Customs I Bought a 1957 Mercury Montclair Convertible, Now what??

Correct. The engine in this car is a Lincoln Y-Block. The M-E-L engine was introduced in 1958.


It's perfect as it is. Just drive it!

 

agreed!

 

I would not change a thing except maybe add A/C. Restored 57 Mercs are rare and worth a fortune.

 

Just a nice mild drop, then drive it over to my place and toss me the keys. That's all I can see it needs

 

It's WAY unlike me to leave things be, but that thing is just perfect as is!
If you do go the lakes pipes route, I would also use accessory Merc spotlight/mirrors,
either stationary or adjustable.

 

I like the lakes pipes idea. They would visually lower the car without having to actually mess with the suspension. Other than that, I'd redo the coves in silver or red. Those Mercury spotlights would be cool too, but they'd mean messing with the body and paint a little bit, so unless you are removing other trim, badges etc that are going to need paint work, I think I'd skip those.

 

Use the new wide whites, but after lowering replace the front wheels with a pair of new T-Bird wire wheels. You won't see the rears...Nix the lakes pipes, this KOOL KEMP doesn't need them.

 

I am thinking of painting the coves red or black until I can get the aluminum inserts properly restored. It really pops like that. Looking at pictures of other cars, mine seems to sit lower already, not sure how much more if any I am going to lower it.

 

Think about the time this car is from....Detroit finally "got" the ideas that customizers had been using for several years. The expensive new cars were factory customs, lower, wider, sleeker, big motors, fancy accessories. Cars like the Turnpike Cruiser were made to be what you would buy if you wanted a top of the line custom, but could afford to buy it factory new.

I think that's what everyone is getting at, without maybe realizing why.

fill up the trunk with stuff for a road trip, it will get the lowered tail dragger look, all by itself.

I also think you would do well to keep modifications to a minimum.

 

Actually, I believe the stationary kind may simply replace the stock mirrors. That would leave just a hole to drill for the wire, which would be covered. (I expect them to be pricey, however.)

 

Ahha! Well that would be cool because they'd really enhance the car!

 

How about copper, or gold?



This burnt orange factory depiction is also quite dramatic.

 

It has the Gold/Copper Anodized aluminum cove inserts, but they have faded and have lots of small dings (maybe light hail damage). I plan to restore them and re-install, but I assume that is going to take time and $$$. I could paint them gold to simulate the same look for the interim. But I thought it might be fun to try something different for the short term.

 

I would drop the front 2" and put the 15" wheels on it. Not much would I modify. Just do the TLC and go cruise. If it needs mufflers, I'd go with some cherry bombs, but that's just my liking the popping.

 

My father in law gave me a 4 dr hardtop with the electric back window, I needed a car bad to go to work so I drove it ducking down and hiding from all my friends, traded it for a black 56 Buick Century hard top after a couple of months, was really glad to be in the Buick.
These Mercs are pretty good handling and fast, and as the guy said above Juke Box Cars

 

Looks great! never noticed side indentions in a bumper for exhaust before, those tail lights in the bumper looks like signature mercury equipment too that Ive noticed in 60s up stuff before but never remember noticing in the 50s
Very interesting awesome ride!

 

This is an extremely rare hi dollar car. It would be wrong to make any major change to this that you could never reverse. I can see maybe a set of dual quads, a good exhaust, maybe a mild solid lifter cam but leave the cosmetics alone other than restoring and preserving items. Even the stock wheel cover are a thing of beauty. I recently went through this same quandary with a mint 53 Lincoln Capri Convertible I owned for several years. I was tempted to stab a Fat Man Clip onto it, add a power rack and pinion, discs, A/C, pipes, the whole ball of wax. Just before I was going to fuck it up a fellow waved 50 large in my face and away it went, still unmolested.

 

Make it safe , drop it and drive it.

 

I know you've had a ton of advice and opinions but I'll throw in my two cents anyway. I'd leave that beautiful car alone aside from cosmetic personal touches like hubcaps, little non-permanent changes to make it yours. The car has great lines, a very nice choice of color and sits just right. It doesn't need lowering (imho); just drive the tires off it!

 

Wow, I'm jealous. Makes me miss my 57 Turnpike Cruiser more than I already do.
Sort it out, keep it original, drive the wheels off of it, and enjoy every mile.
Congratulations - so cool.

 

Just to add a bit more "pain", my TC was orchid with gold anodized cove trim and a black/white interior. Full power, autoluber, memory seat. Found and installed factory skirts, and made every eyeball in my zip code pop out when I drove it. Was a four door hardtop, but so what??!!
Looking for a two door hardtop now, will look good next to my two 58 Edsel big-bodies and 55 Merc Montclair two door hardtop, don't you think?

 

It is difficult to suggest any changes at all, but how about this tasty mod?
Front bumper cavities have been filled with chrome tail light grills, frosted clear lenses.
(You could also replace the Mercury "M" in the center with your own initials.)

(Photoshop by Fif-t-3)

 

I've got a Hilborn FI unit that fits that engine. Check it out on EBAY if you're interested.

 

beautiful. lowering, yes. maybe a fuel injection setup for driveability.

 

1957 Turnpike Cruiser ad on Ed Sullivan show

 

High SchooS friend had one. Four door hardtop with the breezeway rear, continental kit, skirts twin antennas at the corner of the upper windshield. Push button trans selector in the center of the steering wheel. He could never go any where by himself in the car. Always needed one or two friends along to chip in for gas. That thing was a gas hog without peer. 8 mpg max.