Mercury has been gone from the American automobile landscape for about ten years now. At one time it was truly a unique brand under the Ford umbrella but over time it slowly lost its identification and became just another Ford. That being the case, it’s always nice to take a look at this fallen marque when an interesting example surfaces. And here’s one, a 1954 Mercury Monterey “Sun Valley”, located in Riverside, California and available here on eBay for a current bid of $1,525, thirteen bids tendered as of this writing. Thanks to Ikey H. for this tip!
By 1954, Mercury was unmistakably a Ford in general architecture but it had the nuances that set it apart as well. One of those differentiating nuances resided under the hood. Mercurys were powered by Ford designed engines with similar architecture but claiming their own unique displacement. For 1954, Ford introduced its new “Y-Block” OHV V8 engine but stuck with the old flat-head V8 displacement of 239 CI. Mercury, however, being a more upscale model, used a larger version of the “Y-Block” at 256 CI. The 256 CI V8 engine was a one year only variant and developed 161 gross HP. Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter with this Monterey because its original engine has been replaced with what looks like a later Ford “Windsor” edition V8. Exactly which Windsor is hard to say because there is no identification, detail or even mention of the swap. If any of our Barn Finds Ford enthusiasts can help with engine identification, it would be appreciated. The seller states that this Mercury was owned by an older gentleman for the last 40 years so I wonder if the seller is even aware of the engine change. It just seems very peculiar that there is no mention of this substantial aspect of this car. The listing claims an automatic transmission but no word as to whether it is a Merc-O-Matic, C4 or something else. According to the seller, this Mercury is not running because of a dead battery. Hmmm, OK……
What makes a “Sun Valley”, a Sun Valley is the acrylic, green-tinted glass panel installed in the roof over the front seating area. The Sun Valley option was available on the ’54 Mercury Monterey and again in ’55 on the Mercury Montclair. It is similar to an option that was available on certain Ford models between ’54 and ’56. For ’54, the Sun Valley option was not too common with only about 9,700 produced. The only issue that I ever notice with either the Sun Valley or the Ford version is that the gasket around the glass top is sometimes cracked and dried out. There is no mention of that in the listing and no photographic evidence so it’s just something to be mindful of. The exterior, in general, for this Mercury is basically sound. The finish is faded, blistering in places and there is surface rust too, especially on the hood (engine fire from the original “Y-Block”?). The seller claims this Mercury to be “very complete” and based on what I can see, I would agree. It appears that all of the trim is in place but the chrome and stainless shows to be pretty thin and worn. One item that I noticed is an additional, under-hood color, that being light blue – makes me wonder if this Mercury has had a color change? Of course, if it has, then the original looking interior (more on that later) wouldn’t have matched the exterior. There is no reference to rot or underside integrity but being a California car, there is probably no concern on that front.
The interior looks like 1954. It is a neat two-tone affair upholstered in red and white vinyl with a black rubber floor mat. The upholstery material presents well though the door cards are showing their age. The dash is scratched and scuffed in places and the instrument panel is revealing degradation; no word as to what does or doesn’t work. All in all, it looks about how you would expect a 66-year-old car to look that has been maintained and stored with some degree of care.
This Monterey is a neat, pretty much original find, other than the obvious engine transplant. It’s a no reserve bid so this Sun Valley Merc may end up going for a reasonable amount. The seller adds that the sale includes a Continental Kit (if you are into that sort of thing) and new taillight lenses. What I really want to know is how this Mercury goes with its replacement engine, it could be a runner. Quick question for everyone, has anyone ever owned a Mercury Sun Valley model or a corresponding Ford? If so, how did you like it?
Hard to believe what Mercury would turn their cars into, just a few years later in 1957… this is primitive by comparison. I didn’t say ‘better’ or ‘worse’, but primitive.
That Ikey H has got a great nose for car ads!
There’s a couple of things here that I wonder about. It appears to me that the car might have been green. You can see the white over spray on the trim tag in the door jamb and the jagged green under the paint.
Also the Sun Valley had a snap on cover for the glass top that was a necessity on sunny days. I wonder if he has that still.
And once again we have a seller who apparently can’t be bothered to throw a battery in it and see whats up.
Ah bollocks!
He’s not the seller,the “old” man is and this might be being sold as a favor. I wouldn’t put my 100 bucks in it if the guy said “Just sell it”. I wasn’t there for the conversation. Been there, done that…..
I did own a 54 Ford Victoria at one point in my younger days. Threw a rod through the side of the block on my way home from work one night, so a wrecking yard 272 went in to replace the 239. While parked in front of my house in N. E. Seattle someone removed my radiator without my consent. So there it sat for quite some time until the city impounded it. Boo hoo 🤦🏻♂️.
God bless America
Looks like it was blue and green. Saw a Merc paint chip book on ebay and colors similar to both were present. But so it the current color. If it was repainted, it was a long time ago. And if so, they went all out with the door panels and dash to match. Nice car, but it’s got a little too much glass for this part of Texas.
I Received this from lister on Ebay. Props for replying!
“Original color was green no serious rust issues only some surface rust in a few area. The engine turns over, will need carburetor work , gas and a battery.
no cover for the glass top, Car is from Washington, No repair bills, Car has a clear title. Car belonged to an older man who passed away last year, the property sold and they need to get the car out of there and don’t really care what they get for it. I personally do not know much about this car, it does look to be in pretty good shape.
Sorry I don’t know more”
The problem with the Sun Valley is that the glass roof always leaks, and the sun then turns it into a greenhouse if the cover isn’t on it or if it’s not in a garage. Very rare, cool car worth having, tho.
Ebay listing says “Car is being sold with no reserve, owner will accept whatever someone is willing to pay”, so it seems like a motivated seller to me. (Note also that seller posted this on craigslist for $6500.) Only 9761 made in ’54 so it’s not a car you’re going to see very often.
Rare Mercury.
Who cares about the Windsor , its better than original motor.
No reserve !!!
Someone is going to get a deal on a very neat collectible car and I bet it runs too.
Nice vehicle, don’t much care what engine is in it, not a matching number freak. Not much rust on it, body seems real decent. Some one will get a deal on this oldie. I figure $5100. The interior looks useable, the glass top does not look scratched, Nice vehicle.
Loving the levers on the dash.Nice “nautical” theme throughout.
Not as cool as the 52s. You could set your drink on them………
my first car……….
Looks like a 302 in the Merc’ now.
There were many examples of “mismatched” color combinations in the 1950s. I’ve seen several two-tone pink1955 Dodges with two tone green interiors. Also Dark blue 1948 & 49 Buicks with red leather interiors. It might be possible that this Merc was originally Green with a red and white interior.
Look, it was the 1950s, things were crazy then and we liked it!
These were the models that par boiled the inhabitants on a sunny summer day. Sunny days are nice ,but not in a green house.
Door cards are showing their age. And a Windsor under the bonnet. Nice looking Tudor. Wonder if Tony Stuart is in the boot.
No.
Hoffa is tho
Think he was a Plantagenet.
IN the 50’s and 60’s, and before that, if you were willing to wait, you could special order almost any combination you wanted. In ’68 I wanted a wagon that could pull a horse trailer, but would get decent gas mileage on the road when no trailer attached. So a white, tan interior, Chevelle Malibu wagon, with every heavy duty option, battery, clutch, suspension, 4 speed, bigger of the 327’s, and economy rear axel, but no power steering or brakes or windows. First, with the 4 speed was low enough to get the two horses moving, fourth unloaded, was pretty good gas mileage for the time. Original tires went about 22,000 miles, Sears started selling Michelin radials, put them on in ’69, a great improvement, dealer wanted a “big” deposit since he felt no one else would want the car if I bailed before paying for it all. Clutch, a “Corvette clutch” according to the dealer, was VERY heavy, brakes, drum all around, were insufficient, power discs should have been mandatory. One of the best cars, despite the brakes, I have ever owned.
I’ve always liked the early mid 50’s Fords and Mercurys, especially the tinted glass topped ones. I remember seeing them as a kid and really liked the style. The Sun Valley model and later the Crown Victoria with the stainless piece over the top were great looking cars in the 50’s.
I had a two tone green one That I bought from a gas station in the late 1970’s for 250.00 it needed a bolt in the crankshaft pulley replaced. It ran great it was a nice comfortable car although it was missing the headliner insert for the glass top. I regret selling it but something else came along and I was offered a lot more than I paid for it.
Hmmm,in a matter of eight seconds a bidder raised his bid seven times, with no one in between, until someone topped him at 4K then he/she went 4 k and fifty…
Anyone know whether that indicates a max bid that then was automatically increased even though there’s no recording of another bid? In other words can some one else be outbid and its not recorded?
Back in High School my friend Eddie had a ’54 Mercury that had a transplanted 312 Y block in it. I remember it being scary fast. When I lived in the Bronx I remember seeing a Sun Valley Mercury parked on the street all the time, I thought it was pretty neat, still do.
I had one, a 1954 Sun Valley Monterey, when I lived in Florida. I had to buy a zip-in inside cover, due to the Florida sun & heat. It had leather seats that would cook your back side with out that cover.I had to sell it as I was going over seas to a World meet in Parachuting, I loved that car, it cost only $3200 back then & was the top of the line those years. I have a photo of it some where around the house.
If only they had put in a 401 Buick nailhead—that would be old school true. A Windsor, might as well had just rebuilt the original Morley
yea the 239 was a real dog, no parts were interchangeable with the 272-292-312, and that was no prize Either. I had a 54 sunvalley but had to sell, bought it with no eng, put a 312, got it running but sold after that, never knew where it went.Lance and the guys are correct about the thing being a greenhouse, even with optional cover. I have a friend who has 2 54 ford glass tops that I could buy cheap, I was going to find a decent car and put the glass roof on it. The owner of the cars warned me that these were downright unpopular as they were so hot. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC