I’m guessing the designers at Ford Motor Company thought they had a pretty novel way to differentiate themselves in 1954 by offering a see-through roof insert on two high-end Ford and Mercury two-door hardtops. Ford chose to call theirs the Skyliner. I’m also guessing that the Mercury naming team wished they had chosen a different name other than Sun Valley. Why? Because it didn’t take long for customers to complain about the greenhouse effect and additional heat this tinted acrylic plastic idea brought to its passengers on sunny days, especially those in the front seat. The Sun Valley also came with a hefty price tag, so it’s no surprise that only 9,761 units were produced, making them quite collectible. Here’s a beautifully restored example with an engine upgrade to a 302 V8. Unfortunately, the owner is up in years and can’t drive anymore, so the family is looking for a new home for this rare Merc. It’s located in Sequim, Washington, and listed for sale here on Craigslist for $24,000. Thank you again, Curvette, for sending this sensational Sun Valley our way!
From a styling standpoint, I’ve always thought the Sun Valley was crisper-looking than the Ford Crestline Skyliner, especially in its rear treatment and those vertical wraparound taillights. The coupe is well-proportioned, in my opinion, and finished in a gorgeous, glossy Siren Red and Arctic White paint job. The front hood is being propped up and probably needs attention, but the rest of the car looks great – the chrome, the trim, the glass, the color-coordinated red wheels and trimmed wheel covers, period-correct wide whitewalls, and the gold Sun Valley script on the front fenders. This car is a show stopper.
One of the reasons I love cars from this era is shown in the photo above. The interiors are just so colorful and well-detailed. The restored red-and-white cabin in this top-of-the-line Monterey Sun Valley is dazzling. I’d ditch the fuzzy dice, but everything else looks close to perfect on this one.
Although Mercury introduced its new 256-cubic-inch “Y-Block” V8 in 1954, this Sun Valley has been upgraded to a Ford 302-cubic-inch V8. The seller says “the 302 V8 runs smooth, sounds sweet, and is paired with a 2-speed automatic transmission.” The seller also shares that the Merc has had “a power assisted brake upgrade and that many new parts and improvement work has been done by a local, reputable shop.” I really like this Sun Valley even though it’s been modified. It captures the colorful optimism of an America that had recovered from World War II and was firing on all eight cylinders. This one will look great in anybody’s garage. How about yours?
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