I've been wanting a big cruiser for a while and finally found this on the local CL. It has spent time in Michigan and Massachusetts but it doesn't have much rust. It's hasn't ran in about six years but the motor turns so I'll get it running soon. Does anyone know if some good websites for these? I've been searching for sites with good info but I'm not finding much out there.
What's up with the camera? Are you usually shooting soft porn? ;-) Cool car - I don't think I have seen one before.
You have to remember I am an old Fart but I owned a '59 Merc Park Lane convertible back in 1965. What a tank but I loved that old girl. John L
Beautiful car! Montclair... Does that thing have a 383 in it? If so plan on changing the timing chain and gears, dropping the oil pan and at the very least cleaning the pan and pickup screen, ideally changing the oil pump and oil pump drive shaft (use an FE shaft and shave .075 off the end). The timing gears on MEL engines are nylon coated, the nylon breaks off with age, clogs the oil pump and bad things be happening. A quick fix will save the engine.
Good info and well worth listening to. My 383 was bad to collapse lifters every time I really got on it. If you ever dropped it in passing gear it would sound like a thrashing machine until each lifter pumped itself back up. John L
Maybe it has a 430? They were out in 59 for some Mercs and Tbirds. My friend had a 59 with a 430 when we were teenagers, and that thing was a real street screamer. You got a great car.
Nice car! It looks very solid so it must not have spent too much time in Michigan. When I was a kid the preacher across the street had a '57 four door Merc. It was the mid '60's and it had already had bodywork (crappy) and a repaint due to rust.
I'm pretty sure it's got the 383 since it has the two-speed trans. This is my first MEL engine so I don't know them too well. I've been looking for engine codes but can't find them. Does anyone out there know how to tell for sure? Great news, it drove around the block today. I took the plugs out and put in fresh oil and filter. Then I spun it and the oil pressure came up so I compression checked each cylinder. All were near 150 except #5 at 120. I pulled the valve cover but nothing was amiss. I cleaned up the points and got good spark from the coil so a new set of plugs went in. I cranked it and got it running but it was really rough. Then I realized I hadn't hooked up the right side plug wires! After hooking up all the wires it ran much better and I got the carb dialed in really well and she's really smooth even at low idle so I'm not sure what to make of that weak cylinder. Tomorrow I start going through the brakes.
That's not a 2-speed trans, its a 3-speed. It's a dual-range, you actually want to use D1 not D2. In D1 the car starts out in 1st, in D2 its a first gear lockout. Weak cylinder could have been dry or sticking rings, also you're supposed to compression test MELs when they're hot. Glad to see ya got it working tho! I love 59s and really miss mine.
Awesome ride. Screams of late 50's Americana. You don't see many 59's-especially 2 doors. X3 on the lowering with WWW's! Join the HAMB Merc club (Bad Bob).
That is a sweet ride! If you have 150 lbs compression in 7 cylinders and 120 in 1 cylinder, drive it! According to my reference book, they only made 7,375 Montclair 2 dr hdtps in '59. You will likely go years without seeing another one at a show.
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