Vehicle Description
1959 Mercury Monterey 4 Door Sedan
The Monterey Peninsula, AKA "The Peninsula" is noted for its
wealth, perfect climate, and beautiful landscape and the combo of
these items makes it a fav stopping point for this writer. Mercury
got it right when it decided to name the car Monterey and for this
1959 example it takes on my second passion, Mid Century Modern
Design. Let's roll!
For consignment a restored 1959 Mercury Monterey 4 door cruiser.
Silver Beige Metallic w Pink base coat...check! Wraparound
panoramic glass with slightly cantilevered rear roofline..check,
Tasteful fins and big chrome...check. Nifty cloth and vinyl
interior with dash buttons aplenty...check! 116,775 title verified
actual miles...check. Read onward and I'll take the 17 mile drive
exit.
Exterior
With its horizontal shaver rectangle style grille, nice chrome
edging up top and a wide bumper the design is what I call simply
elegant. Above, let's put open some dual headlights with a visor
and a wrap around the front edge wood hood with M E R C U R Y
badging and I totally stylin'. Super long panels bathed in the
Silver Beige Metallic, which I'm going to call champagne, shows
some age with underlying rust, chip offs and other errors
indicative of older respray paint. Chrome is good though as is the
front and rear wrap around glass which rises from the center
creased front and rear quarters. The cantilevered roofline is
painted Glacier White and remains in good condition. On the back we
see some futuristic space age canted outward V shaped tail lights
forming out of the rear quarter central creases, and have a small
Dixie cup backup light on their edges. A large trunk is in the
center, and just below another grille like structure encircled with
chrome and some ribs with the chrome bumper framing the bottom.
Wide whites are covered in their centers with chromed caps and some
jet engine ribs in their centers. Woosh!
Interior
Slipping inside past the brown metal and vinyl door panels that
have a spear in cream for their centers, I'm enveloped in more
futuristic mid century modern design with the wild dash that has 4
tiers of rectangles for instruments, knobs and shifter as well as
gauges and the horizontal speedo. The original non cracked or
marred steering wheel is fronting this Millennium Falcon-esque
dash. The padded dash top is showing some age and has a crack in
its center panel where the speaker resides. Seating is a broadcloth
chain link tweed in white and black with brown slight tuck and roll
inserts for the upper split bench and bolsters. A large long rear
bench is in back and has plenty of romper room. Below is nice clean
brown carpeting, and above is the original slightly browned mohair
felted padded headliner. Ever been to heaven? I can have you there
and back by morning!
Drivetrain
All that glitters is gold and this is true under this hood in the
immaculate engine bay. Here resides a 312ci V8 topped by a 2-barrel
carburetor with a Merc-O-Matic 3-speed automatic on back. I just
love those transmission names from the 50's! The rear is a 3.12
geared configuration. Some gold for the air cleaner cover and valve
coverings and we are showing some rebuilding from 2011 and running
like a Swiss watch.
Undercarriage
Some older undercoating, some slight surface rust but all
structurally sound as a butterfly house ,shows dual exhaust,
independent coil springs in front and leaf springs for the rear,
and power disc brakes in front and power drums for the rear. Shall
we shag now?
Drive-Ability
Despite some of its exterior shortcomings on the paint end, the car
starts and idles nearly silently. It has nice acceleration, and
decent handing considering its weight and thin tires. All was
working well during my test drive and behind the dash I felt like I
should have been wearing my G flight suit!
A great example from a great year with early space age styling,
nifty color combo, fab chrome and all named aptly from a place as
close to paradise as we can get in the US. Get in Gina we are going
for a ride. Happy Motoring!
P9TA531043
P-312ci 2bbl V8
9-1959
T-Metuchen, NJ Assy Plant
A-Monterey
531043-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 58A-Monterey 4 Door Sedan
COLOR 0884-Silver Beige Metallic & Glacier White
TRIM 351A-Medium Taupe Cloth & Vinyl
DATE 05H-August 5th 1958
TRANS 4-Merc O Matic
AXLE 8-3.22 Conventional
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and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
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anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
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