Emotions can be a powerful driver in our lives, and they can lead us to make some interesting decisions. That is why the owner of this 1963 Mercury Meteor has placed the car on the market. He inherited the Meteor from a deceased friend, and the thought of owning a vehicle that he associates so closely with that person makes the ownership experience a painful one. The decision has been made, so the Mercury has been listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Caldwell, Idaho, and the bidding has reached $5,100 in this No Reserve auction. There is a BIN option available, and the owner has set this at $10,000. I do have to thank Barn Finder Larry D for spotting a beautiful classic with a heart-wrenching back story.

The Meteor is finished in Jamaica Yellow with a Black top. This represents a color change for the vehicle because it rolled off the line wearing a combination of Champagne and Desert Frost. The owner performed the work for his friend back in 1993, and it appears that it has survived quite well. There are a few spots where there is some deterioration, but there is no reason why these couldn’t be treated to some touch-up work. The Meteor has spent almost its entire life in California, and it appears that this has helped it remain rust-free. There are no problems visible in the panels, and the owner doesn’t mention any issues with the floors or frame. The trim, chrome, and glass all look good, while the chrome wheels were added by the deceased former owner. Two of the hubcaps have made a bid for freedom, so the buyer will need to find some replacements. Whether they choose to match the existing ones or go for something different will be their choice.

Lifting the hood reveals the numbers-matching 260ci V8 that should be producing 164hp. This little V8 is backed by a 2-speed Merc-O-Matic transmission, while the car also scores power steering. The combination doesn’t make the Meteor a fire-breathing monster, which means that it takes a full 19.4 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. The owner says that to the best of his knowledge, the V8 has never been rebuilt, and it doesn’t need it now. It runs perfectly, with no smoke or odd noises. He has had the braking system fully rebuilt, and the car now drives and stops perfectly. The buyer will need to spend a little bit of money, but nothing that will break the bank. The tires look really good, but they are more than 15-years-old. The owner suggests that these should be changed before the buyer attempts any long journeys or drives at speed, and that sounds like wise counsel to me. Replace the tires, and the buyer will be set to hit the road.

The buyer might want to spend a little bit of time attending to a couple of detail items inside the Meteor, but there’s nothing that is going to cost a million dollars. The interior was refurbished back in 1994, and the carpet is an odd fit over the transmission tunnel. I think that it could be stretched into shape without a lot of trouble, and with that done and a replacement sourced for the missing cigarette lighter, it would look pretty sweet. The upholstery is a custom job, but it looks as good as the original would have. The upholsterer even covered the dash pad to match the rest of the trim, and that looks awesome. The upholstered surfaces and headliner are free from noticeable defects, while the dash looks stunning. Apart from the custom upholstery, it is all as it left the factory. Everything works as it should, including the original AM radio.

I can fully understand why the owner of this 1963 Mercury Meteor has decided to part with the car. It seems that his friend meant a lot to him, and those feelings were reciprocated. Those feelings ran strong enough for the vehicle to be passed from one friend to another, which is a rarity today. I have two hopes with this car. My first is that it finds a home with someone who will cherish and respect it as much as the deceased owner did. However, my greater hope is that this owner is making the right decision by choosing to part with the car. It was obviously a difficult one, and once the car is gone, his chances of repurchasing it could be remote. I hope and pray that he hasn’t made a decision that he will later regret.