I’m guessing the designers at Ford Motor Company thought they had a pretty novel way of differencing 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?
What a great looking car and priced right. I live in AZ. Not a great place for a plexa-glass sun roof. Maybe have the roof wrapped in a matching white and no one would notice!
Great write-up, Ron, and I find the whole car dazzling.
Just fantastic.
At first I was wondering if the $24k ask was high, but I am not so sure now, you don’t get much these days for that, and I doubt you’ll find anything this nice.
GLWTS, I hope someone gives her a good home.
I like this car, and I too prefer the Merc version.
I remember as a kid visiting my older sister and hubby in Wichita circa summer 1964, and seeing a Skyliner Ford parked out front, and though 10-yrs old it looked in great shape. Seems my ‘brother-no-good-in-law’ had scored it for the princely sum of $150 to provide commutation to work and back. Now, if you had knowed this here no-good-in-law, you knowed he was rough on things…’specially his cars. So he ran the heck out of that thing till it blew up and then promptly moved on to his next victim. But, I do remember riding in it and marveling at that green tinted roof, especially at night. I also remember (vividly) how well this kid from the Rockies sweat glands worked during daytime rides to Dairy Queen in hot and ninety percent huma-dang-ditty. Yep, with no AC, sunshine, and hot cut-it with a butter knife thick air, that overhead picture window made sure you devoured your ice cream cone before it tipped over in your lap.
Nice design, beautiful example.
Well, if I had money, I tell you what I’d do.
Beautiful car! I get the 302 upgrade- I’d have gone with at least a C4, or better yet, AOD. Y Blocks had oiling issues, especially with the inferior lubricants used back then. 302 is a sensible “in the family” upgrade.
There’s just something about a Mercury.
Ron, Thank you for presenting us with this beautiful Merc.. This is an excellent vehicle, priced right, to enter or expand a person’s collection in the Classic Car hobby. Although I am a truck man, I would love to have this car in my garage..
Vintage Air!!
What a beautiful car, I bet it would be cool to see the sky from inside, but it’s for sure not one for southern AZ summertime driving.
What a beautiful car and if I had the money I would love to own this gorgeous car. I really think the price is right for this car because I have seen dumpster fires cost more than this car. The hood hinges and Vintage Air would make this baby complete.
I will admit off the bat that I am not a big FoMoCo fan – every one that my dad had (and also my stepfather) had issues. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but I kind of built my opinion on their misfortunes. But looking at this car, it is absolutely gorgeous! IMHO, the Mercury version looks loads better than the Ford. The body proportions are perfect, and placing a more reliable motor in the 302 makes perfect sense! The colors on this car are beautiful, and that makes it even better. I had always wondered about the plexiglass roof and the issues with being baked like a potato in warmer (and humid) climates, but they did look cool. I was wondering if anyone had thought of creating a sunshade that can be rolled back and forth to at least attempt to cool the car down. As Milt said, Vintage Air would help and unlike the Y-blocks, the 302 could handle the strain. My dad became a Bow-Tie man from the last Ford he owned and stayed with Chevrolets until he passed away. He had such a devotion to them that when I had bought a ’71 Pontiac GTO, he yelled at me for several weeks! Another thing – those lights in the grille would have to go – they are simply out of place!
My Dad & Mom brought me home from the hospital/baby factory in ’57 in a 2-tone green 2-door ’54 Merc Monterey with wide white walls and fender skirts, no picture window though. My Dad’s brother had a black & white ’54 Merc Monterey at the same time. His had the red and white vinyl interior and my Dad’s was 2-tone green to match his paint. A lot of my childhood was spent in and around both of those cars and my head is swimming with memories of each. We buried my uncle 2 years ago and my dad less than a year. This is my first Father’s Day without him and seeing these old Merc’s has served to put a smile on my face and in my soul! Thanks for that and GLWYA ! ! !
Here is a beautiful example of fifties styling a plus with a v-8 upgrade, considering the price of restored vehicles these days this one seems sound. This particular model is very rare and unique and also being a mercury a big plus and would be a big plus to any car enthusiast.
I’d buy me a Mercury or two and cruise up and down the road
A great car for Sunny Sequim, located on The Olympic Peninsula. As I recall their average annual rain fall is 15 inches, where I grew up in near by Port Townsend it is 18 inches. That area was (and maybe still is) known as the Banana Belt. When I moved to Bellingham to attend college I had to put up with about double the rain, with 36 or so inches per year.
Great looking car all around, upgraded where needed without killing the vibe. This is in my opinion the true definition of a resto-mod.
Wasn’t there something Ford or could’ve been aftermarket, a fabric or vinyl insert that attached from inside like a sort of partial headliner at some point?
I’m almost positive I’ve read something along those lines. Anyone….?
Yes I think I read in one of my books that Ford installed a clip on shade in the roof of the ‘54 Skyliner because of the heat and could’ve been installed on the Mercury as well.