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No Reserve: 1963 Mercury Meteor

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.

Comments

  1. Avatar Jamie Palmer Staff

    Beautiful car, but that’s not why I’m writing this comment. Thank you, Adam, for delving into the decisions involved when deciding to part with a vehicle formerly owned by a close friend or relative. It’s easy to take shots at someone facing that decision, but unless one is actually in the same situation, it’s hard to feel the empathy one should. Great post!

    Like 32
  2. Avatar angliagt Member

    That’s a really nice looking car – I love the
    color combination.

    Like 14
  3. Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

    Seems like a very nice car in and out needing little. I’m surprised no one has hit the BIN because it looks like a sharp driver for a reasonable ask. The little 260 V8 won’t provide blazing performance but it has enough for pleasant cruising. I like the chrome reverse wheels with the baby moon hubcaps, they suit the car well. The colors are pleasing and while the interior needs a little attention, it’s nothing serious or expensive. Another plus is that it’s a model you don’t see very often which to some will have a lot of appeal.

    Like 20
  4. Avatar Will Fox

    A very nice, well maintained and unusual car. Most wouldn’t look twice at this model, but I would. The lines, the taillights and trim all speak of the hopeful jet-age early 60s! Paint is nice, and even reupholstered inside, so it appears it wouldn’t take much besides a new set of tires to enjoy. Most of all, it’s NOT a Mustang, but yet still in the same family of makes.

    Like 12
  5. Avatar Steve Clinton

    If only I had the space. If only I had the cash. If only I had the consenting spouse! I’ve always had a soft spot for these Mercs.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar local_sheriff

    Is it Ford Day at BF today? Of the 16 of the current write-ups there are 11 FoMoCo products.

    I must admit this is a shockingly nice Merc, and if it really checks out as tidy as it looks I’d push BIN in a heartbeat if I were in the market for one. Very unusual to find a Meteor that isn’t just a project vehicle. The color choices in and out work very well though I have no idea how close to the OE seats these covers are. Doesn’t really matter, IMO this is an extremely nice find!👍

    Like 5
    • Avatar Steve Clinton

      You need to arrest some of these Ford fans! LOL!

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Tort Member

    Very nice car and what makes it even nicer is that you see very few of them. Love to own it.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Patrick Anderson

    A good buy at 10 kilobucks. A flipper would do pretty well even at the BIN price.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Robert

    One of the nicest cars for the money iv seen lately really sharp!

    Like 1
  10. Avatar PaulM

    I don’t want any old car that does not have a clutch.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Phlathead Phil

    I think they call that a “Mercury Moment.”

    Like 0

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