Guest Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I have found and saved a 1960 Mercury Monterey convertible! I found this car in a backwoods parts yard that closed up in the mid 70's. The car was parked with only 70k original miles on it, and was reportedly in excellent condition when parked, except for some bad rear end gears that were never repaired. The car has it's original 430 engine and auto trans, still full of oil and fluid. The car still has it's original black paint with black/white interior, and it still had it's original white top(I have removed the remnants of it). The car is still good and solid considering it has been outside for the last 38 years, the doors still shut good and the trunk is not rusted out. The trunk lid is dented badly(must have happened while it was parked in the yard) and it's going to need floors and rockers, but the top bows are still in great shape along with all power top accessories. The frame and supports are excellent. If anybody knows of a good solid 2dr hardtop parts car that is available, please let me know. I have more pictures of it over in the picture post site. Now here's the clincher, was it worth 300 bucks? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 Good lord, boy, the top frame was worth that!Wish ya luck- it's a song seldom seen. Can't imagine what it'll be like finding parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 70 Electra Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 Kudos for a job well done, and a bargain at that! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />60's are my favorite Mercs and seems like you hardly ever see 'em. Last year of "real" Mercury. After that, just a glorified Ford. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted February 26, 2003 Share Posted February 26, 2003 300 dollars ??? Heck you cant even get a night out on the town or a tank of gas for that anymore. Heck yes, it was worth it.Good job on saving the car, I think I know where its evil twin 2 door hardtop is. I was out looking at a yard a couple of weeks ago in Texas and saw one similar. Let me check to make sure for you though.You are in for quite the job on this one though, but it will be worth it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Thanks for the votes of confidence, it's going to be a real project, but it should be a real head-turner. I would definently be interested in the hardtop, and coming from TX, it should be mighty solid! Thanks for the help on it Bill, please let me know what you find out.Bob(58rebelsport) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Rebelsport, have you decided on a color yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 I'll put her back black. She should turn a few heads with her white top and two tone interior. Gotta get some skirts too. Maybe a continental kit, if I can find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomchaney Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 That's a great car! I love the "land yachts." My parents had a '57 Mercury Montclair, turquoise and white. When I catch up on my current projects, I'd love to track one down! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyDale Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 Gotta believe THAT rear 1/4 panel is in the running for worlds longest.diz <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 Rebelsport, if you put a connie kit on there you'll have to get truck license! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 WHOAH!!!! You guys are right, I just went and measured the quarters on this Monterey, and they like ONE inch being 8 feet long! Yes! 7 feet 11 inches long, now THATS a quarter panel!!!!! Talk about needing 40 acres to turn this rig around!!!!! I'm going to check on getting a mast with sails rigged up so I can rely on wind power....maybe a porthole or two installed in the quarters so I can see out of the deluxe kitchen in the trunk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 The '60 Monterey convertible will be a really unique, beautiful car. As another posted above, 1960 was the final year that the Mercury was really intended to be an upper medium price class car. With the Edsel appearing in Ford Motor Company's medium-price lineup during the late '50's, Ford was moving the Mercury upscale for the 1957 - 1960 period. The failure of the Edsel changed the picture, however, and the 1961 Mercury returned to the old formula as a slightly fancier Ford.I'm going to take a risk here and suggest that you consider not adding skirts and continental kit to your car. Skirts may have been regular factory equipment for some of the top-of-the-line Mercury's like the Park Lane Cruiser, but I do not believe that they were offered on the Montereys. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong.) My view is that people often add the skirts and continental kits to the cars of this era without regard to the aesthetics. In many cases, the addition of these items destroys the integrity and balance of the original design. The rear quarter, taillamp, and rear bumper design of the '60 Mercury are beautiful just as they are; why add the skirts and continental kit just because we have seen so many of these on other cars of the era? In my opinion, it's sort of like hanging fuzzy dice from your rearview mirror -- only worse! Your '60 Mercury will stand out at the car shows because it is neither a Mustang nor a '57 Chevy. Let it remain unique instead of become another grotesque montrosity, laden with non-factory accessories in order to fit the popular "image" of the convertibles of this era.And, now that you all know my pet peeve about skirts and continental kits, feel free to disagree with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyDale Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 Dear Brian,I agree with you 110%.Way too many nice 55,56,57,Fords out there RUINED with skirts and continental kits[what in the world is continental about something that is sooooo ugly]As always just my 2-cents,diz <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skirts may have been regular factory equipment for some of the top-of-the-line Mercury's like the Park Lane Cruiser, but I do not believe that they were offered on the Montereys. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong.)</div></div>Maybe, but why does this Monterey still have original skirt mounting pegs on it? They are rusted to the lip, so I know they were there for the life of the car, so apparently it did have skirts on it. The car was parked in '65 with only 70k on it, so that and the fact it still has the skirt pegs on it leads me to believe it did have skirts originally. As far as continental kits, to each his own, but I believe they look awesome on the right car, cool and dressy. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 I stand corrected with respect to the Monterey skirts; I cannot claim to be an expert on these cars. If these were a factory item on your Mercury, then I think that they will look great on your car -- if you are able to locate the correct, original style. I just could not recollect having seen these on anything but the Park Lanes. By the way, if you have not seen the recent Tom Hanks movie "Catch Me if You Can", you will probably enjoy the street scene where Leonardo DiCaprio walks past a gorgeous red '60 Mercury. I suspect that this car was a Park Lane Cruiser, and, yes, I believe that it had the skirts. I also have an original '60 Mercury Park Lane 1/25-scale promotional model that has the skirts.With respect to the continental kits, there are some '50's cars that they look great on, such as the '53 Packard Caribbean or '53 Buick Skylark. On many of the models from the later '50's or early '60's, however, they can look tacked on and quite awkward. I agree with DizzyDale that the appearance of many otherwise fine convertibles has been ruined by the continental kits. Hopefully, you will be able to locate photos of a '60 Mercury with the continental kit to help you judge whether this accessory would enhance or detract from the appearance of your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 Found a photo of a '60 with continental kit. This looks better than some, because only the center portion of the rear bumper is modified to accommodate the spare tire. This is more attractive to me than the variety where the entire rear bumper is moved outward from the car body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 I totally agree with the question of adding connie kit. The skirts would look proper, but not the continental kit......way too long.. I disagree with Diz on the 55, 56, 57 Fords & Chevys. To me the C.K. looks great on these cars as long as it is a 2 dr hardtop or convertible and the rear is dropped slightly. They look like crap if the car is sticking up in the air in the rear. As far as Chevys, 60' was the last year they looked good. Sometimes I see them on a 61 Chevy and to me they don't belong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 For more history on the great Mercury's of the '57 through '60 era, pick up an issue of "Collectible Automobile" magazine on the newsstand and look through the index of past issues. You can back order an issue from several years ago that covered these cars in detail and included many beautiful color photographs. (Wish I had the issue reference with me, but I do not.) As I recall, the article was titled "The Big M That Took on the World". The focus of the article was Ford's effort with these cars to shed the image of the Mercury as a fancy Ford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 Well, after viewing the 60 Merc with a CK, I don't know now. If I put a continental kit on it, I may have to get boat numbers for the side, it would be wayyyy long. As far as the skirts go, your right on finding the right style. I assume the picture of the Merc with a CK is a Parklane, hence the wide stainless bottom trim, bright rear panel, and stainless skirts. I would have to go with plain skirts on this Monterey, any advice on where to find any? I have seen a few NOS stainless skirts offered, but I will have to check on the plain ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 58rebelsport, I was able to locate one photo of a Monterey sedan with painted skirts. These might be a tough item to find, but I'm sure a pair will turn up eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 The "Collectible Automobile" article I was thinking of covered only the Mercury's of 1959 and 1960, and I was wrong about the title of the article. These cars were covered in the April, 1993 issue, and this can be ordered at 1-800-871-2022.The good news is that there are a couple of photos of a Monterey convertible with skirts. Also, there are a few photos of a Monterey 2-door sedan with skirts and what is described as optional rocker panel and rear quarter stainless steel trim. This appears to me to be the same lower body trim and fender skirt trim that was standard on the Park Lane models, so this might be something to confirm from the sales literature and look for as you consider various parts car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 For fender skirts trywww.fenderskirtking.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 In regards to the fender skirts use on the 60 Big M Monterey. A friend here in Richmond has a beautiful 4 door sedan including fender skirts. They are listed on the original bill of sale as fender shields. Car is an original with 60,000 actual miles, black and white, AACA HPOF certified, and could probably be purchased for around $6,300.00. Origial selling price from the dealer in Ga. $2,900.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2003 Share Posted March 23, 2003 Thanks to all for the info on the skirts, or the "fender shields"(I like that, i'm going to start calling them that, sounds cooler). If that 4dr was a 2dr ht, I would be headed that way, it still sounds like a great car at a great price, and would be a really nice cruiser. That picture of the white 4 dr looks good, Centurion, it would make a good cruiser also. I have had a lot of positive encouragement regarding this conv., everybody seems to like it, and hardly anybody has seen one like it in years. I'll keep the pictures coming as the restoration progresses(that is as soon as I can get started on it!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Sighting- today, in Travis Auto Parts near Oxford NC- nearly complete 1960 Montclair 4d that would have some good parts for this restoration. Windshield and RF door glass busted, RF door dented, but gawjus bumpers and chrome and space age dash completely intact. Engine/driveline is there. Car is showing 51k which judging from interior is probably actual. Even has Mercury script front rubber floor mat in near perfect shape. White outside/silver interior.This yard is showing signs of closing. Said a lot of older stuff had been sold off or crushed recently and there is a for sale sign at the gate. Travis Auto Parts1304 Dabney RdHenderson NC 27537252-492-5859There's some other interesting stuff in this yard. Partial listing- 1958 Edsel Ranger 4dHT, 1959 REO Gold Comet tractor, several early 60s Buicks including a 1965 Wildcat GS with Wildcat 465 engine still in it. 58 Caddy 62 coupe, couple of 52-54 Ford Crestline Victorias, 53 Chevy windowed sedan delivery, 60 Pontiac Catalina 2d sedan. Bunch of 65-6 Galaxies including some convertibles, 71 or 72 LTD ragtop. A few super-rusty 40s GM cars and a couple early 50s BelAir HT with good rear corner glassesYes, a lot of it is rusty as hell but there are some salvageable parts on these cars and trucks. Worth a look if you're in the area. Oxford is right off I-85, about 25 miles north of Durham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithfulRain Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 Hello, just joined the forum this morning- have a friend who has hundreds of acres with classic cars ALL over the place, like Easter Eggs! Point- 1960 Mercury Monterey, white, all chrome (stainless steel?) PERFECT, ht, 2 DOOR??? Surface rust only!! No dents visible in body, only thing is, was sitting in field when creek flooded and sunk it in a hollow! It looks GREAT! Don't get me wrong, I know relatively NOTHING about cars, butthis one caught my eye- he says he'll have no problem getting it hauled out of where it is.... Will have to go back out to get more details if you want them, just thought you might be interested. P.S.--- Am in central Missouri Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ignatzzz Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 Hi, Congradulations on a major score! That merc will be a great car when its done. I have had several 1960 mercs and they are my all time favorite car! I am kind of an expert on these cars so I wanted to respond to some of the things people have said on the site. Fender skirts were a fairly common option for all mercs in 1960. They were standard equipment on the Parklane but most Montereys and Montclairs that Ive seen also have them. If your car has the pegs, your car had them. The engine in your car is not a 430 if it is original. It should be a 383 which was an option for the monterey. Same block as the 430. It should be painted black with orange valve covers and air cleaner. The 430 would be gold. Please write me back and I would love to see pictures of the car. I have a ton of parts for that car also if you are interested including a great black trunklid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest denmn47 Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 I am soooo jealous! Had one in 1966, red with black interior and top. While on leave in 1969 it was impounded because of a parking violation I didn't know about. Poor marine couldn't come up with the fees to get it out. I wish you luck, I've looked for another one for years, they're just not out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 We need to see photos of your friend's cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I am a big fan of continental kits but I never did like the Chevrolet version in the fifties that extended the middle of the bumper to accommodate the kit. I like the entire bumper set back and a new gravel pan installed to fill the gap. I have a neighbor with a somewhat weird taste in cars. He bought the first 1960 Ford Galaxie I saw. It was a 4-door sedan, not a 4-door hardtop and it had a continental kit. Since he showed up with it right at introduction day I always assumed it came from the factory that way but I don't know that for a fact. Installers used to extend the rear fenders when they installed the kits so the kit was nestled between the fenders. That looked really good on large cars. I especially like Packards and Lincolns and 56-57 Fords with the connie kit; also 57-60 Pontiacs. Although their popularity had passed by then I always thought a '65 Buick convertible or 2-door hardtop would look great with a connie. I also disagree with British journalists that despise sidemounted spares on the cars of the thirties. I loved the twin sidemounts on almost every car from the '30's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rohn Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 we need pictures of the convertible ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest papaw Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 This thread was from a guest 7 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now