Mercury Monterey
Encyclopedia
The Monterey was introduced in 1950 as a high-end two-door coupe in the same vein as the Ford Crestliner, the Lincoln Lido coupe and the Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri coupe. The reason was to offer a more luxurious coupe as the FoMoCo still not had any hard top. The Mercury line got a styling redesign for 1952, and added a convertible and four-door sedan to the Monterey lineup. The heater and vent controls where changed to levers and placed on a plane set perpendicular to the dash behind the steering wheel. A station wagon bowed for 1953, the same year a Siren Red Monterey Convertible became Ford's forty-millionth car produced. 1954 saw the introduction of the new 161 hp overhead valve
Y-block V8, as well as the bubble-top Monterey Sun Valley(which had a Plexiglass front half roof), which was similar to the Ford Crestline Skyliner.
For 1955 the car lost its status as Mercury's top model, replaced by the Montclair. The same year, it gained the 292 cu in (4.8 l) Y-block from the Thunderbird
, producing 188 hp with the standard transmission or 198 with the Merc-O-Matic.
1956 brought another new engine, the 235 hp 312.
lines. The 312 Y-block gained 20 horsepower to go with the added weight, and the 290 hp 368 cu in (6 l) Lincoln Y-block V8 became an option.
1958 brought quad headlamps, as well as an all-new engine: the 383 cu in (6.3 l) MEL V8. With the new engine came the Multi-Drive
three-speed automatic transmission
.
With the discontinuation of the low-price Medalist and a trend towards fuel economy, the 1959 Monterey returned to the 312, with 210 hp.
was added at the bottom of the range, making Monterey once again the top of Mercury's lineup. The 292 cu in (4.8 l) Y-block was standard, with 352 cu in (5.8 l) and 390 cu in (6.4 l) versions of the FE
V8 available.
The Meteor nameplate was moved to a new intermediate line for 1962, so the Monterey 6 with a 135 hp 223 cu in (3.7 l) Mileage Maker straight-six was added to fill the gap, but only for this year.
1963 brought the "Breezeway," a powered vertical rear window, as well as a 406 cu in (6.7 l) FE engine. The six-cylinder, and 292 and 352 V8s were dropped and the 390 V8 became the standard engine with 250 horsepower and two-barrel carburetor with a 300-horsepower four-barrel version optional. At mid-year, the fastback Marauder
was introduced.
Monterey became the entry-level full-size Mercury again for 1964, with the return of the Montclair and Park Lane. The 406 was replaced by the 427 cu in (7 l) version, producing 410 hp standard with an option for 425 hp.
The Mercury-exclusive 410 cu in (6.7 l) and the 428 cu in (7 l) FE engines were added for 1966.
1967 brought a refresh, and the vertical Breezeway roofline disappeared although they could still be had with a drop-down rear window. The 410 was dropped for 1968.
. Minor changes differentiated the 1970 models, but a restyle for 1971 resulted in rounded and more flowing bodywork, beaked grilles, flipper exterior doorhandles, frameless windows on all sedans, wider c-pillars and fender skirts on all but the base Monterey and wagons. The convertible bodystyle for both the Monterey and the Marquis was eliminated and replaced by the new, costly and very rare optional power moonroof which was first made available on a Mercury with the 1968 Cougar. 1972 brought minor changes to Monterey and Marquis, such as eggcrate grilles and a front seatbelt warning buzzer. Also, SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic transmission, power steering and power front disc brakes became standard equipment on all Monterey models for 1972.
The 351 Windsor and 400 cu in (6.6 l) Cleveland V8s were added for 1971, the final year for the 390. The 429 V8, which was standard on the Marquis beginning in 1969, was available as an extra cost option on all Monterey models each year including a two-barrel 320-horsepower version and a four-barrel 360-horsepower option from 1969 to 1971. Both of those 429s were replaced by single 209 net horsepower 429 four-barrel for 1972, which was designed to run on regular, low lead or unleaded gasoline as was the case with all Ford Motor Company engines starting with the 1972 model year.
Engine offerings for 1973-74 included the 351 Windsor two-barrel standard on base Montereys and the 400 Cleveland two-barrel standard on Monterey Custom and optional on base models. The 429 V8 was discontinued after 1973 and Lincoln's 460 V8 became the top option on all models for 1974.
, but was supplanted by the resurrected Meteor. Meteor competed in the low-priced field, but its upper trim series (Montcalm and LeMoyne) was typically very similar to the U.S. Monterey both in styling and appointments. Meteor continued as a separate marque through 1976 (1975-76 models continued the 1974 Monterey's front end styling) after which the name was applied to a base trim version of the Marquis, as the "Mercury Marquis Meteor" through 1981.
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
Y-block V8, as well as the bubble-top Monterey Sun Valley(which had a Plexiglass front half roof), which was similar to the Ford Crestline Skyliner.
For 1955 the car lost its status as Mercury's top model, replaced by the Montclair. The same year, it gained the 292 cu in (4.8 l) Y-block from the Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (first generation)
Ford unveiled the Thunderbird at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. The first production car came off the line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model, and sold briskly; 3,500 orders were placed in the first ten days of sale...
, producing 188 hp with the standard transmission or 198 with the Merc-O-Matic.
1956 brought another new engine, the 235 hp 312.
Second generation
The fullsize Mercury was redesigned for 1957 and grew considerably larger as well, riding on an exclusive 122 in (3,099 mm) wheelbase. A new frame design allowed a lower floor which made the car look lower and longer. The station wagons were divested from the Monterey series, with the Commuter, Voyager, and Colony ParkMercury Colony Park
The Mercury Colony Park was the top-of-the-line full-size station wagon offered by Mercury between 1957 and 1991. It wore woodgrain paneling on the bodysides and tailgate, as did the related 1957-1991 Ford Country Squire and the 1958 Edsel Bermuda wagons....
lines. The 312 Y-block gained 20 horsepower to go with the added weight, and the 290 hp 368 cu in (6 l) Lincoln Y-block V8 became an option.
1958 brought quad headlamps, as well as an all-new engine: the 383 cu in (6.3 l) MEL V8. With the new engine came the Multi-Drive
Cruise-O-Matic
Ford-O-Matic was the first automatic transmission used by Ford Motor Company, designed by Borg Warner Corporation. Introduced in 1950, the three-speed Ford-O-Matic evolved into the Cruise-O-Matic in 1958 and the FMX in 1968. This line continued in production until 1980, when the AOD was introduced...
three-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
With the discontinuation of the low-price Medalist and a trend towards fuel economy, the 1959 Monterey returned to the 312, with 210 hp.
Third generation
Mercury's full-size offerings were completely revamped for 1961. The Montclair and Park Lane were discontinued and the MeteorMercury Meteor
The Mercury Meteor was an automobile model produced by the Lincoln Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company from 1961 to 1963. For 1961, the name was applied to low-end full-sized vehicles; for 1962 and 1963, the name was applied to Mercury's mid-sized sedans, in a marketing attempt to appeal to...
was added at the bottom of the range, making Monterey once again the top of Mercury's lineup. The 292 cu in (4.8 l) Y-block was standard, with 352 cu in (5.8 l) and 390 cu in (6.4 l) versions of the FE
Ford FE engine
The Ford FE engine is a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. A related engine, the Ford FT engine, was used in medium and heavy trucks from 1964 through 1978. The FE filled the need for a medium-displacement engine created by the discontinuation...
V8 available.
The Meteor nameplate was moved to a new intermediate line for 1962, so the Monterey 6 with a 135 hp 223 cu in (3.7 l) Mileage Maker straight-six was added to fill the gap, but only for this year.
1963 brought the "Breezeway," a powered vertical rear window, as well as a 406 cu in (6.7 l) FE engine. The six-cylinder, and 292 and 352 V8s were dropped and the 390 V8 became the standard engine with 250 horsepower and two-barrel carburetor with a 300-horsepower four-barrel version optional. At mid-year, the fastback Marauder
Mercury Marauder
The Marauder name first appeared as a 1963½ model in the full-size Mercury lineup. It was available as a 2-door hardtop with a forward-slanted "fastback" roofline; this was the reverse of the Breezeway roof introduced on other full-size Mercurys...
was introduced.
Monterey became the entry-level full-size Mercury again for 1964, with the return of the Montclair and Park Lane. The 406 was replaced by the 427 cu in (7 l) version, producing 410 hp standard with an option for 425 hp.
Fourth generation
The full-size Mercurys were redesigned for 1965 with a new torque-box frame and a more slab-sided look. The Breezeway window was now only available on pillared sedans, with all two door hardtops being fastbacks.The Mercury-exclusive 410 cu in (6.7 l) and the 428 cu in (7 l) FE engines were added for 1966.
1967 brought a refresh, and the vertical Breezeway roofline disappeared although they could still be had with a drop-down rear window. The 410 was dropped for 1968.
Fifth generation
For 1969, the Monterey's wheelbase grew to 124 inches with the exception of the station wagon which was on the 122" Ford wheelbase - it was essentially a Ford wagon with a Mercury front clip and trimwork. The redesigned Mercurys were intended to emulate the Lincoln ContinentalLincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is an automobile which was produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from 1939 to 1948 and again from 1956 to 2002...
. Minor changes differentiated the 1970 models, but a restyle for 1971 resulted in rounded and more flowing bodywork, beaked grilles, flipper exterior doorhandles, frameless windows on all sedans, wider c-pillars and fender skirts on all but the base Monterey and wagons. The convertible bodystyle for both the Monterey and the Marquis was eliminated and replaced by the new, costly and very rare optional power moonroof which was first made available on a Mercury with the 1968 Cougar. 1972 brought minor changes to Monterey and Marquis, such as eggcrate grilles and a front seatbelt warning buzzer. Also, SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic transmission, power steering and power front disc brakes became standard equipment on all Monterey models for 1972.
The 351 Windsor and 400 cu in (6.6 l) Cleveland V8s were added for 1971, the final year for the 390. The 429 V8, which was standard on the Marquis beginning in 1969, was available as an extra cost option on all Monterey models each year including a two-barrel 320-horsepower version and a four-barrel 360-horsepower option from 1969 to 1971. Both of those 429s were replaced by single 209 net horsepower 429 four-barrel for 1972, which was designed to run on regular, low lead or unleaded gasoline as was the case with all Ford Motor Company engines starting with the 1972 model year.
Sixth generation
The 1973 redesign brought boxier styling and the federally mandated 5 mph bumpers. The Monterey and Monterey Custom were discontinued in 1975, as the Grand Marquis had been introduced as the new top-line Mercury, shifting the lesser Marquis models down to take the Monterey's place.Engine offerings for 1973-74 included the 351 Windsor two-barrel standard on base Montereys and the 400 Cleveland two-barrel standard on Monterey Custom and optional on base models. The 429 V8 was discontinued after 1973 and Lincoln's 460 V8 became the top option on all models for 1974.
The Monterey in Canada
After 1963, the Monterey was not sold in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but was supplanted by the resurrected Meteor. Meteor competed in the low-priced field, but its upper trim series (Montcalm and LeMoyne) was typically very similar to the U.S. Monterey both in styling and appointments. Meteor continued as a separate marque through 1976 (1975-76 models continued the 1974 Monterey's front end styling) after which the name was applied to a base trim version of the Marquis, as the "Mercury Marquis Meteor" through 1981.
