1955 Mercury Montclair

During most of its initial 15 years, Mercury was a Ford-based medium-priced car built on a slightly longer chassis with a more luxurious interior. In 1955, the Mercury finally gained its own personality, being lower and longer than its predecessor, and adorned with a bold grille-bumper assembly and vestigial rear fender contours with bright trim. Additional styling cues included hooded headlights and a wraparound windshield.

Power was from a 'Y-block' overhead-valve V8 displacing 292 cubic inches and delivering nearly 200 horsepower at 4,400 RPM on the Montclair and Monterey and 188 hp on the Custom models. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, and overdrive and Merc-O-Matic automatic were optional. Power brakes, power steering, power windows, a four-way power seat, a radio, custom fender skirts, and custom two-tone paint were also optional.

Passenger cars rested on a 119-inch wheelbase and station wagons had a 118-inch wheelbase platform. The length of the sedans measured 206.3 inches and the station wagons at 201.7-inches. In the back was a live rear axle on leaf springs while the front used a ball-joint independent setup with coil springs. Four-wheel hydraulic drums provided the stopping power. An automatic chassis-lubrication system, marketed as Auto-Lube or Automatic Multi-Luber (a concept devised between Ford Motor Company and the Lincoln Industrial Corporation, the company that invented the lever-action grease gun), kept the chassis well-lubed. A button on the dashboard controlled a reservoir under the hood and sent a measured amount of grease through various hoses to multiple points on the chassis, providing the necessary lubrication.

The 1955 Mercury model lineup included the base-level Custom, intermediate Monterey, and top-of-the-line Montclair. The Montclair was comprised of a sedan, hardtop coupe, convertible, and Sun Valley hardtop. The sedan was priced at $2,685, the hardtop coupe at $2,630, and both the Sun Valley and Convertible at $2,710. The Sun Valley was the most exclusive, with 1,787 examples built in 1955. 71,588 were hardtop coupes, 20624 of the sedan, and 10,668 of the convertibles. The Sun Vally had a tinted plexiglass section over the front half of its roof.

The Mercury Montclair had a round medallion and the model name on the front fenders, two-tone paint, and a narrow band of chrome under the side windows.

Period advertising boasted, ''You don't have to look twice to tell it's a Mercury.'

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: 55SL64079M

Mercury restyled their lineup in 1955 with longer and lower bodies. The Montclair was offered to customers in four body styles including the sole convertible offered by Mercury. This re-styling earned Mercury with Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year' award in 1955 which it shared with Chevrolet.

The Montclair was an attractive vehicle with chrome trim, bright rocker trim panels, and a round medallion placed near the tip of the front fenders. The model name was placed in chrome script above the mid-body spear. The V8 engine had been enlarged to 292 cubic inches and offered nearly 200 horsepower with a standard dual exhaust system. There were around 11,000 buyers to purchased the Montclair Convertible in 1955.

This example is painted in red with a red and white-interior. It is equipped with power steering, power brakes, an AM radio, and a clock. There are dual chrome-plated exhaust tips, red-painted steel wheels with full wheel covers, and whitewall tires. The odometer reads just over 42,000 miles.

In 2009, this Mercury Montclair Convertible was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. It was expected to sell for $80,000 - $110,000. The lot was sold for a high bid of $60,500, including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

The top of the Mercury line in 1956, the full-size Mercury Montclair was created under the Mercury Marque. The Montclair was introduced to be included in Mercury's premium automobile line.

Though not much evidence exists to support this, the name is believed to have been derived from an upper-class community of Montclair located in New Jersey.

With a distinct design feature that set it apart and designated it a part of the Montclair series, the vehicle had contrasting color panels that ran beneath the side windows. The Montclair showcased some of Mercury's best features including the two-tone paint combinations and the additional chrome trim.

The vehicle came with the option of the Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission. It also featured a 312 cubic inch V8 Engine and a 4 barrel carburetor.

Founded by the Ford Motor Company in 1939, Mercury had begun with the idea to design and manufacture semi-luxury vehicles. Mercury's original major success has been attributed to the Ford Marque in the early 50's as it stretched and lowered then existing Ford platforms which in turn generated superior results from their target markets.

From 1955 to 1960, the Mercury Montclair was both manufactured and sold by the sole Mercury Division and from 1964 to 1968 by Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division.

Upon the introduction of the Mercury Turnpike cruiser in 1957, the Montclair name had the distinct misfortune to be pushed down the market until 1958.

The Montclair was discontinued in 1961, yet was resurrected for the 1964 model year until it was once again retired at the end of the 1968 model year.

by Jessican Donaldson