In 1962, Mercury introduced the “S” series of performance upgrades to its compact, intermediate, and full-size cars. At the top end, there was the Monterey S-55 which came with a big-block V8, bucket seats, a console, and other high-end/muscle car upgrades. The seller’s sweet ’63 edition came in the “Breezeway” hardtop body style which included a sliding rear window. Located in Gilroy, California, this well-maintained hottie is available here on craigslist where $14,000 is the magic number. Thanks to Barn Finder “jonny” for the cool tip!
The S-Series applied to the Comet (S-22), Meteor (S-33), and Monterey (S-55). For whatever reason, they skipped over the S-44. The S-55 was Mercury’s version of the Ford Galaxie 500XL. Unlike the Ford, these bigger machines didn’t sell in huge numbers as the buying public took a liking to the likes of the mid-size muscle machines like the Pontiac GTO which started to populate the landscape in 1964. Of the 8,762 S-55s built in 1963, 3,863 or 44% were the Breezeway hardtop coupe.
Under the hood of the seller’s car is the 390 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor. While certainly a potent powerplant, you could have opted for a 427 that had an output of nearly one horse per CI. This vehicle has 111,000 miles and comes across as being in solid mechanical and cosmetic condition, though not perfect. The car has plenty of options, including a floor-shifted automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes.
This car has been treated to only one repaint and looks to have held up. The interior is generally good with only a few stitches missing in a door panel and a cracked dash pad to be worthy of correction. The hideaway rear window, which harkens to the 1958-60 Lincolns, is said to be in good working order. There is an electric hiccup somewhere as the dash lights, windshield wipers, and radio are on the non-working list. Open the trunk and you should find some extra parts. This looks like a cool car to add to the stable, and – please – don’t buy it to turn the car into a Lowrider or custom cruiser.
Very nice but I would need A/C living in Florida. Too nice to mutilate but sadly think that’s what might happen. I personally love the old lady church-on-Sunday drivers rather than the muscle cars that fetch the big bucks and drool.
Like Richard, I look at every one of these cars that interest me and the first thing I want to know is the state of the air conditioning. Classic or not, you couldn’t drive it much down here in the Free State without it.
Another Floridian here seconds the need for AC.
Original or not, I’d have to make that change.
Vey nice S-55..Next owner please keep her stock.
Nice car. I’m of the opinion that the wide whites would have looked stale by 1963
this car would not have come with wide white walls last year for them where 1960 from 1961 on it was the narrow white walls
The original listing on Craigslist states the car has Port a walls over Goodyear radials. If you don’t like the look, they can be removed.
But, the wide whites were stopped at different car make years.
GM and Ford last year used them, 1961.
Mopar used them last on the 1962 models.
Other makes, not sure
If memory serves, the last car to offer factory-fitted wide whitewall tires was the 1965 Lincoln. Not sure when Ford and Mercury stopped.
The 61 Lincoln was the last to use a 2 1/2 inch whitewall. The 62 Lincoln had a one inch WW
I wish I could remember the source, but I recall reading an article on the ’61-65 Lincoln Continental that indicated narrow-band whitewalls were standard beginning, as you note, in 1962, but wide whitewalls remained available through 1965.
wow port a walls haven’t heard or seen them for years had them on first car a 1948 Pontiac flathead straight 8 now that was a tank
No, Mopar (and AMC, but not Stude) also went narrow for 62. Whitewall design was dictated by the desires of GM. Why? GM purchased more than half of all new tires made in the US, so everyone got what GM wanted. For the same reason, everybody got dual stripe whitewalls for 70 and 71.
I have a photo date stamped 1962, of my Grandmother in her brand new 1962 Pontiac Tempest with wide whites on the tires. Classic look for sure!
If it’s as nice as it looks underneath as it does on top in the pics …worth every penny. I hope it doesn’t get hacked. I’m not a Ford guy but wouldn’t mind owning this one.This will sell fast.Really Nice car for the $.
Jeez, those 70’s rear end ratios, I had an 89 Chevy Truck with a 3.08 and it was sluggish, 94 Z28 with a 3.41 better, even my 03 Crown Vic P71 has a 3.27
dammit, meant for the 75 Olds
See, those 70’s rear end ratios cause Alzheimers.
My 84 307 Cutlass Supreme has an unbelievable 2.14 ratio. I had to verify it wasn’t a misprint. It wasn’t.
Unfortunately the govt. forced bigger vehicles upon us. The bigger footprint doesn’t have to get as good gas mileage as the smaller vehicles.
Please explain how the government forced bigger vehicles on us? Last time I checked, it was consumer demand and tastes that determined what size car we bought. Small cars have been around since the 1930s at least (Bantam, Crosley, etc.). So have large cars.
Beautiful looking car. If only more pics were posted. When it comes to advertising a car or other vehicle, there should be no limit to how many many angles one sees the car. 1963 and 64 are my favourite years for the Mercury Monterey, and I love the Breezeway rear window that rolls up and down like the rest of the car windows. Given its condition, assuming everything works like they should, I’d be willing to pay around $10k for the car.
In my opinion its a bad sign of the time that no matter the asking price shoppers are compelled to offer 25% less or worse. This big beauty is probably worth $14k at the scrapper after parting it out but you want to offer$10k? Chiseler!
I agree why do some people always give their two cents worth that something is overpriced. If it were theirs to sell the story would be different
I’m not sure where you obtained your $14k pricing on scrap, I recently took 2500 lbs of assorted scrap to the recycler, including a wrecked 8′ pickup bed; I received a grand total of $149.25!! Needless to say,I was expecting more, but it would seem that the Chinese have stopped/slowed their purchasing, resulting in a drop in scrap metal pricing. :-)
I remember when they used to call these Mercs with this roof line and rear window treatment “notchbacks”. Surprisingly, I haven’t heard that term used for years. Does anybody recall that name?
I’ve seen the term used in the 80s and 90s to denote conventional sedans where the back of the roof steps down at the back window to meet the front of the trunk. As opposed to “fastback” where the roofline sweeps down in an unbroken curve to the very back of the car.
How about a VW Type lll notchback?
I like it a lot and the asking price is very reasonable. I’m sure that if you wanted AC you could install a system like Vintage Air. Here in the Mid Atlantic AC would be very nice to have. GLWTS.
Great comment… additionally: Electric vehicles do nothing to reduce the “carbon footprint”. The fuel used in mining the lithium for one battery is greater than the fuel used had that same vehicle had an internal combustion engine for its power plant, over its life. This doesn’t even take into consideration any fuel consumed during the charging or construction of the charging stations, or the fact that many of these cars will require having the batteries replaced (numerous times) before the car is used up.
I think this is the only car I’ve seen on here that is reasonably priced for the condition it is in
I had one of these back in the day. Used to freak people out when I lowered the rear window. Poor mans AC.
My father had an Edsel ranger, which was totalled and replaced with one of these beauties new from the dealer. At age 6 he rolled up the rear window with my fingers. Never will forget that for as long as I live. Later that year the car was gone and replaced with a 1969 Oldsmobile Toranado. I would love to own this Merc what a blast from the past. Love it
I’ve never heard of this but I was young, about 12, when this car was built but was there ever any concern about children crawling out the open rear window while the car was in motion? I don’t remember seat belts in our ’60 LeSabre or in the rear of our ’63 Fairlane 500.
I don’t recall posting anything political. I’m talking sociology and science.
Those old late 50’s to mid 60’s big Mercury’s were very cool designed cruisers. 61 to 64 had the 3 taillights on each side like Impalas. On this one someone customized the rear lights with 61 Monterey or 62 Comet ones, the 63 ones were round but more flat with a chrome ring. They didn’t stick out this far. Also missing stock air cleaner, they were really neat. Very cool car not many S-55s left in this condition. I agree hope who buys it keeps it close to stock.
The description noted extra parts in the trunk. I immediately thought of the stock air cleaner. I’m not sure I like those taillights being the first thing to crush if you back into something. Maybe the originals are in the trunk too.
The govt has a tier system for mpg that favors larger vehicles. Something as small as the old Ford Courier or Chevy LUV would be required to avg somewhere around 45 mpg. That’s why you don’t see small trucks anymore.
Sorry to upset you Tony. You seem a little “hot under the collar”.
Boo Hoo