Original Paint: 1964 Mercury Montclair
Annual model updates are common, but it is unusual for a manufacturer to introduce a new generation of a vehicle but only keep it in production for a single year. However, that was the case for the Fourth Generation Mercury Montclair. The company discontinued the badge at the end of 1960 but revived it in 1964 as an entirely new model before replacing it in 1965. Our feature car is from that production year and presents exceptionally well for a survivor wearing its original paint. It needs a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Orlando, Florida. Bidding has jumped to $2,750 in what appears to be a No Reserve auction. Once again, Barn Finder Larry D has used his well-developed radar to spot an absolute beauty.
The history of this Montclair is unclear, but the seller claims the Palomino and Polar White paint gracing its panels is original. If that’s true, its shine and overall condition are impressive. The supplied photos provide a limited view of the exterior, but any visible faults or flaws are minor. We know it spent most of its life in Oklahoma, making its lack of rust no surprise. The seller admits there is surface corrosion, and given the age of this classic, treating it to prevent deterioration could be a wise strategy. The panels look straight, with no dings or dents and consistent gaps. The chrome sparkles beautifully, and there are no problems with the glass. On that subject, this Montclair features the power-operated “Breezeway” rear window that improves airflow on hot days. It works perfectly, ensuring that summer adventures should involve occupants staying as cool as a cucumber.
The seller supplies a series of interior shots, but you need to “piece” them together to gain an overview of its condition. A long shot from outside indicates the seats and upholstered surfaces are excellent, with the seats wearing new covers. The dash and fresh carpet are excellent, and original items like the AM radio are intact. Someone installed a floor-mounted console housing a Pioneer USB/CD player, a graphic equalizer, cup holders, and what appears to be a satellite radio receiver. Speakers for the CD are mounted in the console, leaving areas like the door trims and rear parcel tray unmolested. A tachometer is hanging below the dash, and ice-cold air conditioning improves occupant comfort if they wish to forego the “wind-in-the-hair” experience offered by the Breezeway window.
Montclair buyers faced a wide selection of engines to power their new purchase, but lifting this car’s hood reveals a 390ci V8 producing 266hp. Power feeds to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Mercury to cover the ¼-mile in 17.1 seconds. It may not be the fastest vehicle on the planet, but the figure looks respectable for the era from a car capable of transporting six people comfortably. It also offers the driver an effortless motoring experience due to the inclusion of power assistance for the steering and brakes. The seller indicates they installed many new parts, with the A/C compressor and aluminum radiator catch tank the most apparent. The transmission is freshly rebuilt, and they describe the car as very reliable. The new owner needs to do nothing but slip behind the wheel and drive off into the sunset.
The reintroduction of the Mercury Montclair in 1964 boosted company sales by 32,963 vehicles. Of those, 15,520 were the four-door sedan variant featuring the funky “Breezeway” rear window. It is unclear how many survive, but natural attrition could place the figure below 50%. Finding one wearing its original paint is a rare treat, but it doesn’t mean it is likely to be a mega-bucks classic by the time the hammer falls on this auction. Recent results suggest that it could struggle to reach $20,000, and a sale price of around $15,000 is possible. Therefore, this Montclair could be a strong candidate if you yearn to park an affordable 1960s classic in your garage.
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Comments
I love the breezeway and the bumper sticker.
My friend has a real clean ’64 Marauder convertible. He looks for years for a power window motor , they are different side to side . an old fells tells him “I have several” . .. Sure enough the old fella had six drivers side power window motors sitting loose on a Full Factory NOS quarter panel that he had been hunting for 20 some years .
“This item is no longer available. ” Really?
My parents had a new ’67 Montclair, but they seem to a rare model. Most were Montereys or top of the line Parklanes. Great car but frame rust took it out of the game in ’76. Everything else was great, body and interior like new and the 390 ran like a top. NE Penn. was rough on vehicles, its even worse now with the stuff they spray on the roads before storms even hit.
Mine had a 66 Montclair, Geezer. Those long lower rear fenders were rust magnets. I learned bondo skills on with that car as my patient.
My Dad never complained. Bless him.
Purchased in UT. Moved to PA, the IA. That metal never had a chance.
As much as these were Ford based, Mercury managed to get a lot of the 58-60 Lincoln into the the designs of the 61 and 63-64 full size Mercury. The Ford baseline keeps fading away.
They made the Lincoln connection really overt for 65.
Ford went back and forth so many times with Mercury they eventually lost the plot by the late ’70s.
Now they’re doing the same thing with Lincoln.
Be a nice daily driver. but with a handicapped person who needs a power scooter for mobility the trunk lip is a big handicap in itself for loading a handicap device. Other than that it presents very nice for it’s age.
I have a ’64 Montclair with the breezeway window. Great car that runs well with low miles. Love these ’60’s Mercury cars as I also have a ’66 Monterey 2dr HT. And no, neither are for sale at this time.
Wait – “We know it spent most of its life in Oklahoma, making its lack of rust no surprise. ”
How so? Having spent ~6 years in Enid, OK (about 90 miles n/nw of OKC – see bumper sticker in above pic) – but anywhere in OK, for that matter, all I can say is that the state isn’t covered with farmland because it’s a desert.
Also, no mention of the rear window going down —hold on to your kids!
It’s not a desert but they don’t pave the roads with road salt like they do in many parts of the country. Up here in ND we have cold and snowy conditions in the winter but we all used to get by.
For the last few years, however, they’ve begun salting like mad and also spraying Magnesium Chloride brine all over the roads. Absolutely ridiculous. Those of of you that live in non salt areas really don’t know how good you have it. This salt is an absolute menace that I hate with a passion.
Mighty handsome automobile. Electric motors can be rebuilt, There’s a retired electrician in north Texas that rebuilds them and does an excellent job and reasonably priced. He rebuilt the seat motor for my Riviera, it was so good I had him do a second one for backup. He gets a lot of customers from people who have convertibles like Lincoln, Thunderbird and retractable hardtops. he’s in Terrell, Texas. I can’t think of his name but he advertises in Hemmings Motor News. If you have any electric motors that don’t work, he’s your man.
God Bless America
Note the XXV on the horn button indicating the 25th year of Mercury with their beginning being in 1939.
Too bad they didn’t make it to 75 years. RIP, Mercury. You made some memorable cars.
My parents had a 64 Monterey that was my first car basically. That window went all the way down, and one could sir on the trunk and put your feet on the seat…. Great for snowball throwing so I heard… One time dad dropped the trunk lid on the luggage and keys… had to take out back seat only to discover a panel of metal for the window mechanism… I Had to fish out the keys with a coat hanger…. Good car for many many years.
You have to be a fan of the ‘Breezeway’ here.
Great idea….surprised no other manufacturers picked up on it.
Actually I’m not……had a car with a solar moonroof, which
ran fans in the trunk to cool the car while parked sitting & sealed.
The solar cells also charged the battery, in colder weather.
No manu picked up on those cool ideas either !