The Meteor was a short-lived FOMOCO nameplate in the U.S. but well-applied in Canada. Mercury used it for just three years, two as a mid-size like this well-healed 1962 edition. Paired with the Fairlane at Ford, the Meteor was a forerunner in the new mid-size market segment. A nicely restored automobile, this ’62 Meteor is in Kirkland, Washington, and is available here on craigslist for $16,500. What a great tip, brought to us by T.J.!
Ford Motor Co. was on a Space Age kick in the early 1960s, picking names Galaxie and Comet for many of its products. So along came the Meteor in 1961, a dressed-down version of their full-size cars. The next year, when Ford decided to shrink the Fairlane, the Meteor followed suit. This created a new market sector that would quickly boom and become well-populated with competitors. Mercury sold 69,000 Meteors in 1962, a fraction of the Fairlane’s tally. That included 27,000 2-door sedans like the seller’s car, probably a Meteor Custom given the level of trim.
The seller’s Merc is well-equipped with a 260 cubic inch V8, an upgrade from the standard I-6. No mention is made of a rebuild, yet the engine compartment looks clean enough to eat from. A 2-speed automatic transmission is in play, but it has issues and stays in 1st gear until warmed up (a rebuild is likely the solution). The seller’s photo choices do not showcase the car as well as they could.
We’re told the Champagne paint is newer and half of the interior looks great (the other half isn’t shown). The Meteor was in California until four years ago and still has its “black” plates. The seller has decided to downsize, hence the reason for selling this show-quality Mercury. The vehicle has some new parts (starter, suspension) and the trunk may contain more. If you’re interested in this garage queen, you’d better hurry!
I’m liking these early sixties cars lately. The tail fins were mostly gone but they look almost quaint, if you can say that about a car. And Mercury though it was mostly just a different grill, had a certain I don’t know what to them. The interiors were especially nice.
Rare as hen’s teeth. I remember having the AMT model kit of this car.
Cool. Fairlanes and Meteors also came with a 221 V8. I had a Meteor so equipped. They have a distinct stocatto exhaust note. A Meteor S33 with buckets and console is even cooler-and rarer.
Man this is a clean Mercury Meteor! Early 60s cars were all about the space race, and the instrument cluster and tail lights sure check these boxes. Seller says the AT isn’t shifting because of the modulator valve. I changed my 65 Marauder a few yrs ago and did have to remove it’s crossmember to access it. That was a C6, but this one should be a C4 and maybe easier to access. I love Mercurys but this one is on the wrong coast for me.
The seller says it’s a 2 speed automatic, which would rule out a C4. If the seller is correct that the transmission will need to be disassembled to fix that could get pricey, he mentioned that it was diagnosed at a shop that specialized is classic transmissions, if it wasn’t really expensive to fix he likely would have had it done. I have a friend that had a transmission shop but converted it to general repairs because he couldn’t find tech’s that were experienced to rebuild the transmissions, he said they wouldn’t even touch older transmission’s that were out of the mainstream. That was 15 years ago, I’m sure it’s a lot worse now.
Steve R
Even though early 60s Ford and Mercurys called their trans, Ford O Matics or Merc O Matics, on small block Fords they were essentially, C4s, bigger blocks were basically C6s.
I had the opposite experience. I found a young, but amazing mechanic who was mostly working on late model cars. I started bringing him some older stuff and recommending him to friends with old cars. Pretty soon, his facility parking lot was full of old cars. With a prominent location on a highway, this sight reeled in even more old timers. He always found the problem and was always willing to offer advice or free “diagnostics”. I sold all but three of my old cars when we moved, as I was concerned about finding a replacement for him.
Yes, Steve R it does look like the early 1960s Mercury used a C3 or Merco Matic and the C4 didn’t come out until 1964.
I took my license test in a 62 Meteor 4 door 6cyl 3 on the tree.
Me too! Mine was an auto with the 260. Brown, just like the one pictured.
My dad owned 1962 Meteor. The 221 cu in V-8 with the 2 speed auto wasn’t anything to brag about. It still was a fun car to drive.
$16,500 with a Slip-O-Matic transmission? Hopefully he’s open to offers.
The photos may not be the greatest as far as selling the car, but that photo with the owners up front and their dog in the rear seat is arguably the most adorable photo ever featured on Barn Finds.
Can’t tell if the dog is smiling and enjoying the ride, but Mom and Dad certainly are.