Vehicle Description
Mercury was hitting on all eight cylinders in the mid-50s thanks to
cars like this gorgeous 1956 Mercury Monterey hardtop. Wearing
Mercury's trademark yellow over black paint scheme and packing a
rumbling Y-block V8, it's a fantastic heavy cruiser for the guy
that thinks Fords are just too ordinary. Add in a few upgrades and
it becomes a favorite car for cruise nights and long-distance runs
where comfort matters.
Mercury's styling was a bit more extroverted than Ford's, and the
longer chassis allowed designers to create bodies that were a bit
more upscale-looking. The '56 models were slightly revised from
1955, adding those peaked headlights and the wide chrome grille and
bumper assembly that make this car easy to recognize even from a
distance. The Saffron Yellow over Tuxedo Black combination is
dramatic and incredibly appealing, showcasing the Merc's long lines
and beautiful side trim. There's plenty of chrome and stainless,
don't worry about that, and the sweeping strip of stainless that
stretches from the headlights to the door, where there's a neat
little intake grille, makes the paint job look especially dramatic.
It's an older paint job with some use on it, so it's not perfect,
but as it glides by, nobody is going to miss seeing this big coupe.
It's just gorgeous. Most of the chrome and stainless trim is
original, so it's showing some age and could use some work, but
even as it sits, this car makes one heck of a statement.
The matching yellow and black interior was recently restored and
looks pretty much as it would have in 1956. Vertical pleats on the
seat, fantastic door panels that seem to echo the outside trim, and
an arching instrument panel all make the Mercury feel very unique
when you're behind the wheel. New black carpets help with the
luxurious atmosphere and it's quite possible that the dash is
wearing original paint, so you know the color combination is legit.
The big steering wheel has a leather wrap that feels substantial
and helps muscle the big coupe around corners and the arching
instrument panel puts all the gauges right in front of the driver.
The original AM radio and clock are not working, which isn't really
a surprise, but those things are easy and inexpensive to upgrade to
make this a first-rate cruiser. The trunk is finished with black
carpet mats, so it has a clean look that seems right in an upmarket
Merc.
Ford continually upgraded the Y-block V8 and by 1956, the Mercury
version was displacing 312 cubic inches and making 225 horsepower.
It feels muscular and torquey on the road and moves the big coupe
with relative ease. Recently rebuilt, it still looks pretty
original under the hood, which doesn't get in the way of the smooth
idle or rumbling exhaust. A weekend spent cleaning things up would
pay big dividends if that's what you prefer. Chrome valve covers
dress it up a bit and that giant air cleaner is original equipment.
It's nicely sorted and runs great, working well with the
Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission to make motoring around town
effortless. Manual steering lightens up nicely at speed and the
suspension has that big car ride that makes cars like this a joy to
drive. The dual exhaust system features Flowmaster mufflers, so
it's a bit racier than stock but the sound will ensure nobody
complains. Flashy chrome wheels somehow look right on the vintage
Merc and they carry right-sized wide whitewall radials for some
'50s flair.
A great entry-level cruiser that isn't the same thing everybody
else owns. Big car comfort, Ford reliability, and a fantastic color
combination make this Monterey a smart choice for anyone looking to
have fun in an old car. Call today!