of his driving privileges so I told my wife that I’d show him a few cars that I liked but let him choose. I narrowed it down to a beautiful 97 Town Car (crimson red) and a silver 2004 Grand Ma LS. He chose the GM and actually rode two hours each way with me to pick it up. That was his last long car ride.
Now he’s in a home, my mother in law has passed, and I wanted to sell it. My neighbor was going to buy it but the deal fell through. Three days ago I drove that car on a 200 mile trip and decided that I will not sell it. It drives and runs very well, but more important, it was the last car my father in law got to choose.
Great article.