1962 Mercury Monterey

Mercury produced the Monterey from 1952 to 1974 with its name derived from the Monterey Bay. Throughout its twenty-two-year production lifespan, it was offered in multiple body styles, including coupes, sedans, station wagons, and hardtops. It served as the company's flagship, mid-range, and entry-level offering of the full-size Mercury product range.

The fifth-generation of the Mercury Monterey was introduced in 1961 and continued through 1974. Mercury had completely revamped its full-size offerings, discontinuing the Park Lane and Montclair, adding the Meteor to the bottom of the range, and positioning the Monterey once again the top-of-the-line Mercury. Standard equipment included the 292 cubic-inch Ford Y-Block V8 engine, with the 352 CID and 390CID versions off the FE V8 optional.

The new Mercury designs were similar to its Ford siblings, but with additional trim, interior accouterments, and distinct styling differences. They had full-length body-side moldings and chrome rear fender stone guards.

For the 1962 model year, the Monterey became part of the intermediate line, with the base engine now the 223 cubic-inch Mileage Maker straight-six added to fill the gap, but only for a single year. Styling changes were made to the grille that now had a horizontal bar pattern, with an emblem at the center, connecting the dual round headlights on either side. The jet-age inspired taillights protruded from the rear decklid, with the word 'Monterey' on either side.

Body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, a two-door hardtop with seating for six, a four-door hardtop, and a station wagon. The base factory price ranged from $2,670 for the two-door sedan and rose to $2,920 for the station wagon. The base engine was a 223 cubic-inch, overhead-valve six-cylinder engine offering 138 horsepower at 4,200 RPM.

The Mercury Custom Series was distinguished by full-length lower body moldings and a unique rectangular chrome trim piece on the front fenders with the word 'Custom'. Body styles included a sedan, two- and four-door hardtop, convertible, and a 6- and 9-passenger Colony Park station wagon. The wagon had imitation wood trim, carpeting, a power tailgate windows, and either cloth and vinyl or all-vinyl interior. Prices ranged from $2,960 for the sedan and similarly priced two-door hardtop, and rose to $3,290 for the 9-passenger station wagon.

The Mercury Custom Series came standard with a 292 cubic-inch, overhead-valve, V8 engine with a five main bearing, a Ford two-barrel carburetor, and delivering 170 horsepower at 4,200 RPM.

The Mercury Custom S-55 Series was offered as either a two-door hardtop or a convertible, with prices beginning at $3,490 for the hardtop and $3,740 for the convertible. 2,772 examples of the hardtop were built in 1962 and 1,315 of the convertible.

The S-55 came with a 390 cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, overhead valves, 9.6:1 compression, and delivering 300 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The tires received special wheel covers and additional ornaments were placed on the front fenders. The interiors received front bucket seats, red safety lights in the doors, carpeting, and a console.

Additional engine options including a 292 CID two-barrel V8 with 170 horsepower, a 352 CID two-barrel V8 with 220 horsepower, a four-barrel 390 CID V8 with 300 horsepower (the base engine in the S-55), and a four-barrel 390 CID V8 with 330 horsepower. The four-barrel, 406 cubic-inch V8 offered 385 horsepower and the three two-barrel version had 405 horsepower.

The total Mercury Monterey production accounted for over 31 percent of Mercury's total 1962 production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2020