For most of its first 15 years, Mercury was a Ford-based, medium-priced car with a longer wheelbase. However, for 1955 it was given a personality of its own. The new Mercury was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor, and it featured a bold grille-bumper assembly and vestigial rear fender contours with bright trim. Mechanically, it was very much in the Ford idiom, with a 292-cubic inch version of the Y-Block, overhead-valve V-8, ball-joint independent front suspension, and a live rear axle on leaf springs.

New for ’55 was the prestige Montclair series, which was comprised of three closed body styles, a four-door sedan, a two-door hardtop, and a glass-roofed Sun Valley hardtop coupe. Sharing pride of place at the top of the catalogue with the Sun Valley was the Montclair convertible coupe, which was available for $2,777. Just 10,668 of this model were built.

This gorgeous red Convertible Coupe has the signature Montclair accent panel below the window sills, which are painted in a contrasting white. The convertible top is done in white vinyl, and the color combination is repeated in red and white vinyl and cloth upholstery. Both the top and seats show modest use. Since it is equipped with a Merc-O-Matic transmission and four-barrel carburetor, it moves smartly through traffic. Optional equipment on the car includes a pushbutton AM radio, a heater, an electric clock, power steering, power brakes, windshield washers, and driving lights. The car is also fitted with a power lubricator that services nine points on the front suspension every time the car starts. As the recipient of a body-off restoration, it has excellent contours, paint, and brightwork, and detailing of the engine compartment and undercarriage are first-rate.

While not the rarest of 1955 Mercurys, the Montclair Convertible is surely the most sought after. This is an excellent example.