This fancy Merc is a 1970 Mercury Montego MX Brougham! Even the name is fancy. This two-tier upgrade car is on eBay with an unmet opening bid of $4,500 and there are still five days left on the auction. This one is located in stunning Dunning, Nebraska. The seller calls this one a muscle car, what do you think?
Here’s lookin’ at you, kid. Wink, wink, literally. This is one mean front end treatment, especially with the headlights on and not hidden by the vacuum-operated doors in the grille. It almost reminds me of a shark. Luckily, those headlight covers on this car seem to work because those boys are over $300 a piece! But, alas, the seller says that although they do work, they’re ssssllllloooooowwww and they think that a vacuum switch needs to be replaced. And, then there’s that broken grille. No worries, you can just buy this one for $1,500! Or, not.. There have to be used ones available if you do a junkyard search.
This is a first-generation Montego which ran from 1968 to 1971. The Montego was meant to be an upmarket Mercury Comet and it eventually replaced the Comet in 1969. The Ford Torino was basically the same car underneath the skin and the real kingpin was the Mercury Cyclone. Even that name is cool! There’s a little work to do on the body of this car but the seller says that there is no rust through, just some surface rust. Thank you, Nebraska.
The MX was the fancier trim level for the Montego and the Brougham models got concealed headlights. The interior will need a little work but it looks good in there. The carpets are pretty faded and you may have to hit the junkyard again for some new door sill plates and a few other trim items. There is only one small hole in the front seat and a small one in the rear seat, but other than that, and a small crack on the dash, you should be ready for business in no time.
Speaking of business, the seller refers to this one as a “classic muscle car”. I would agree with that if it wasn’t for the 302 V8 with a 2-barrel carb sitting there. And it’s a fantastic engine, there is no question about that, with 220 hp and 300 ft-lb of torque. But, I would think that the Montego with a 429 V8 with 360 hp would be the only Montego from 1970 that is considered a true muscle car in the classic sense of the term? This looks like a great project car, most of the original pieces are there or they come with the car, and there isn’t much bodywork to do. Everything else may seem somewhat easy after that. What do you think, is this Montego MX Brougham a muscle car?
Their definition of “muscle car” differs greatly from mine. This is nothing more than grandma’s Montego. Never cared for this vintage Ford, although, the Cyclone was one badaxx car. I remember seeing these with a stick holding the headlight doors open.The grill sure was different, probably the only feature that made it different than any other Ford. Since it is a 2 door, maybe make a “Cy” clone. Still a nice looking car, for sure.
I didn’t notice I got beat to the Cy-Clone pun. “Great minds” as they say…
Montego MX Brougham is more like a personal luxury car in my mind. Competitor to Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
I think the 351 Cleveland would be the minimum necessary to qualify as a “muscle car” engine. This is someone’s grandma’s car, and very nice, but the only muscle here is in the styling.
Good luck finding parts for that car, especially the grill.
It has to be a muscle car. It has chrome valve cover!
Seriously, this is a great starting point for a Cyclone-clone (Cy-Clone???). Maybe a little price but not much body prep. I think Cyclones had unique grills and hoods but there shouldn’t be any cutting required. 429’s are not hard to find and these look fantastic with Magnum 500’s.
Front end looks king of T-bird-ish?
It would be a muscle car after I finished putting AT LEAST a 351 in it. I’d probably lean towards a 390 to keep the cost reasonable. I love old Mercurys.
Cyclone grill will fit right in, and are available in the restoration market place, the LX was never intended nor advertised as a muscle car. This would make a great project no matter what you chose to do with it.
This car to the elegant looking Torino is like Clark Griswold’s Family Truckster to the regular LTD wagon.
This is actually a second generation Montego. The first generation was the 1968-’69 Montego.
Go back in 1976 my grandfather passed away and left me his 1970 Montego and it had a 351 Cleveland in it. It was a good running car with a lot of torque but I never considered it quite a muscle car
You guys are nuts my brother had one with 351 c. No one could catch it, no one, his was a green on green interior with dark green paint.
OMG…this brings back memories….My dad I’m pretty sure owned one, same color and if i can find it, there’s a pic of me sitting on the hood…
I have to say, 302 2 barrell with the FMX transmission was a muscle car. My sister had one and my friends all gave me heck about the way she drove it.. o-40-0 every block.