When you think of the year 1955, Chevrolet seems to suck all of the automotive air out of the room. Yes, it was a big year for them but they weren’t the only game in town – Ford kept up their end of the auto sales competition too. How about Mercury? Not so much so though their models were certainly compelling in the looks department. Doing some research, I find that we have covered very few Mercs from ’55 so let’s review this Gardner, Massachusetts domiciled example. It’s a nice-looking Montclair model and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,500. A nod and a wink are due Bruce M. for this tip!
It seems that every auto manufacturer built in threes back in this era. In other words, there would be a top model such as this Montclair, an intermediate-positioned trim level (the Monterey), and finally, an entry or budget-conscious model (the Custom). Montclair rolled with a two-door hardtop and convertible as well as a four-door sedan. Total two-door hardtop volumes reached about 73K units, including 1,700 “Sun Valley” models which featured a tinted glass, fixed-in-place sunroof.
I’d say one of the most conspicuous design elements of this Mercury is its hooded headlights – you know one when you see it. Beyond that, our subject looks like it’s right out of the fifties – including the wider white wall tires. The seller claims this car originated in the southern California desert and is not infected with any rust, though it has been restored via a frame and body separation. The finish appears to be a bit faded, and perhaps the chrome too though it may be the thin coating of dust that gives the mottled appearance. The seller does state that the finish is a modern two-stage job and the chrome components have been replated so perhaps a good washing will fully present what’s really here.
While a 195 gross HP, 292 CI V8 engine would have originally occupied this car’s engine room, this Merc is sporting a triple carburetor fed, 1956 edition of the 312 CI Y-block V8 engine. A Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission provides the drive wheel hook up but there is no word regarding running or driving characteristics.
The seller suggests that the interior is in need of a redo and I would agree though I’d counter that it’s not in totally terrible shape and is certainly useable as is. The three-tone red, white, and black vinyl mashup is all-so-fifties but the upholstery, and door panels look tired. The two-tone black and white dash is an attention getter but the instrumentation is more pedestrian than found in some cars that we have encountered from this era. Noted are some dash vacancies such as the radio. Additionally, there is no carpet or floor mat in place but that absence does allow prospective buyers to check the solidity of the floors.
Well, this one’s a bit different if for no other reason than a ’55 Mercury seems to be seldomly encountered these days and I’d suggest that’s a positive attribute. As to Mercury’s demise fifteen years ago or so, I can’t determine if that’s a value enhancer or not. Speaking of value, the listing’s headline states a price of $12,500 but near the end of the listing detail, “asking $14,500” is quoted so contact will need to be made to settle that matter. If you like fifties cars and want something a bit different, this may be one worth pursuing, wouldn’t you agree?
… hit by the sign in monster again…. Getting old.
Nice 55. That 312 was a horrible engine. A real gas sucking toilet and wasn’t really powerful enough for the big heavy car. Putting triple carbs on it would just make it suck even more gasoline. Don’t get me wrong, I love these 55,56 mercury cars. Just put in an engine that can handle the load (IMHO)
312 was one of better engines of the mid 50s parents had a new 1956 9 passenger wagon with one I was 11 years old my older sister was 16 with her driver license her best friend’s parents had a new 1956 Chevy wagon with 265 with power pack 4 barrel and duel pipes they raced all the time and Chevy got a great view of Ford’s big round tail lights
Yep. Friend of the family back in the day had a ‘56 Ford Country Sedan (wagon) with a 312/ auto. He couldn’t figure out why he kept having tranny trouble. Turns out that “Junior” was racing it. It didn’t have a “2nd” position on the shifter, so he’d wrap it up in Low, shift to Drive, and when it shifted into 2nd he’d pull it back down into Low to keep it from upshifting until he was ready. Years later he said that he had shocked a lot of Tri Five Chevies when that big yellow wagon drove off and left them.
Dad’s 56 Mercury had the 312. Had it for 7 years, over 100,000 miles. Never a problem. This ’55 is in great shape, and he’s got a decent price on it. Must not have been looking at the auction videos.
to bunky you brought back a memory my parents also was a country sedan wagon 312 auto and remember low to Dr back to low and yes they had to replace trans
Years ago I owned a ’57 Ford Custom 300 4-door with the 272 Y-block V8, and while it was a decent engine I had always wished the car had the 312 instead.
My Dad owned a 1951 Pontiac, and traded that in for a Sunglaze (brick) 1955 Mercury Monterey 4 dr. sedan. My dad was a field rep. for Burroughs Corp., and fixed business machines in a large area of a northern State. He drove quite a few miles in the five years he owned it. The car was comfortable, and reliable. I hated the color, but for some reason it was a popular color in 1955.
I was about 8/9 years old when my brother had two sitting down behind the barns. A ’55 & a ’56. I used to play in them but had to be careful of the ’56 as it had a hornets nest in it. They were automatics & my first encounter with just two peddles. Don’t think they ran but one day they were gone. As with everything around there. Would sit for years and then one day…. gone.
I like these, they had great styling, roofline, dagmars and low profile rear wheel openings. That front bumper/grill is massive. The ’56 wasn’t much changed just a little tweeking but the ’56 had an interesting “airplane” style controls on the dashboard behind the steering wheel.
Sorry. Brain fart again. The ’54 that my uncle had had the weird airplane controls behind the steering wheel. Not the ’56 as I previously mentioned.
I loved the 1955 Mercurys nearly as much as Mercury’s ’53s, from the moment they first appeared. That said, I would not TOUCH THIS one, because someone removed the Mercury crest and M-E-R-C-U-R-Y from the front of its hood. This, along with the added carburation, was typical of hot-rodding “back-in-the-day” — so, NO, THANKS!!! Again, if this were a genuine survivor in family-rider “stock” condition (though, no thanks, on black or orange or salmon), I might be interested… even though these were notorious gas-guzzlers.
I have one just like this that my dad bought new back in 1955. I’m in the process of putting it back together after new paint. This is not a bad price if it’s a solid car. Just the paint and rechroming the bumpers etc add up to about what he’s asking. Interiors though are not cheap especially if you go back original. You don’t often see a 1955 up for sale. Most of the time they are 1956’s. This could be a really nice car.
If the seller is being up front, it appears to be a good vehicle. If you want a ’55, get this one for a great start. It’s been up for 14 weeks…!?