The Meteor was a short-lived nameplate within Mercury. In 1961, it was the baseline full-size model; then in 1962 and 1963 it was a mid-size like the Ford Fairlane. Then it was gone. The seller has a 2-door Meteor that has been in the same family for 46 years. It’s a roller, and the NOM and transmission are also for sale. Located in Elmira, New York, this project is available here on craigslist for the best offer (the seller has set no guidelines as to how much it would take). Here’s an East Coast tip from “Curvette”.
Ford introduced the mid-sized line of cars in 1962, sandwiching a new product between the Galaxie and Falcon. Mercury got in on the bandwagon, too, and chose another Space Race name, the Meteor (Ford had moved the Fairlane brand downstream to the new automobile). As an interim model, the Meteor was only around for two years, and then the manufacturer exited that market segment in 1964 and 1965. The nameplate would have a much longer life with Ford of Canada.
As the story goes, the seller’s sister bought this 1962 Mercury Meteor off someone who claimed to be the original owner. That was 46 years ago. When the seller got hold of it, he planned a full restoration, but too many other projects got in the way. At some point, he pulled the original 260 cubic inch V8 and 3-speed manual transmission and replaced them with a 302 and a C4 automatic from another car.
Those two pieces of hardware are no longer in the Meteor, and the seller has them for sale with the Mercury or separately, plus the original 3-speed. The listing doesn’t mention what happened to the 260 V8. At 82,000 miles, the rest of the car may be original, including the black paint and red interior (which appears to have seen better days). If you need parts for your own restoration, we’re told much of what you’ll find in a 1962 Fairlane will work in this vehicle.
If you want to run an auction, put it on eBay. If you want to put in on Craigslist, pick a price.
Steve R
A New York car with Oregon plates? Interesting and this one would have been nice if not subject to weather and partial disassembly and a fairly clean runner for around $1,500 but that would be tops.
Ugly as hell BUT the floor pan chassis is the exact same as 57 thunderbird & 64-66 Mustang & all the upgraded suspension & rear end parts bolt right up – it’d be an Easy Junk yard upgrade – front end Mustang II junk yard swap – Engine trans take your pick a nice 351W w/tow econo cam & Lifter kit mated to a vintage Paxton Supercharger & C4 trans & 9inch Ford traction lock rear end it’d be pretty much bullet proof.
Caged for body flex & your good to go 20k build with good paint & rechromed parts.
Best Offer ?!!!!
82,000 miles….Uh huh. 182,000 more likely.
82,000 miles was consider a lot of miles, on a vehicle, in the 1960’s and 1970’s, so maybe not. My Dad would definitely have traded in a car when it started getting anywhere close to 100,000 miles on the Odometer.
A thrashed car with no engine, no transmission, no collector value, no thank you.
define best offer. i see a 200.00 hunk of steel here. be something if had a coyote motor jammed down its neck.
How do you know how much $$$ to offer if you don’t know if you get the motor and transmission or not with the offer . Nutz !
Being a two door helps but, it’s a total restoration project. I’m not sure if it would be worth the time. It definitely has potential.
Nice starting point
Any best offers, yet?