Rarely Encountered: 1968 Mercury Montego MX

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This is a neat find, a 1968 Mercury Montego MX. While the Montego’s cousin, the Ford Fairlane/Torino gets a good deal of coverage,  the Montego is more of a forgotten member of the mid-sized Ford Motor lineup. That said, this ’68 Montego convertible surfaced back in February, and today we’re going to review a hardtop version. Found in Long Beach, California, this Montego MX is available, here on craigslist for $4,500.

When FoMoCo’s midsized models got the ’68 redo, both Ford (Fairlane/Torino) and Mercury (Montego) went with five different body styles including a NASCAR-inspired fastback design (Cyclone for the Mercury), a convertible, a two-door notchback hardtop, a four-door sedan, and a station wagon. M’s trim levels included the MX “Brougham” (there’s that brogum again), MX (our subject car), a non-MX (just a Montego), and a stripper Comet Sports Coupe. Cyclones came in both GT and non-GT form.

Externally speaking, this Montego presents pretty well. The closest original color that I can find, best representing this hardtop, is Code B, Black Cherry, but this looks more like an ordinary brown repaint and the seller states as much, “Have some rust bubbles, but no holes. Old repaint, vinyl top looks great“. Actually, the trunk lid channel shows what looks like a former shade of blue. The hood scoop appears to be borrowed from something else while the slotted wheels (Ansen Sprints maybe?) are certainly period correct but the “big and little look” seems off with the littles being too little.

Under the hood is a first-year, 302 CI V8 engine of either 210 or 230 gross HP. This example is a four-barrel carburetor equipped which is in keeping with the 230 HP version. With the exception of the rusty open-element air cleaner, everything is stock appearing. The seller adds, “runs and drives around the block. Needs a radiator it’s leaking. Brakes work it’s been sitting for a long time“. I’d question the steering too as the power steering pump looks beltless. As is typically found, a three-speed automatic transmission handles gear changing chores.

Inside are optional bucket seats and a center console. The console is rough looking and the dash pad is trashed but the black vinyl upholstery still shows well. The nylon loop carpet looks OK too but it’s pulling away from its driver’s side securing points. All-in-all, it’s not a bad environment.

There has been a lot of debate lately about the rising prices of old cars, particularly those that come from SoCal. I have a family member that resides there so I make it out with regularity and I still think that area of the country is a mecca for decent quality old iron. And if you hunt regularly for subjects, as I do, you can find some pretty good deals there, unlike two east coast states, that will remain nameless and rarely offer anything remotely reasonable. So, $4,500 for this Mercury Montego? I can see it, there’s probably some wiggle room in the price and this car stands out because it’s not the more commonly found Ford version. But that’s my take, what’s yours, priced right or not quite?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. CadmanlsMember

    Had a 68 Montego as a winter beater once. I really liked the car but was my winter car in NE Ohio at the time. Was low mileage but rusty, week before my late spring sale, the rusty right front spring snapped. Sold it for more than I paid as the buyer wanted the drive line. Drove like a Mustang, just had a trunk. They shared many parts underneath. I really liked the way the car ran 302 2bbl was decent power and c4 did it’s job

    Like 9
    • BoatmanMember

      I had one too. Perfect blend of sporty and grocery getter. Really liked that car.

      Like 2
  2. FordGuy1972 FordGuy1972

    Considering the high prices of vintage tin these days, this Mercury looks like a bargain. It seems to be in decent shape and hopefully rust is at a minimum. I’d re-paint it back to its stock color, find some rally wheels for it and freshen up the interior as time and funds allow. I like that it is a seldom seen model, one that I haven’t seen in a long time. Buckets and a console are certainly a plus, too. The small block will produce reasonable mpgs and this MX would make for a cool daily driver on nice days.

    Like 13
  3. local_sheriff

    I’d say that’s a cool unusual find, always liked that face and particularly the pronounced ‘beak’ in the grill that follows into the sculpted hood. That’s a feature found on the Cougar too, from the side I think this Montego somehow resembles a ’69-’70 Cougar just on steroids.

    If it really is as rust free as it appears someone got an unusual Merc with lots of potential for not a lot of $

    Like 7
    • BoatmanMember

      That grille is pot metal. Weighs as much as the spare tire!

      Like 1
      • local_sheriff

        Pot metal, really? And I thought it was aluminum…

        Like 1
  4. Fred W

    Although I ended up buying a Studebaker Hawk, I spend months looking for a 68-69 Torino and ran across one of these (non MX) for 5K. Looked at it twice, had a better interior than this one and was basically rust free but paint was not presentable and needed brakes. A ’62 GT Hawk seems like a long way from a Montego but it’s compact, long hood/short deck, powerful so same idea.

    Like 4
  5. BoatmanMember

    Stuck with those darn Fords these days, JO?

    Like 0
    • Jim ODonnellAuthor

      It has been an inordinate run…there’s another on the way.

      JO

      Like 2
  6. Tom

    Would like to have this and seems reasonable but shipping costs from Socal to NC would be the deal breaker for me.

    Like 0
    • John Friedman

      The general price for shipping a car is about $1100 (you can get it cheaper and more expensive.) That would be be a deal breaker. So, I thought about a nice leisurely drive in your new car.
      The general distance between Socal and NC is about 2,521 miles. At 15 miles per gallon (and that may be too high by 5-8 mpg for a muscle car) that would take about 168 gallons of gas. I’m assuming the gas for a big engine would be premium, but if you remember Click and Clack, the two brothers who had an NPR radio program and ran a service garage, they said if you’re just cruising and not stomping on the pedal, you can use regular, but I’ll use premium to make my point). The national average for premium in the US today, according to gasprices.aaa.com is $5.05. That would make the gas part of the trip $848. Add to that two or three hotel room nights at, say, $70/night or $210, that would bring the total transportation cost to $1058. Yep. Deal breaker because either way adds 20% to the cost of the car (and a car that age traveling across country… if it was me, I would figure something would break down and I’d need some automotive services. Your thinking was spot on, from my point of view.

      Like 1
  7. John Friedman

    This MSN article included the Montego in “10 muscle cars we wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole” Rust was the issue. Not sure about this car. the ad was pulled.
    John

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/research/10-muscle-cars-we-wouldn-t-touch-with-a-10-foot-pole/ar-AAZNLZt?ocid=NRPWidget&cvid=b40b2bc681734a25b99848e3b22edb36

    Like 0
  8. PRA4SNW

    GONE, and not surprised.

    Like 1
  9. man ' war

    That’s a bummer that this 68 Montego sold. It probably sold locally. There is a 1966 Mercury Montclair 4 door in Colorado Springs’ Craigslist under the Barter section. It has a 410ci Marauder, and person claims it “runs very well”. It looks nice except for some rust. He/she is asking 3k, trade, or trade and cash. This is the kind of car suited for double dating with 4 doors and bench seats back in the days! lol. Hopefully, this one will be “gone” as well to an enthusiast.

    Like 0
  10. Lee Wells

    I’m not convinced it’s a convertible

    Like 0
    • Jim ODonnellAuthor

      Convertible!? Who said it’s a convertible? The convertible link is for a ’68 Montego convertible post that I wrote several months ago.

      JO

      Like 0
  11. JustPassinThru

    The steering column was replaced, I believe.

    That steering wheel is of the style used from 1970-74.

    1968 FoMoCo steering wheels had more-massive padding and a flat face, with either the Ford or Mercury crest in the center.

    So, it could be the car was a post-wreck rebuild.

    Like 0
    • Paul

      I had an earlyish build 69 Montego ( built November 68) that had that steering wheel, I’d say it’s the original wheel, definitely different to the 68 Ford ones though, they were fairly ugly

      Like 0

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