While this convertible with great potential has been sitting for 10 years, it still starts and runs! It’s a little rough around the edges, but there’s a lot of potential here. The Montego convertible is located in Santa Rosa, California and is up for sale here on eBay with low bidding so far.
The Montego was the Mercury equivalent of the Ford Torino, although it consistently looked a little more upscale. Interestingly enough, the convertible was dropped from the Montego lineup after 1969, and the seller claims that only 1725 of these convertibles were manufactured in 1969, which this page backs up. As far as this car goes, it looks pretty solid in the pictures, although some closeups of vulnerable spots would be nice to have, especially since the top has apparently been kaput for a while. I wonder how much water has gotten in there?
I know one of the first things I’d do is ditch the aftermarket wire wheels! Although I admit that the wider than stock wheels don’t look bad to me. There is a shot of the car in the auction with what look like the standard wheel covers and wheels, so I’m hoping that they still exist and come with the car. It has a power top, but unfortunately the hydraulics have to be replaced as well as the convertible top. You can find a new top here; I was pleased to find they aren’t as expensive as I would have thought they were.
The seat is supposedly from another car, which I can believe considering the color combination. I’m not sure what the car originally had, but I’ve got to believe buckets would look better in this sporty convertible! Obviously you’ll have a lot of work here, starting with seats, carpet, and other trim components.
We don’t know if this is the original 351, or even if it is a 351 for sure, although the seller claims it is. It does have an aftermarket intake and carburetor, meaning that if you want to return it to stock you’ll have a little bit more to do. Honestly, in this case I’m not sure I would, though, because I’m guessing it runs just fine on the manifold and carburetor it has now. I think I’d worry about other things, first. What would you do with this great find?
I have always been a fan of the Mercury line of cars, I always thought they were a little bit nicer that the standard Fords. That being said and having owned a Ragtop, I would pass on this thing, it is a little to rough and to far away for my taste!!
Cool car but the pictures of the rust makes it seem like it started from the inside out. With the poor top I wonder if the interior has been a water storage tank for a few years. This one would make sense only for the person who can do all of their own body work. And that is assuming a reasonable reserve which hasn’ t yet been met
My first car was a ’69 Montego coupe in high school. It had bucket seats and got 11 MPG cruising around town. But comfy.
Looks like a great find for the money. The reserve is very low considering the vehicle.I checked on line and these vehicles look like they are selling in the high 20’s. This one is for the do it your selfer and if done fairly nice you will make out. It looks worst than it really is. Nice find.