The first time that I encountered a Mercury “Breezeway”, I thought, “How cool!” Growing up we had a lot of boring cars, nothing as neat as one that had a roll-down rear window (OK, we had a Chevy station wagon that did that but it’s hardly the same thing). And it’s not just the retractable window that makes this Merc so special, it’s the entire presentation, highlighted by this sedan’s lines, stainless trim, reverse C-pillar and rear window, and of course, its fabulous condition. Excellent as it is, this stylish Montclair calls Los Angeles, California home and is available, here on craigslist for $17,500.
In reviewing Mercury’s 1964 full-size lineup we find that the breezeway feature existed not only on four-door sedans and hardtops but two-door sedans and hardtops too. If a Merc buyer desired something more typical, then the “Marauder” with its semi-fastback roofline was just the ticket. Mercury’s full-size lineup in ’64 started with the Park Lane at the top, followed by the Montclair in the rocking chair position, and the Monterey bringing up the markers. Our subject car is one of 15K Montclair four-door sedans to see the light of day in ’64.
The interior of this car quickly caught my attention. It looks great but I doubt that it’s an original pattern. The seller mentions that it’s all new but the images that I can find show pleated upholstery in cloth and vinyl or all vinyl and not a diamond-stitched arrangement. Nothing is out of place, the carpet, door panels, dash, and instrument panel all show as gently used. Of note is the original style steering wheel that is now leather-wrapped.
This is a rather well-adorned car with all of its stainless trim and chrome plated bits – it seems more like a late-fifties presentation from that perspective. The silver turquoise finish, which is said to be a respray, has a nice shine and decent depth. As for panel damage, fit, or corrosion, forget it – no demerits are warranted. Oh, and A/C? Nope, just open the vents and the breezeway and have at it.
Power is provided by a 390 CI “FE” V8 engine and my assumption is that it’s the standard 266 HP, Montclair version. Rebuilt just 3K miles ago, the seller claims that it “runs great“. Gear changing comes about courtesy of a Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission.
Oh for the days when auto manufacturers built cars like this breezeway-equipped Montclair. No, we won’t see another like this big Merc again – too bad as I bet this is one accomplished cruiser. So, how about that $17,500 price? What do you think, priced right or not quite?
Great…now I have Leonard Skynyrd playing in my head. I believe J.J. Cale was the songwriter. I bet that song sounded pretty good (in the 70’s) on that oh-so-rare factory AM/FM radio.
There are four pictures taken close up in the ad that I saved. Close ups of: fuel guage, the radio, the steering wheel, and the one JO used in the teaser – that back window. They’re decent in focus, and for a Mercury fan, a must have. Anybody can appreciate, though.
Yes, Cale was the author. I still have the original “Second Helping” LP (1974) with Skynyrd’s version.
JO
For years …I mean years…into the Nineties,,,one of these in all white sat parked outside the owners house in a town in SoCal. I must have gone by it twice a day for over a decade. To think the ask is 18 large is amazing when you used to buy most sixties cars from Chevies to Lincolns to VW’s for less than a grand. Even accounting for ridiculous inflation, tough to swallow even for such a nice Breezeway Merc.
Breezeway is the coolest feature ever!
It’s been ages since I’ve seen one of these. I can imaging being at a show and hollering through the back window “Watch out, I’m backing up!”
My Town Car has a backup beeper that warns me AND others to get Out of my way 🙃!
The Breezeway roof design was inherited from Lincoln when the 60 Lincoln was completely redesigned. This was on the gigantic late 50s Marks. Not sure about Premier and Capri.
Before Lincoln (1958) it was Mercury who first offered it in 1957 on the Turnpike Cruiser 2 and 4 drHT
I agree ! Love this car!
Craigslist listing shows price $15,500. Every little bit helps..
A Fabulous survivor for a sixty year old car !! They don’t make ’em like that anymore and probably never again. The 1964 full size Ford Galaxies and Mercurys were the last of that body style . Starting in 1965 , all full size models mentioned above were redesigned creating a whole new generation of Fords . They proved very popular as sales increased dramatically . Their latest sales slogan was : ” Your ahead in a Ford all the way !” Happy Motoring
But dangerous as exhaust found its way back into the car at times thru said back retractable window…Lynyrd Skynyrd fan here…
Is that a siren in the engine compartment on the right?
It really looks like one, along with an add on horn right next to it.
Classic anti-theft device.
I painted one of these in a 2 door hardtop form. My boss called it Champagne pink. I doubt that was the actual name of the color but it was factory and for pink, was a nice color. The interior matched the outside and was buckets and a center console which apparently was a rare option for a ???Monterey or Montclair. Can’t remember which but I do know it wasn’t a Marauder. I think it was a Monterey. If I had known what it was, (as far as value and rarity) I would’ve bought it myself but knowing me back then I probably would’ve just got rid of it or traded it for something. I was fickle like that when I was younger. Let an awful lot of nice cars pass through my hands. My best friend and my brother were always giving me grief for that. Saying I would fix something up to where it was worth having and then basically give it away because of how low I would sell it for. If only I could go back and smack some sense into myself, right? Oh well. Live and learn.
From the Used Car Salesman’s Handbook- Any color that cannot be easily described with a single word is automatically “Champagne.”
My Dad bought me a 64 2 Dr hrs top Monterey in chamapain, first car I ever did over a 100 in, that was on a peice of freeway that was deserted, not nowadays and when I make the curve I think about it.
Lincoln had a Philidelphia Champagne
This is just like the car my grandma had just bought when she WON a brand new ’64 Impala SS from the fire house raffle in East Stroudsburg, PA! And she SOLD the Impala to keep the Breezeway! These cars are THAT awesome! And my grandma was no little ol’ granny…no, she played baseball and frisbee with us, took us on hikes and picnics on Camelback Mountain, and kept a huge vegetable garden in her back yard in addition to the massive flower beds that looked like something out of a magazine. And she drove like a bat out of hell! She would rocket up and down the hills and around the curves on those Pocono Mountain roads like she was being chased by the mob. Very cool grandma, very cool car!
I have to imagine that Elwood Engel had a major role in designing this car while he was at Ford. It is so similar to the New Yorker he designed for 1965 when he was at Chrysler..
Looks like a siren and is probably for an aftermarket pre-electronics era car alarm.
My 73 Olds has a Sears model that my dad installed when the car was new.
Beautiful looking car. 1964 is my favourite year for full sized Mercury cars like the Montclair, etc. Given its original survivor condition, I’d be willing to pay around the asking price.
That car alarm didn’t stop anyone from stealing the right side high beam chrome ring.
The “breezeway” rear window had been used by Mercury on the Turnpike Cruiser starting in 1957. Although AC was available at that time, the “breezeway” had one advantage; i.e. it allowed all the cigarette smoke to be blown out the rear window. See a ‘57 TPC here:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1957-mercury-turnpike-cruiser-4/
My Honda Del Sol has a similar set up which helps control buffeting when the top is off and windows rolled down.
Exhaust rolling up into the car? I know it happened with every station wagon I ever owned, and in my current Toyota 4Runner, and in my ’54 Corvette with exhaust pipes running through the rear bumper (which in a correction long before recalls, GM rerouted to look like the exhaust went through the rear bumper, but actually down loaded to the road behind before the fake pipe through the bumper.) I don’t know about these.
My old man got a new Merc every couple years from his work, in the sixties. Me and my Irish Setter dog would sit in the back and wind that window down all the way from Chicago to Ely Mn. The big Mercs were magic carpet rides.
What’s not to like!? For a lousy $15k, have at it. After all , $15K is the new $7500.00 for a fun car.
My uncle had one with a 4-speed … as a youngster I wondered why such a nice car had a “stick shift” … today I’d look for one …