The “Breezeway” was a body style employed by Mercury and Lincoln (but not Ford) in the 1950s and 1960s. Ford instead had the retractable hardtop, while the other divisions added a slanted, retractable rear window to some of their 2 and 4-door sedans and hardtops, but in different models and years. This 1963 Monterey is a true survivor with less than 55,000 miles on its 390 cubic inch V8. Located in Largo, Florida, this beauty is being offered by an auctioneer here on Facebook Marketplace for $14,500.
Mercury first deployed the Breezeway system of ventilation on its 1957 and 1958 Turnpike Cruisers. After that Lincoln applied it to their Continentals for the next three years. Then it returned to Mercury from 1963 to 1966. As for the Monterey 2-door sedan, just 4,640 copies were built in 1963 along with another 82,587 Monterey and Monterey Custom 4-door sedans and 2 and 4-door hardtops. The unique back glass could be lowered and raised by the flick of a switch.
We’re told this Mercury is original and unrestored and its mileage is verified by the title. The cool rear window operates as it should, though I always wondered if it was as effective as it was designed. We assume the car runs as good as it looks with an automatic transmission. The Monterey also has factory air conditioning, so maybe the Breezeway wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Unusual for an automobile of Mercury’s stature, this one has no radio (it was deleted at the factory as an AM was standard equipment).
The only flaw may be the chrome sail panel, which is said to be pitted, so the seller is throwing in a replacement for the buyer to use (or not). As you would expect, sales tax and documentation fees will be added to the sales price, along with the auctioneer’s “fee,” whatever amount that is (not indicated). Kudos to “Bruce M” for this cool tip!
I know you could get the breezeway back window in ’67, I’m not sure about ’68. That said, this one looks really nice. Although I am more of a fan of the fastback styling that came in mid ’63 I wouldn’t kick this out of my garage (if I had one). Another good thing is these had beefy frames, so there shouldn’t be any worry there. We had 2 ’67 Mercs in the family that went to the junkyard with solid bodies, but bad frames. Both had the 390 and always ran fantastic.
Good luck to the seller and future buyer, it looks like a winner and fairly priced.
According to Mac’s Motor City website, Mercury used the Breezeway concept thru the 1968 model year. While it was not slanted back, it could be lowered about 2″ to let stale air out. It was only available on the 4-door platform, and in very limited numbers.
I look at these and I can’t help to think about how the miserable X frames fold up in an accident, my mom and sister were lucky to survive when they got t-boned in a 63 Monterey sedan. Beautiful car, I have fond memories of riding in it, cool features, but I have no desire to ever get near driving or riding in one again.
But it was GM that had the X frames, not Ford products.