Any interest in 57 Mercury's out there?

I have my eye on a 2 door locally, i don't have any pics of the particular car at the moment.
I had not really considered it as a pretty looking car, to be honest it is a bit goofy, but im quite into the jet age and oddball stuff and see it as a good foundation to customize.
I have been searching for pics, and haven't come up with much other than stockers.
I know Watson painted a mostly stock one that looked good.
These are obviously not as popular as the pre 56 models but im sure there must be some fans out there...?
Would love to see some photos from the past to present.
Thanks.
Kyle

 

My dad bought two, New.
First was black with a pink stripe but he went back and got a White one with a green stripe.
On Sundays, we went out in the country and I watched over his shoulder from the back seat as he ran it up to 125 MPH.
Mom didnt like us doing that.

It was a huge car and quite ugly.
The police liked it though. We were running in a pack of cars and were singled out for a speeding ticket.
Dad asked the cop why us. The cop told him, it was easy to radio ahead and tell the other cop to give a ticket to the ugly white car with the green stripe.
I love Mercurys but I'm glad I dont have to restore a 57

 

57 Turnpike Cruiser has always been a favorite of mine...

 

I am hoping to buy one this spring!! It is a four door hardtop that is yellow and white like the life magazine ad of the time.. I have been exchanging emails with the owner like a perspective adoptive parent.. It has a 368 power everything including rear window and the flow through ventialtion system!! I am hoping to start a web site when I get this car.. Sounds like a great 40th birthday present!! I can't wait to make this happen...

 

I think they are way cool as two doors and i have seen one in san diego that was slammed and nothing else and it was a awesome looking ride.I would cruise one if i had the chance.You can make anything..almost anything look killer with some mild mods in stance,tire and rim.

 

My folks bought a '57 Monterey 2-dr. hardtop new and I learned to drive in that car. 312 c.i., push-button trans, full-length cruiser skirts, absolutely beautiful in lavender and white! I think they would be a really neat mild custom today and are actually pretty rare. I have seen '57 Monterey's with both single headlights and quad lights, anyone know why?

 

My boss has a real nice convertible and the black one is owned by a buddy of his...I have more Merc pics if you're interested

 

Here is a picture of a Silhouettes car club t-shirt I had made up.
The car was drawn by an old friend of mine from the early days of WCK Paso Robles show Jack Bishop, he was the club artist back in those days.

 

The different headlight versions were due to individual state laws. Apparently some states declared that dual headlights provided excessive light output. At least that is what I read in one of dad's books a few years ago.
.
Kael
.
.

 

Different states did outlaw quad headlights in '57 and others required them. In one of my 1957 Mercury Factory brochures, it shows the quad lights as an OPTION in 1957. I used to tape this brochure to my ALL Original 22K miles,'57 Monterey Convertible that I sold at ALL FORD Carlisle about 4 years ago. The Original Top had a 2-1/2" Red band around it and that was also in the brochure.
Also know of an ALL ORIGINAL Black M-335 stick shift Sedan with 32K miles

 

Sorry, my '57 Merc was a Montclair, NOT a Monterey, and people also told me that all Montclairs came with Quad headlights, but I never saw that printed anywhere. I have one RH quad headlight bezel and a few grille parts left over from ? If you pick up ANY '57 Merc Chrome parts you realize why the car weighed so much!! The first person that sends me a PM back can have the parts for the price of postage. Tom Kitchen
p.s. Sorry, can't say where the M-335 is located as I'm 1st on the list when he decides to sell.

 

I know that I've seen the Turnpike Cruisers with both headlight options. I don't know what model the Turnpike cruiser was based off of.

Kael

 

I think I know where there is one with a 312, 3 speed overdrive.

 

We had a 58 Park Lane (Parklane?) 2dr post - all black, spotlight, 430 Lincoln 4bbl and automatic (pushbutton - one of which read "High Performance Range". Appears to have been an old WSP 'pursuit car' from its day. Amazing ride...the gas needle went just as fast to the left as the speedo indicator did to the right.

dj

 

Thanks for the responses guys.
I think that all i would do is lower, wide whites, skirts, and shave unnecessary badges, Done.

Although the particular one that im looking at has no engine only trans, so i am looking into some options there: FE, 302/351 Windsor, although i do already have a 272 Y Block?
The original 368 would be to hard to source down here.
What do you think the preferred driveline would be? would be nice to use the push button trans.
Kyle

 

Thanks for all the reply for my FREE '57 Mercury parts listed above. They are promised to a HAMBER in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is what the HAMB is all about! Tom Kitchen

 

I see this car at shows from time to time. Soon as I win the lottery I'm gonna throw some serious money at him and try and get it.

 

Jim Roten photos....










And Larry Watson did this one...

 

A Nice Turnpike from Brazil

 

While the Turnpikes get most of the press, there are two others that interest me. I would dearly love to know what ever happened to our old family ride. Bought new in '57, is was bottom of the line Monterey two door sedan with 3 speed manual, red with white coves and roof. Got traded in on a new Falcon in 1960 at Leon Ames Ford. The second model makes even the funky styling look good whether the black and gold above or a '50s pastel. Two door long roofs are cool, but even better when they're a hardtop....

 

I think they are amazing ugly, but I still love em. I'm not even a Ford guy. the version Watson did was swell.

 

Dad bought a demo in late 57

Black 4 door (family with 3 kids),twin headlights,368 turnpike cruiser engine,push button tranny and the coolest speedo that was a red roll of tape which would unroll that indicated speed.

Dads brother had a black 2 door without the 368 (312 I guess) and single headlights. Dad used to stomp him on the hiway.I always preferred the more aggresive look of the single headlights.

I remember going south to Florida one year to see the grandparents when Dad wound it all the way out past the 120 MPH mark and tore the speedo tape off the hub.

It just went wild till he got it repaired.

It was also the first engine that I helped dissassemble.We yanked the heads for a valve job and also put rings in it.

Those friggin heads weighed a ton then and probably are heavier now.

Little known fact is that the 57 Merc 312 could also been had with dual quads (teapots) making it the only supplier of two different engines using a dual quad setup for 1957.The M335 and 312/270 H.P. engine.

Good memorys

Oldmics

 

I like the five seven and the '58s both real well. They are a boat but a beautiful boat.

 

The '57-59 Mercurys are my favorite FoMoCo products of the '50s.

Rancheros are a close second

 

I always liked the '57 Mercs although, like others have said, I actually thought it was not all that pretty. Sort of like a woman that is "not all that pretty" yet, for some reason, has quite an appeal.......

A buddy of mine in high school used to drive his parent's '57 Turnpike Cruiser, red and white, and I always thought it looked pretty agressive.

I prefer the Mercs, and women for that matter, without so much adornment. Skip the cruiser skirts, continental kits, spotlights etc. as they, in my opinion, further clutter an already 'busy' design. Simple is better for my money.

Ray

 

I have a '57 2 door hardtop that came out of a barn during an estate sales years ago.
Really pretty slick, hasn't been registered since early '70,s if memory serves me correctly.
I never was able to get the paperwork that was promised at the sale but its too nice an old car to drag across the scales and besides it goes good with the 53 and 56 hardtops parked along side it in the weeds LOL.....may take it to Pate

 

The first custom looks like the huncapsI'd put on my 57. The night prowlers repops similar olds looking hupcaps.. Hope they fit the OG 57 rims.. My buddy has a single headlight 4 door hardtop. He has a ton of parts with it and accessories since he bought it in 1980. He's the reason fr my obsession and also why I like the off colors like moonmist yellow and tahitan green.. I think the car needs and underdash record player and the conny kit just makes the longest car that much longer.. Just cuz kinda thing!! Plus you never see them.. Way cool!!

 

Oh man these are car porn to me.

Then again, I would love to ANY Merc from '39-'64.

 

Thanks Rikster, that is exactly what i was after.
This is the vision that i had in my head after first seeing the car and thinking what would i do.
Gotta stop dreaming and do it now.
Cheers
Kyle

 

Just noticed the upturned 'M' in that grill.
Pretty cool.