Who knew MRM T/As were so rare? (How I got my T/A)

**Zabo** · 07-13-2010, 02:05 PM

I certainly didn't when I pulled up onto a used Ford lot two weeks ago on a saturday. Circled the lot in my truck and around back sat this Maroon 'Firebird' covered in dust and grime.

Figured it was a worn out old bird and probably beat to hell.

Got closer, and the treads were untouched, no caked rubber, no dents, a few scratches and only one small scratch-less ding. Took a look and saw that they had recently affixed a lot-stock sticker and hand written 'used car info sheet' thing with the AS IS box checked. What caught my eye was the mileage.

29,715.

My first reaction: "Whut..?"

Tried the door handle. It was open (after hours mind you.). Hopped behind the seat and it was pretty dirty inside. So I thought it was a fluke.

Fastforward to Monday and I got the keys and turned the car on.

29,715.

Story was that the owner (only one too as it turned out) had traded it in on an '11 5.0 Mustang GT. The first one they got on the lot. I thought BS but decided to humor the guy and drive it anyway. Needless to say it drove like a new car, and frankly freaked me out. Pulled up the carfax and damn near dumped a brick in my pants. Everything checked out.

Fastforward again to Thursday and I have them drop it off at my mechanic and he says it's got bugs. Not bad ones but it needed help (or so we thought at the time.) Sales guy was a former mechanic and said it probably just needed fluids changed because they were probably from St. Therese.

I haggled, and finally got them down from the 10.9K asking to 10.3 on that next Monday. Pulled the plates on my truck and as I was taking off the last bolt I heard church bells ring.

Checked my watch and wondered "WTF" and guessed they were just testing them. What a time to do so, because it was at that time that I got all the paperwork done and was handed the spares to the Bird and gave a hearty handshake and thank you to a Ford used car dealer who went behind his bosses back to get me this car.

That night I run the RPOs and find out that it's an MRM and extremely rare. One of only two known to be in my area

A week late I flush the rear and trans and it now drives like butter. As if it were 2002 all over again or something.

I guess you really can trust a Ford guy after all.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 07-13-2010, 02:11 PM

I think they made a total of 500 or so MRM T/A's for MY 2000. A female friend of mine has one and that's what she told me. She's the original owner of hers and she ordered it that color. It's an A4.

**Zabo** · 07-13-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRSSS

I think they made a total of 500 or so MRM T/A's for MY 2000. A female friend of mine has one and that's what she told me. She's the original owner of hers and she ordered it that color. It's an A4.

I looked it up on LS1tech and supposedly it's 504. I'm still kinda floored by it all.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 07-13-2010, 02:16 PM

I meant that her car is an A4...

**Zabo** · 07-13-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRSSS

I meant that her car is an A4...

Oh, I know. I was just saying mine was a 6 speed. :/

**67CamaroRSSS** · 07-13-2010, 02:20 PM

No biggie...

**00ls-1** · 07-13-2010, 03:15 PM

another dumb question for me alot of people prolly getting used to it... what is MRM?

**Zabo** · 07-13-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by 00ls-1

another dumb question for me alot of people prolly getting used to it... what is MRM?

Paint code 44U/WA408G Maple/Medium Red Metallic

Aka Monterrey Maroon Metallic on Camaros.

**00ls-1** · 07-13-2010, 03:22 PM

gotcha... thanks

**TheSilverSurfer** · 07-14-2010, 06:06 AM

There is one other in the Toledo area--I see him at the TA Nats when he goes down there

**Zabo** · 07-14-2010, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by TheSilverSurfer

There is one other in the Toledo area--I see him at the TA Nats when he goes down there

Yep, met him at Mayberry in Sylvania and on LS1tech. Our cars stock for stock were more or less virtual clones. His car just inspired me a hell of a lot as to what I want to do with it; namely his shifter mod.

**TheSilverSurfer** · 07-14-2010, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by Zabo

Yep, met him at Mayberry in Sylvania and on LS1tech. Our cars stock for stock were more or less virtual clones. His car just inspired me a hell of a lot as to what I want to do with it; namely his shifter mod.

Sent you a PM

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-14-2010, 10:59 AM

I used to have a 96 Firebird in that color. That is the only color of red I like on these cars. Damn I miss that car......

**predator** · 07-14-2010, 03:31 PM

Oh yeah they are rare... Maple was usually the 2nd or 3rd rarest color in the years it was produced...

if i remember correctly there were NO WS6's in the color either...

Beautiful car...

-me

**MRM 01** · 07-14-2010, 03:44 PM

Nice car man I have one just like it until tomorrow

It was the ONLY mrm that I saw in all of south jersey near Gloucester county

**formula2432001** · 07-14-2010, 04:10 PM

I'm glad to see another one of us on here.

That's a nice car.

**Zabo** · 07-14-2010, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by predator

Oh yeah they are rare... Maple was usually the 2nd or 3rd rarest color in the years it was produced...

if i remember correctly there were NO WS6's in the color either...

Beautiful car...

-me

Yep, never made it on a WS6 car in from MY '00-'02 as far as I know since it's introduction in 1999 (V6 only). In fact, 2000 appears to be the most common year for MRM birds. Here's a breakdown.

Numbers I have: (L36 = V6; W66 = Formula; Y82 = T/A Coupe; Y84 = T/A Vert; Firehawk = Derp)

1999
L36: 14 (Coupe only)

2000
L36: 967 Coupe/123 Vert
W66: 72 Coupe only
Y82: 504
Y84: 79

2001
L36: 353 coupe/465 Vert
W66: 27 Coupe only
Y82: 116
Y84: 21

2002
L36: 415 Coupe/213 Vert
W66: 31 Coupe only
Y82: 93
Y84: 33
Firehawk: 4

So there were no WS6 MRM cars OR W66 Convertible cars.

**ORION WS6** · 07-15-2010, 02:34 AM

sweet find, i like the color

**jiveass** · 07-15-2010, 04:23 AM

i miss my mrm formula.

**JohnnyBs98WS6Rag** · 07-16-2010, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by Zabo

Yep, never made it on a WS6 car in from MY '00-'02 as far as I know since it's introduction in 1999 (V6 only). In fact, 2000 appears to be the most common year for MRM birds. Here's a breakdown.

Numbers I have: (L36 = V6; W66 = Formula; Y82 = T/A Coupe; Y84 = T/A Vert; Firehawk = Derp)

1999
L36: 14 (Coupe only)

2000
L36: 967 Coupe/123 Vert
W66: 72 Coupe only
Y82: 504
Y84: 79

2001
L36: 353 coupe/465 Vert
W66: 27 Coupe only
Y82: 116
Y84: 21

2002
L36: 415 Coupe/213 Vert
W66: 31 Coupe only
Y82: 93
Y84: 33
Firehawk: 4

So there were no WS6 MRM cars OR W66 Convertible cars.

Yep, MRM was not avail w/ WS6. Other than the 2 '98 red Formula WS6 'verts, there were no LS1 Formula 'verts built at all. And I believe the 14 MRM '99 Firebirds were pilot cars used to test the new color for '00.

NICE find. Just the other day I saw a MRM Firebird for sale, don't see that color very often.