In this Mercury campaign, a panel of 50 professional limo drivers compared the Mercury Marquis to a German stretch limousine, and here is the unsurprising result.

Ah yes, the old blindfold trick. The gimmick has been used in countless print and film campaigns by the automakers, including Lincoln-Mercury more than once. This time around, 50 professional chauffeurs were blindfolded and asked to compare the 1972 Mercury Marquis to a “$34,000 European limousine” (a Mercedes 600 Pullman, but unnamed here) for sound levels and ride comfort. And wouldn’t you know it, 36 of the pro wheelmen chose the Marquis. And the results were certified by the Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute, so we know it’s on the level. Right?

In truth, the full-sized Ford Motor Company products of this period were indeed tuned for an especially plush ride, so it’s not so surprising that American chauffers would genuinely prefer the Marquis over the longer, more firmly sprung Mercedes. Interior sound levels, too, were a special focus in Dearborn product development at the time—and a recurring theme in the carmaker’s marketing across the brands.

The Marquis had much to offer in ’72, with styling and features similar to the Lincoln Continental but at a far more reasonable price. Standard equipment included power windows, steering, and brakes, a vinyl top, and fender skirts to provide the formal look signifying a luxury car of its time. While sales paled in comparison to the even more reasonably priced Ford LTD, the Marquis and Marquis Brougham did well enough for Mercury, generating more than a quarter of the brand’s volume for 1972. Video below.