Nineteen fifty-nine sees a brand new Mercury being unveiled. While the style of the front is noticeably restrained and seemingly inspired by the year’s Ford, the contradicting rear is busier than ever, with a larger than ever version of the triangular taillights that have become customary at Mercury. “Panoramic Skylight” wraparound windshields are now of enormous proportions, while the rear windows also see a generalization of the wraparound style - all sedans, hardtops, and even convertibles have them this year. A surprising trait of this year’s Mercurys, after years of a relentless race towards higher displacements and power, is the adoption of more reasonable engines - Mercury's reaction to the recession that has hit the United States in 1958. On the other hand, chassis are longer than ever. Of lesser importance is the switch from the name “Phaeton”, designating the company’s hardtop cars, to “Cruiser”.
Mercury's 1959 range includes four lines: Mercury Monterey, Mercury Montclair, Mercury Park Lane and a line of station wagons that includes the Mercury Commuter, the Mercury Voyager and the Mercury Colony Park.
Mercury Monterey
Once more the Monterey is Mercury’s cheapest offer. The 6.3-litre V-8 is no longer standard, instead comes the smaller 5.1-litre of the defunct Medalist. This year, the Monterey can be easily identified by the three chrome strips that run on the upper part of its rear wings, right next to the taillights.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.1-litre, 210 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 280 hp; V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp; and V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 553 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Mercury Commuter
The Commuter is the station wagon version of the Monterey, though this heavy vehicle still enjoys the larger 6.3-litre engine. As all Mercury wagons, its elegant hardtop bodies are named “Country Cruiser” by the company’s advertisements this year.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 280 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp; and V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon, four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon.
Mercury Montclair
The Montclair is again Mercury’s mid-range model. Standard equipment principally includes a powerful V-8 engine, automatic transmission and a fabric and vinyl upholstery. Its rear wings sport four chrome strips to distinguish it from the lesser Monterey. Considered too excessive even by American standards, the Turnpike Cruiser sub-series has disappeared for good.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 553 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan.
Mercury Voyager
The Voyager wagons correspond to the Montclair in terms of equipment. Most buyers prefer either the posh Colony Park and the cheaper yet somewhat similar Commuter, limiting its commercial success.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon. Note: the possibility that Mercury produces a handful of Voyager two-door hardtop station wagon is debated.
Mercury Colony Park
Woodgrain panels imitating real wood differentiate the Colony Park from the otherwise similar Voyager.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon.
Mercury Park Lane
The Park Lane is Mercury’s flagship. Trying to establish itself as a challenger to Buick and Chrysler, it offers an extended wheelbase, a large Lincoln V-8, power steering and power brakes. The Multi-Drive automatic transmission is no longer exclusive to this series however, being now proposed as an option on all lesser models in lieu of their Merc-O-Matic.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels, with servo. Length: 566 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
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Mercury's 1959 range includes four lines: Mercury Monterey, Mercury Montclair, Mercury Park Lane and a line of station wagons that includes the Mercury Commuter, the Mercury Voyager and the Mercury Colony Park.
Mercury Monterey
Once more the Monterey is Mercury’s cheapest offer. The 6.3-litre V-8 is no longer standard, instead comes the smaller 5.1-litre of the defunct Medalist. This year, the Monterey can be easily identified by the three chrome strips that run on the upper part of its rear wings, right next to the taillights.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.1-litre, 210 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 280 hp; V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp; and V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 553 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Mercury Commuter
The Commuter is the station wagon version of the Monterey, though this heavy vehicle still enjoys the larger 6.3-litre engine. As all Mercury wagons, its elegant hardtop bodies are named “Country Cruiser” by the company’s advertisements this year.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 280 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp; and V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon, four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon.
Mercury Montclair
The Montclair is again Mercury’s mid-range model. Standard equipment principally includes a powerful V-8 engine, automatic transmission and a fabric and vinyl upholstery. Its rear wings sport four chrome strips to distinguish it from the lesser Monterey. Considered too excessive even by American standards, the Turnpike Cruiser sub-series has disappeared for good.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 553 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan.
Mercury Voyager
The Voyager wagons correspond to the Montclair in terms of equipment. Most buyers prefer either the posh Colony Park and the cheaper yet somewhat similar Commuter, limiting its commercial success.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon. Note: the possibility that Mercury produces a handful of Voyager two-door hardtop station wagon is debated.
Mercury Colony Park
Woodgrain panels imitating real wood differentiate the Colony Park from the otherwise similar Voyager.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 322 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 554 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door “Country Cruiser” hardtop station wagon.
Mercury Park Lane
The Park Lane is Mercury’s flagship. Trying to establish itself as a challenger to Buick and Chrysler, it offers an extended wheelbase, a large Lincoln V-8, power steering and power brakes. The Multi-Drive automatic transmission is no longer exclusive to this series however, being now proposed as an option on all lesser models in lieu of their Merc-O-Matic.
● Introduction: 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 7.0-litre, 345 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels, with servo. Length: 566 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Cruiser” hardtop coupe, four-door “Cruiser” hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1959 – 1960
Click here to return to a list of all Mercury vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all brands already presented.
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