Vehicle Description
If you're a Ford (or Mercury) guy and get tired of all the Impalas
at shows, you should take a closer look at this very cool 1961
Mercury Meteor. A traditional "old school" custom with pearl and
metallic paint work and a gorgeous interior, it makes a statement
without going overboard. Oh, and I suppose I should mention that
it's got a strong-running 390 and remains a lot of fun to
drive.
If you were there in the '60s when custom paint work was all the
rage, this car should bring back some fond memories. Or perhaps you
just like the way the great artists used to do it, making this car
a fitting tribute to a lost art. Either way, this Mercury has it
going on. At a glance, the white paint doesn't jump out at you, but
in the sun, the pearl and metallic mixed into the finish make it
glow from within, and it's a very traditional look. Even better,
there's custom artwork on the roof, purple designs that accurately
reflect the state-of-the-art customs from the period. The bodywork
underneath is in great shape, with nice straight quarters and a few
tasteful mods, including shaved door handles and emblems. On the
other hand, the Merc keeps its nicely detailed grille, stainless
rub stripes, and that ornate rear bumper. It also has some tasteful
pinstripe work on the deck lid, as well as taillights that probably
resulted in an angry letter from the management at Chevrolet.
The soft white vinyl interior has a mixture of original custom
touches that really tie it all together. The biggest modification
is the sparkling purple steering wheel, but when you look at the
total package, it really works. The upholstery is in great
condition and the original bench seats are quite comfortable for
long trips or short cruises. You'll really dig the custom door
panels and note that this car is equipped with power windows, which
are always a nice find in vehicles of this vintage. The instruments
and controls are stock Mercury, although someone has thoughtfully
added a trio of auxiliary gauges under the dash, as well as a cool
shifter knob to dress it up a bit. And while that's the original AM
radio in the dash, it's been upgraded with an iPod adapter and
amplifier, plus speakers throughout the interior, to offer much
more up-to-date entertainment. The trunk was also dressed up a bit
with purple carpets, and it includes a custom pinstriped air
cleaner housing, just in case you like the look.
The big 390 cubic inch V8 under the hood makes the Mercury feel
light on its feet and powerful around town. A few chrome dress-up
pieces give it a racy period look and there's a fresh 4-barrel
carburetor up top, as well as ceramic-coated exhaust manifolds.
Like most customs, it isn't about the engine, but at the same time,
they did add some pinstripes on the inner fenders and selectively
accented parts like the brake booster with more purple paint. The
Merc-O-Matic 2-speed automatic transmission has a shift kit
installed, so it really snaps to attention, and that exhaust system
was recently custom built, including the cool rear-mounted side
pipes for a cool look. New springs and shocks were installed to
give it a new car ride and the shiny Cragar mags are brand new, as
are the 215/75/14 whitewalls they're wearing.
Uncommon and nicely done, this is a traditional mild custom that's
very usable and totally cool. If you were there, you get it, and if
you only wish you were there, this car will take you back. Call
today!
