We’ve all seen the inordinate number of convertibles cruising along America’s highways these days, but how often do you see a fully-restored 1955 Mercury Montclair Convertible out on the streets? Not a lot, right?
Anybody who’s willing to spend for an American classic would be wise to use it on this one and only classic from 1955. Predominantly white with some red trimmings and a soft, black rooftop, the ’55 Montclair’s enduring legacy is a testament to its classy look and superior drivability.
The car retains most of its original stylistics while also adding a few technologically advanced features, infusing the car with a combination of old-school ‘feel’ with new-school technology. This particular Montclair convertible comes with automatic C4 transmission, front sway bars, tilt steering, power windows, CD player.
Moreover, the car has undergone a full off-frame restoration, complete with originally modified front disk brakes, converted to 12 volt, A/C, intake and carburetor. The cars’ frame has also been powder coated, giving it extra protection from unnecessary wear and tear. Likewise, the car’s original nuts and bolts have been upgraded to stainless steel, thereby reducing the amount of rust these parts could accumulate.
While this ’55 Mercury Montclair Convertible has had its fair share of restorations, the enduring image of driving on the roads with this one-of-a-kind vehicle is still something we all secretly dream of doing someday.
VOGA means fashion in Italian. It is no wonder why Ford designer Camilo Pardo, the designer of the Ford GT, chose this name when he introduced the upscale appearance package in 2006 on the vehicle named after the Italian fashion capital, the Mercury Milan. Since then Mercury has expanded the elegant VOGA line to include the Mercury Mariner crossover based on the Ford Escape.
Being an aesthetics package, the VOGA option is much more about design than function. In order to purchase the high-class VOGA equipped Mercury, future Mariner owners must first upgrade to a Mercury Mariner Premier, and then purchase the Moon and Tune package that includes a large panoramic sunroof and a seven speaker MP3 compatible sound system and much more.
I learned to drive on the interstate at age 14 in a first generation Mercury Sable. It belonged to my grandparents, and it was the three of us on a trip from Louisiana to Florida. Within a few hours my grandfather decided it would something special for both of us to share my first highway driving experience. He was right, I’ll never forget the car not because it was an exceptional automobile, but because of what I got to do with it.
That’s the kind of legacy that the Mercury Sable leaves. It’s not meant to be a driver’s car, but instead an affordable and usable car where the memories are made from what families are able to do with the car.
Mercury unveiled the 2010 Milan, a new generation that adds for the first time a hybrid model to the line-up. The new Mercury will be built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant and will go on sale in spring 2009.
The 2010 Mercury comes with new grille, fenders, hood, and front and rear fascias. The chin was pulled forward and the fascia was pulled down to give the 2010 Mercury Milan a wider, sportier look. Those changes as well as substantial underbody work made for a cleaner, more aerodynamic car.
Under the hood there is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 155 hp and 136 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission or e-CVT. The hybrid version comes with a new smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery has been optimized to produce 20 percent more power. It can operate up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, approximately twice as fast as some competitors. Plus, the city driving range on a single tank of gas is expected to be more than 700 miles.
Ford will be introducing its new active safety systems in some of its models by next year. The radar-based technology, called Collision Warning with Brake Support, will be available as well in Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. The system is designed to warn drivers of impending hazards with the use of audible alerts and flashing lights.
Momentary distractions while driving, such as looking at a roadmap or using a mobile phone, could lead to accidents. These scenarios are what the Collision Warning system seeks to address. Radar continuously scans the area in front of the car as it moves along. The moment an obstacle is detected, an audio alert is sounded and red warning LEDs are projected on the windshield just above the instrument panel. The system will also pre-charge the brakes and activate a brake assist feature to help stop the car as soon as the driver applies the brakes.
Radar technology is also employed in Ford’s Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert. This aids the driver during instances where his vision is hampered by larger vehicles or other objects while, for example, backing out of a parking space. The system warns the driver when an object, such as another car, is about to cross his path.
"The new Collision Warning with Brake Support technology puts us on the leading edge of active safety to help customers detect and avoid possible dangers," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford vice president of engineering, Global Product Development. "Ford will be the first to offer this technology on mainstream models that many families can afford."
Most of Detroit’s concept cars from the 50s and 60s were like the mediocre rock stars of the same era. They get a lot of attention for a little while, but when the spotlight faded away they died young. Concept cars disappear for a number of reasons including keeping company design secrets, failure to meet current safety regulations, too many are produced to store them all, avoiding taxes, etc. But all reasons are meet by the same fate: death by crusher.
There are a very few of these originals that stay alive in private hands, and eBay currently has one for sale. It seems the 1954 Mercury XM-800 avoided the crusher through donation. Ford gave the car to an automotive specialist school at the University of Michigan. When the school closed, the car was sold into private hands. Eventually the car wound up in the hands of concept car collector Joe Bortz.
The XM-800 may have been able to live on, but today it’s in need of a good restoration. The all-fiberglass car was never made with intension of lasting this long. Since it is a one of a kind car, restoration will be a little harder than ordering parts form a catalogue. But like any good concept car, it’s worth the effort.
This is not the first time this Mercury concept car has been offered on eBay, but hopefully this time it will find a new loving home.
Mercury has been in an identity crisis. The latest marketing suggests that the brand is supposed to be young, hip and female, but hardly anyone bought it – literally. Mercury had sunk so far that it was about to become another discontinued brand like GM’s Oldsmobile or Chrysler’s Plymouth. But it seems Ford had a change of heart and is going to pump new direction in the forgotten brand. Mercury will now be the gateway brand to Lincoln.
This doesn’t seem like a too far step considering that all Lincoln dealerships also carry Mercury products. Now Mercury’s future now will be complementing Lincoln by selling premium small cars and crossovers. "Lincoln will start with midsized sedans and move up from there," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s global product chief. "Mercury brings a younger, more female customer than the Ford brand. We’re focusing (Mercury) very much on small, fuel-efficient products." By 2010 Mercury should get a version of the new Ford Focus, but it will also possibly give up some of its larger vehicles such as Sable, Moutaineer and Grand Marquis, because they no longer fit in the brand’s new identity
Unofficial sources told that Ford will launch no new Mercury models fter the 2012 model year. The first model will be the Milan midsize sedan as it will get a midcycle refresh early next year.
Models like the Sable, Grand Marquis and recently refreshed Mariner will continue until roughly the 2011/2012 model year as well.
The news is not such a big surprise as Mercury has been absent from the auto show scene for quite some time.
On the other hands, according to Automotive News, Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said on Monday that Mercury brand is an important part of the U.S. automaker’s line-up and the company is continuing to invest in the nameplate: "It is an important part of the stable of brands," Fields told reporters at an event promoting the new Lincoln MKS sedan in suburban Detroit.
Mercury continues pushing fashion-forward design, with a new runway-inspired production series called VOGA. Literally translated as “fashionable and trend-setting,” VOGA hits primetime today at the South Florida International Auto Show, debuting on a 2008 Mercury Mariner. Over time, the VOGA series will be offered on a series of Mercury products > More
That’s what Mercury dealers think, at least according to an Automotive News survey. According to the publication, 23 percent of Mercury dealers were NOT worried the brand would be dropped by Ford. The rest were: 45% said they were “very concerned” that Ford would discontinue Mercury. 32% said they were “somewhat concerned” that the brand would be terminated.
Some are more worried than others about how the demise of Mercury would affect them. 28% belived that other Ford brands (... > More
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