1955 Mercury Montclair
From the instant it came out in 1955 till the last one dropped off the assembly line in 1958 only to be replaced by the "Turnpike Cruiser" this car was an instant hit. Named after the affluent suburb in NJ just west of the Big Apple which was already home to mansions, industry magnates and corporate power brokers, this car reflected that chutzpah...To the nines.
For consignment, a rolling work of automotive art, truly a custom "skate", a wild ride that puts out enough eye candy your eyes will turn Type 2 diabetic, we give you this totally custom, well worked lead sled in the form of a 1955 Mercury Montclair.
Exterior
From the custom tube grille to the Packard taillights and continental rear bumper, this consignment oozes cool, and is in the dictionary as an example picture under the word cruiser. Shades of the Batmobile for the custom headlights which are visored and a great beginning to the wonderful Buick porthole styled front quarter. Chromed rods are halved by a large shiny bumper, and below more candy for the chin panel. The hood has been shaved of any badging and has been totally louvered in lieu of a hood scoop. Looking down either side its 50's solid gold design with a chromed diving swoop trim spear, the trio of oval Buick porthole vents just aft of the wheel well. On the back a body bump out replaces what was chrome trimmings and a custom integrated fender skirt seamlessly melts into the rear bumper. The bottom of the rockers are framed with lake pipes, old skool kewl fer sur. All these big steel panels are bathed in custom PPG raspberry or what this writer would lovingly refer to from now on as Flamingo! The top has been chopped and refitted neatly around the wrap-around windshield and it is covered perfectly with Mercedes Benz Natural, (beige), canvas. All trimmings for the glass are in the Flamingo save for the rear glass which came off of a 48 Chevy has weatherstripping. Door handles are shaved, and have teardrop mirrors, and dummy spotlights attached. Looking to the back of course the Continental rear bumper which sports a custom airbrushed artwork of "Cupid's Chariot" which is certainly aptly named because I'm already in love! Frenched taillights are like a 55 Chevy on steroids which have been willingly donated from a Packard. Glistening on all 4 corners are chromed wire wheels with flame motif knockoff hubs. These are wrapped by wide whites and are stunningly beautiful not unlike the rest of the above exterior!
Interior
In keeping with the custom theme we pop the shaved doors and see a vertical panel of tuck and roll canvas textured Raspberry broadcloth with a beige panel above and blood red carpeting below. Inside the front buckets use the same with the Raspberry canvas textured tuck and roll inserts, and beige leather bolsters which are smooth as silk. These buckets and a matching rear dual bucket bench-like seat with console all float in a sea of blood red carpeting. The car is halved inside by a V shaped leather covered center console. As it races up to the dash which is also in beige leather, and it is total custom with square and rectangular Dakota Digital gauges. A wood rimmed rally steering wheel fronts this beauty and is a tilting column. Other dash features are power windows, a digital AM/FM/CD player and Vintage Air. We need to give a shout out to the trunk which has also been finished off in the broadcloth tuck and roll and beige leather and has thick blood red carpeting. Hey and it's a trunk!
Drivetrain
When you turn the key to this baby the engine goes bling, bling bling! Actually, it idles like a dream but it looks like it would make this sound! It's a 460ci V8 out of a '78 Merc, with a 4-barrel Edelbrock 750cfm carb, atop a new intake manifold. On back is a C6 3-speed automatic tranny and a 3.73 rear axle.
Undercarriage
It's too low to go top on our lift however we can tell you that this car is loaded with colorful neon accenting lighting inside and out, has independent front suspension, and rear leaf spring suspension with rear adjustable air shocks, and rack and pinion steering. Peeking under it is as good as the top side.
Drive-Ability
This is one of those cars I cannot get enough of, and I clamored to test drive this car. It drives like an air ride dream, has great pickup, solid steering and even good handling. It is a head turning cruiser that does this in spades effortlessly.
When my partner and I tested this car you could say we had two in the pink? Anyway, it's a work of rolling art, well done, eye candy, custom everything and it shows every inch of passion taken and all attention to detail creating a wild ride. See it to believe it, and you'd best hurry these lead sleds fly off the shelves.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.