The production version of the Mercury Montclair was a full-size automobile produced by the Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company from 1955 to 1957. Its appearance followed the concept show car in 1954 called the Mercury XM-800, which would go on to become a design phenomenon. The Montclair name was introduced in 1955 and applied to Mercury’s premium automobile line, though by 1957 that honor belonged to the Turnpike Cruiser, with the Montclair receiving mid-range appointments. Even in its position in the middle of the Mercury lineup, it was clearly a classic in the making, and one that proved extremely popular with people of means.
Offered here, this Montclair convertible was the culmination of a lifelong dream of the owner. Mark Thomas’s father had purchased a brand-new Montclair in 1957, and, as is often the case with special cars, the Mercury burned itself into his memory. Mr. Thomas remembers that his father’s Montclair was the nicest car in his hometown of Clintonville, Wisconsin. However, as much as he wanted to, he was never allowed to drive the car. It had since been a lifelong dream to find one, and as soon as he was able, Mr. Thomas sought an appropriate Montclair in order to fulfill that unrequited love he had had as a teenager.
This example was purchased from a collector in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was beautifully restored to showroom condition by its previous owners, and it remains in superb condition to this day. Presented here in classic white with an exceptional black-and-white interior with a white convertible top, the car is an ideal addition to any mid-century collection and is sure to provide countless miles of true driving satisfaction, just as it did for the consignor.