Mercury Monterey

Mercury Monterey
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercury (Ford)
Production	1952–1974
Assembly	St. Louis, Missouri Maywood, California Pico Rivera, California Atlanta, Georgia Mahwah, New Jersey
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door sedan 2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Eight
Successor	Mercury Marquis

First generation
Overview
Model years	1952–1954
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Related	Lincoln Capri Ford Crestline Skyliner
Powertrain
Engine	255 cu in (4.2 L) Flathead V8 256 cu in (4.2 L) Ford Y-block V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.0 in (2,997 mm)
Length	202.2 in (5,136 mm) (1952)
Width	73.5 in (1,867 mm)

Second generation
Overview
Model years	1955–1956
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Related	Lincoln Capri Mercury Custom Mercury Medalist Mercury Montclair
Powertrain
Engine	292 cu in (4.8 L) Ford Y-block V8 312 cu in (5.1 L) Ford Y-block V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.0 in (2,997 mm)
Length	206.3 in (5,240 mm)

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1957–1958
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Related	Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Mercury Montclair Mercury Colony Park Mercury Voyager Mercury Commuter
Powertrain
Engine	312 cu in (5.1 L) Ford Y-block V8 368 cu in (6.0 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) MEL V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122.0 in (3,099 mm)
Length	211.1 in (5,362 mm)

Fourth generation
Overview
Model years	1959–1960
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Related	Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Colony Park Mercury Commuter Mercury Voyager
Powertrain
Engine	312 cu in (5.1 L) Ford Y-block V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) MEL V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126.0 in (3,200 mm)
Length	1959: 217.8 in (5,532 mm) 1960: 219.2 in (5,568 mm)

Fifth generation
Overview
Model years	1961–1964
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Related	Mercury Meteor Mercury Colony Park Mercury Commuter Ford Galaxie Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine	223 cu in (3.7 L) Mileage Maker I6 292 cu in (4.8 L) Ford Y-block V8 352 cu in (5.8 L) FE V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 406 cu in (6.7 L) FE V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.0 in (3,050 mm)

Sixth generation
Overview
Model years	1965–1968
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Related	Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Colony Park Mercury Commuter Ford Galaxie Ford LTD Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine	390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 410 cu in (6.7 L) FE V8 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE V8 428 cu in (7.0 L) FE V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic 3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123.0 in (3,120 mm)

Seventh generation
1973 Mercury Monterey
Overview
Model years	1969–1974
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Related	Mercury Marquis Mercury Colony Park Ford LTD Ford Galaxie Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine	390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) Cleveland V8 429 cu in (7.0 L) 385-series V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) 385-series V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124.0 in (3,150 mm)

The Mercury Monterey is a full-size car model that was introduced by Mercury in 1952. It would later share the same body style with the slightly more upscale Marquis, and the Park Lane and Montclair until the latter two were extinguished after the 1968 model year. The Marquis-Monterey body was built on a longer wheelbase and had a longer body than the Ford LTD, Ford Galaxie, and Ford Custom. During its production the Monterey served as the high-end, mid-range, and entry-level fullsize Mercury at various times throughout its run. It was the only Mercury to be in continuous production throughout the 1960s.

After the 1974 model year, the Monterey was discontinued as Mercury streamlined its full-size offerings down to the Marquis nameplate. From 2004 to 2007, the nameplate was revived for a minivan, the counterpart of the Ford Freestar.

The Monterey (model 72C) was introduced in 1950 as a high-end two-door coupe as part of the Mercury Eight series in the same vein as the Ford Crestliner, the Lincoln Lido coupe and the Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri coupe in order to compete with the hardtop coupes General Motors had introduced the previous model year. Montereys had either a canvas covered top for $2146 or vinyl for $2157. Standard features included leather faced seats, simulated leather headliner, wool carpets, chrome-plated interior garnish moldings, two-toned dashboard, special black steering wheel, fender skirts, dual outside rearview mirrors, full wheelcovers & gold winged hood ornament. For $10 more all leather seats were an option. Two special colors were offered, Turquoise Blue with dark blue top and Cortaro Red metallic with black top. Black with yellow top was also available. Few Montereys were sold.