1954 Mercury Monterey

The Mercury models of the early 1950s shared many design similarities to its larger sibling, the Lincoln. The Mercury automobiles rested on a shorter wheelbase and the design introduced in 1952 was carefully updated over the following two years, with 1954 models receiving an updated grille with larger bullet-style bumper guards and a new Y-block overhead-valve V8 engine that was based on the Ford design but larger and with a standard four-barrel carburetor, producing 161 horsepower. Another 1954 introduction was the Sun Valley body style, which was a standard Monterey Hardtop Coupe fitted with a Plexiglas section over the front half of the roof.

The 1954 Mercury lineup consisted of the Custom Series and the Monterey. Body styles on the custom included a hardtop coupe, a two-door sedan priced at $2,200, and a four-door sedan listed at $2,250. The Monterey series had its name written in chrome above the side trim on the rear fender, a medallion on the front fender near the tip of the side chrome spear, chrome rocker panels, and fender skirts. Body styles included a sedan listed at $2,335, the $2,450 two-door hardtop coupe, a convertible priced at $2,610, and a station wagon ($2,775). The hardtop coupe and sedan were both popular, with 79,533 and 65,995 sales respectively. The convertible had 7,293 sales and the Sun Valley Hardtop had 9,761 sales. 11,656 examples of the station wagon with simulated wood trim were produced.

A three-speed manual transmission was standard and overdrive and Merc-O-Matic were optional. Additional options included power brakes, power steering, heater, radio, whitewall tires, Solex glass, and a four-way power seat.

by Dan Vaughan

Woodie Wagon
Chassis number: 54LA30590M

The Mercury marque was introduced by Ford in 1939 and aimed at the upscale market. The Monterey models were introduced in 1950 and were the most expensive and luxurious vehicle in Mercury's lineup. A few years later, in 1953, Mercury moved the six-passenger wagon into the Monterey lineup. There was a third seat which made it able to accommodate up to eight passengers.

1954 was a big year for Mercury, with the introduction of the V8 flathead engine which served as a replacement for the overhead-valve 'Y-Block' V8. Ford had originally introduced the flathead in 1932 with Mercury's benefiting from years of design, use, testing, and experimentation. It was larger with over 160 horsepower and 238 foot-pounds of torque. Another important feature of the Mercury cars for 1954 was a ball joint suspension in the front, allowing for sharper handling and a better ride.

This 1954 Mercury Monterey Woodie Wagon has spent its entire life in California. In its present owner's care, the car has been used as a daily driver. It has been fitted with a sound system that cost $2,500 when new. It has a custom-made longboard that measures over 11 feet. The board was built by noted surfboard builder Hank Byzak in matching colors to the car.

This car was featured in the 'So Cal Woodies 2007' and was brought to the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $40,000 - $50,000. It was offered without reserve and sold for a high bid of $35,750 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

HardTop Coupe
Chassis number: 167M

For 1954, the Monterey's were given new wraparound taillights and a freshened grill with larger 'bullet' bumper guards. Mercury and Lincoln shared many of the same design elements, but Mercury's wheelbase was five inches shorter and had a shorter overhang. The body shell of the Mercury was directly from Ford, with the three-inch longer wheelbase reflected in the hood and front fenders.

1954 also brought the new 'Y' block overhead valve engine that would be with the company for many years to come.

This 1954 Mercury Monterey Hardtop Coupe has been restored over the years as needed. It is finished in pale yellow with a black roof and a two-tone red and black leather interior. Its V8 engine is coupled to a Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission. The car is equipped with wide whitewalls, full-wheel covers, dual exhaust, a radio, and a heater.

In 2008 this car was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $75,000-$100,000. Though bidding did not reach those estimates, it was high enough to satisfy the vehicle's reserve and the lot was sold. A high bid of $48,500, including the buyer's premium, was enough to secure new ownership.

by Dan Vaughan

HardTop Coupe

From 1950 thru 1954, many automobile manufacturers and enthusiasts raced in the La Carrera Panamericana race - the Mexican Road Race. This brutal, grueling race was a race over many miles of open roads that challenged both driver and vehicle. In 1988, a scaled-down version of the race was revived.

This car was built to race in the Turismo Mayor class for the pre-1955 American sedans with original bodywork and OHV V-8 engines, beginning with the 1989 race. The engine, which was originally a 351, was fitted with a 302 and given several modifications.

The car raced for several years with the owner, Dr. Peter Frank, finally emerging victorious in the 1992 event. The car is currently on display at the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States located in Auburn, Indiana.

by Dan Vaughan

HardTop Coupe
Chassis number: 54LA27167M

In 1954, Mercury introduced a new and advanced Y-block overhead-valve V8 engine, replacing the venerable flathead V8. It had a more standard four-barrel carburetor and a robust 161 horsepower.

This Hardtop Coupe wears an older, high-quality restoration. The exterior paint shows minor indications of wear and patina since its restoration. It is painted in pale yellow with a black roof and a two-tone red and black leather interior. There is a Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission and other notable features such as rear fender skirts, a radio, a heater, wide whitewall tires, full-wheel covers, and a dual exhaust system.

In 2009, this Mercury Monterey was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $20,000-$30,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $12,100, including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

HardTop Coupe

The 1954 Mercury Monterey series included five different body styles, including this two-door hardtop coupe, which was the best-selling Mercury for that model year.

The Monterey was powered by an overhead valve V-8 motor that developed 162 horsepower. A three-speed manual was standard but overdrive and a Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission were optional.

Sun Valley HardTop
Chassis number: 54SL28589M

Mercury introduced the Sun Valley in 1954 and was a standard Monterey Hardtop Coupe with a Plexiglas section over the front half of the roof. With a price of $2,562, it was one of the most expensive body styles in the Mercury lineup. Fewer than 9,800 examples of the Sun Valleys were built and sold in 1954.

This is an original and well-preserved example that has been given an accurate restoration. It is finished in Parklane Green and Arctic White. The interior is finished in complementary shades to the body. Currently, the car shows 77,510 miles.

Options include a Merc-O-Matic transmission, power steering and brakes, AM radio, a clock, bumper guards, and rear fender skirts. The trunk is fitted with the correct mat and spare tire, and the original and correct carburetor, air cleaner, and windshield wipers are still present.

by Dan Vaughan

Sun Valley HardTop
Chassis number: 54M36296

This 1954 Mercury Sun Valley was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook where it was listed without reserve and estimated to fetch between $30,000 - $40,000. The car is powered by a V8 engine that displaces 292 cubic inches and capable of producing nearly 200 horsepower. The car has a three-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. This car has been treated to a recent cosmetic restoration. The vehicle is original in many respects, including the engine, paint, upholstery, transmission, and more. All are reported to be in good running condition. This car was given the optional power steering and brakes when it was purchased by its original owner.

At the auction, this car did find a buyer though the winning bid was a little less than the estimated value. It was sold for $24,750.

by Dan Vaughan

An automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company, Mercury was founded in 1939 with the purpose to market entry-level-luxury vehicles that were slotted in between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles. All Mercury models are today based on Ford platforms. The Mercury name is derived from 'messenger of the gods' of Roman mythology. In the beginning years, Mercury was known for its performance.

The 1950 full-size near-luxury car Mercury Monterey represented a choice that the Ford Motor Company had to make. At the time General Motors and the Chrysler Corporation were producing a plethora of 'hardtop convertibles' and Ford realized that it couldn't convert its year-old bodies into hardtop models at a reasonable cost. Determined not to stand idly by as GM and Chrysler attempted to dominate the car market with its attractive new pillarless coupes.

Ford decided that the only solution was to customize existing two-door bodies into a new line of specialty models. These included the Ford Crestliner, Lincoln Capri and Lido, and the Mercury Monterey.

All of these vehicles were developed from the same formula with grained top coverings that were harmonized with a very limited number of pain colors. Color-coordinated interiors also matched the external theme, while special trim and badging were used both inside and out.

Responsible for the Mercury Monterey's special touches, William Schmidt took over the design work. A choice of either canvas or vinyl roof coverings were offered on the all-new custom coupe, along with either fabric-and-leather or all-leather seats. A deluxe steering wheel was showcased, and bright trim edged the windows on the inside.

The base price of a 1950 Mercury Monterey was $2,146. Mercury's flagship sedan from 1950 through 1974, the classic 'Monterey' was considered to be '4,000 lbs. of Pure Decadence.' Still coveted even today, the sleek lines of those earlier models make the Monterey a popular collectible classic.

Featuring the same chassis and running gear used on all other Mercurys, the Monterey featured a 118-inch wheelbase that ran between coil-and-wishbone suspension up front and leaf springs under a live axle in the rear. Achieving 110 bhp, the Monterey received its power from an L-head V-8 that displaced 255.4 cubic inches.

In early 1951, Ford decided to replace the Crestliner with the first hardtop, regardless of the cost. In 1952 Mercury and Lincoln came out with all-new bodies that were designed to include hardtops.

The Monterey name continued on, but on a premium series of Mercury's in three body styles. The Monterey later shared the same body style with the slightly more upscale Marquis, the Montclair, and the Park Lane. After the 1968 model year, the Montclair and Park were eliminated from the lineup. The Marquis-Monterey body eventually shared the same body as the Ford Galaxie, the Ford Custom, and the Ford LTD.

From 1961 through 1963, the Mercury Monterey was sold in Canada as the Mercury Meteor. Available in three trim lines, the Meteor was sold as the LeMoyne, the Montcalm, and Rideau. After the United States, Monterey was retired, Canadian Meteors were still marketed from 1964 until 1976. They were re-badged Marquis models following the deletion of the U.S. model Monterey in 1974.

The Monterey nameplate was resurrected in 2004 for a minivan, though it was essentially a re-badged Ford Freestar with more features and newly modified cosmetic features. The Monterey comes with a high level of equipment and several styling cues from Mercury. These minivans were made to fill the gap in Mercury's vehicle lineup following the discontinuation of the Mercury Villager. Offered in only one trim level, for 2006 Mercury Monterey was offered in the fully-loaded Luxury edition.

The Luxury edition was featured in front-wheel drive and is powered by a 4.2-liter V6 engine that was matched with a four-speed automatic transmission and anti-lock braking system. The inside of the Monterey featured amazing standard features such as cloth upholstery, dual-zone air conditioning, first and second-row captain's chairs, power sliding doors, tilting steering wheel, and much more.

The all-new Monterey also came with a great safety warranty. Standard occupant-sensing front passenger airbag, heated power-adjustable side mirrors that featured built-in warning/turn signals, perimeter anti-theft system, and Safety Canopy curtain and side-impact airbags. Optional features were Traction Control and Advancetrac electronic stability control.

by Jessican Donaldson