The Mercury models from 1952–1954 were “mini Lincolns,” sharing many design similarities to its larger sibling, but with a shorter wheelbase and overhangs. The successful original 1952 design was carefully updated the following two years, with 1954 bringing an updated grille with larger bullet-style bumper guards, foreshadowing the “Chrome Era” about to take hold in the late-1950s. Also new for 1954 was a new Y-block overhead-valve V-8, based on the Ford design but larger and with a standard four-barrel carburetor, producing 161 horsepower. The result was an unbeatable mid-sized family car, with enough performance to be fun and enough style to be elegant, and it was appropriately quite popular.

The Monterey Convertible offered from the Don Davis Collection was one of a mere 7,293 delivered to dealers in 1954, and it was built at the Ford plant in Long Beach, California, appropriate for such a sunny automobile. It was the recipient of a ground-up restoration that occurred some time ago, where it was painted in Yosemite Yellow with red and white vinyl seats, and a black canvas power top and a red top cover was added, and it is equipped with a Merc-O-Matic transmission, power windows, a Mercury radio, power steering, power brakes, and Mercury wheel covers, just the sort of equipment one would expect to find in a car at the local dealer in 1954.

Showing 58,750 miles at the time of cataloguing, the Mercury would be a splendid summer day driver, ready to provide many miles of open-air pleasure to its new owner.