- Seller: Shawn M
- Location: Rosebud, Texas
- Mileage: 130,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 56SL88139M
- Title Status: Clean
Choosing the best candidate for a project build can be challenging, with the decision often driven by the buyer’s budget and skills. Some enthusiasts want to dive into their build immediately, while others prefer to enjoy their new purchase while planning the path they will eventually follow. If you fall into the second category, this 1956 Mercury Montclair is worth a close look. The seller has listed this classic on behalf of a friend, and it has plenty of positive attributes. It runs and drives as it should, is complete and unmolested, and has minimal rust issues. Some may also find its relative rarity attractive if they want to stand out from the crowd. We proudly offer this wonderful project candidate exclusively at Barn Finds Auctions.
Mercury introduced its First Generation Montclair range in 1955 as its premium offering. Buyers could select from three body variants, with our feature car, the 2-door Hardtop Coupe, the most popular. However, considering the extraordinary sales growth American manufacturers enjoyed during this period, the 50,562 examples that rolled off the line in 1956 is a pretty modest figure. The seller indicates it underwent a previous amateur restoration years ago, but its presentation remains acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle. The two-tone combination of Classic White and London Gray is striking and classy, an impression that is accentuated by the whitewall tires and spinner hubcaps. The panels have a few bumps and bruises, but addressing these in a home workshop shouldn’t be challenging. There is no known exterior rust, and this Mercury’s underside holds no genuinely nasty surprises. The trunk pan has been patched, and scrolling through the image gallery reveals minor rust on the inner rockers. Otherwise, the floors and frame appear rock-solid. The exterior trim condition ranges from restorable to pieces that will respond well to a high-quality polish. Most of the tinted glass is in good order, with only the cracked driver’s window requiring replacement.
The news for potential buyers seeking a classic they can enjoy immediately is positive when we turn our attention to this car’s mechanical health. Its engine bay houses a 312ci V8 producing 210hp and 312 ft/lbs of torque. Driving should be effortless, courtesy of the three-speed Merc-O-Matic transmission and power assistance for the steering and brakes. Hitting the road and cruising at Freeway speeds shouldn’t be challenging for this beauty. The seller recently installed a new fuel tank and 2-barrel carburetor. The car had been sitting for fifteen years, but those additions allowed the 312 to roar instantly to life. They replaced the brake cylinders and bolted on the new whitewalls, and the results were worth the cost and effort. This Montclair runs and drives as it should, making it a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
The surprise packet with this Mercury is its interior. A deep clean would improve the presentation of some upholstered surfaces, but the shopping list should only extend to the $220 required to purchase a new carpet set. The Black and White vinyl and cloth are free from wear and physical damage, and the headliner is excellent. The dash paint has aged, but performing a refresh would be an easy and inexpensive task for the new owner to tackle in a home workshop. The bright trim should present pretty well after a polish, and the wheel is crack-free. There are no aftermarket additions, with the Montclair retaining its original clock and pushbutton radio.
Some project candidates will confront buyers with an overwhelming list of required work, making it easy to understand why they place such cars in the “too hard” basket. This 1956 Mercury Montclair is a different proposition. It has no urgent needs and can be enjoyed immediately. Tackling the minor rust issue would be the first priority, but this can happen as time and circumstance allow. Beyond that, preservation is viable for those wishing to savor the classic ownership experience on a budget. The world will be the buyer’s oyster, making this Montclair worth far more than a passing glance.
Bid On This Auction
jal bid $5,200.00 2024-02-26 18:05:13
Oliver Groce bid $4,501.00 2024-02-24 20:14:07
irwin bid $4,001.00 2024-02-24 13:28:19- jal bid $3,500.00 2024-02-24 09:19:06
- Oliver Groce bid $2,500.00 2024-02-24 04:51:38
- jal bid $1,500.00 2024-02-21 17:06:25
Jerry bid $500.00 2024-02-21 13:34:54
Wow. A rair Montclair. That 312 c.i. V-8 engine was the Thunderbird engine, no?
the 312 was the thunderbird special v8 the thunderbird v8 was the 292 also the 312 with automatic was 225 HP the 210 HP one was with a stand 3 speed stick sift Ford back than had different HP for automatic and stand shift cars the distance was in the carburator mother father bought a new 1956 Ford 312 225 hp I was 11 years old remember and know the cars well
Yes, your right. The 312 was o3 the Thunderbirds engine. We had a neighbor that had a 56 Ford that had the 312 in it. o
Yes.
My mom and dad each had one of these. They were among the fastest ’56 vehicles on the road, and the two tones were classy.
My uncle had a 4 barrel version of this car. For it’s weight it was surprisingly fast. Imagine not a lot of of these around now.
4barrel version was the only version
I’m guessing the original 312 was replaced with a 292, all 312s were 4barrel, had “MERCURY ” embossed valve covers, and were not painted red. Nice car though
That may be true (about the replacement), but the shop manual lists ONLY a 312. Some with 4 bbl, others with 2. It doesn’t list the 292 in the Montclair.
No, that IS true about the replacement, and your shop manual only lists a 312, because only a 312 was available in a 56 Mercury, but this particular 56 Mercury has a 292, because for whatever reason, someone swapped the original 312 for a 292. And ALL had a 4barrel carburetor
My Dad had a 1955 292 version with 4 bbl and red interior. When it got rear-ended, the engine/transmission and some of the red/white interior found their way into my 1949 customized Ford,.
Another “enjoy now, restore later” car, although that rocker panel rust will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. I don’t see spending more than $7500 to bring this to a high 3 or low 2 car.
Dad had a ’56 Montclair. Persimmon and Gun Metal Gray. That was our “good” car til ’67. He always said it was the best car he ever owned. Love this car. But can’t swing the cash outlay right now.
Apart from the miserable engine bay this looks like a very nice car. I had ’56 Monterey and loved it.
My oldest sister (rip Betty) had a 56 I n yellow & black two tone. I think it was a Monterey though.
God Bless America
Wow! Seeing this 56 Montclair brings back a lot of great memories. We had a neighbor that had a 56 Montclair. His was red and white, with red, white and black cloth interior. These are great-looking cars. With their hooded headlights and those beautiful taillights the 55 and 56 Merc’s were iconic. Just look at it! The styling was amazing, It’s looks still work today. Mercury scored a major hit with these. They don’t look at all like Fords, or Lincolns, which gives it a very unique look of its own. The dashboard is very sophisticated for its time, and it too works today. Everyone knows that the 1950s were a great time for the US Big Three. Every manufacturer enjoyed the creative trends, and you can just imagine how much fun the stylists had with just the taillights, let alone the rest of the car. I often wonder how the styling ideas came about. If you just stare at the magnificent taillights on this Montclair, they show so much character. To me a cars taillights are what gives the car it’s identity. The 54, the 55, and 56 Mercury taillights are award winning. But that doesn’t that mean other 50s Mercurys don’t have great looking taillights, they sure do. Like I said, just stare at these 55 and 56 Mercury taillights. They seem to come alive. I love them!
My dad had a red ’56 Mercury Monterrey station wagon. With 8 kids, he’d pile 3-4 in the middle seat, and the rest in the back, usually with the rear-facing rear seat folded down. That car was a tank, because it went everywhere! The only problem was it had an 8-volt system, and eventually they stopped selling those batteries. He finally had to throw a 12-volt battery in, and for the rest of that car’s life, at night, drivers coming towards us would frantically flash their hi-beam lights at us!
8 kids? Good lord. Maybe that’s where 8 volts came from lol. Ford went to 12 volt system in 1956.
Then,….12. KIDS ? ?
1956 on the 3 seat 9 passenger wagon all 3 seats faced forward only general motors cars had 3 seat facing backwards
Cool car..see a lot of these on reruns of “Highway Patrol”….
Already looks like a hot rod. A 2 tone paint job should make this thing pop.
Had a friend with a 2-tone,
Black & white….. beautiful.
has any one else noticed that two tone paint jobs are coming back maybe there is hope for return of the white wall
Hopefully.
I’ve always liked nearly all the Mercs of the 50s. They were the best looking of Ford products of that time (not that Fords and Lincolns were ugly by no means, Mercs just looked even better). This one looks like a great “starter” for a good restoration. Also, there’s something about the 292/312 y-blocks, when you put duals with glass packs on ’em, they make beautiful music!
they do sound good but best sound is a old Ford flathead v8 with glass packs a nice 1949 Ford convertible glass packs fender skirts great times of course it was fast for the time but i think they did 0 to 60 in about 16 seconds lol and we thought that was fast remember my father in 1956 talking about a friend of the family that just got a new Pontiac it did a unbelievable 0 to 60 in only 10 seconds
This is a repeat. It was posted here last week.
Nope. 1st time posting this car.
My parents had two of them in the mid-60s, blue/white and brown/white. Both had the 312. A few years later they were easily sold and replaced with white HT 1959s, Monterey 2-dr 312 manual blue interior and Park Lane 4-dr MEL 383 auto brown interior. Imagine a 7yo me curled up behind the driver using the hump for a pillow.
These were beautiful, unique, refined cars for their time with real power. I would love to drive this one daily.
The Canadian version of this car was the Monarch and top model, Richelieu. My mother owned one in tri-colour, black roof, black red colour split with side trim and white inside the trim area on the door. Great looking and QUICK.