This year brings full-size Mercurys that have nothing to do with the cars proposed in 1960. Gone are the ambitions of Mercury to compete with the likes of Buick or Chrysler. After the thundering failure of the Edsel and several years of declining sales, Mercury loses its relative autonomy to return to its original status of maker of fancy Fords. The plainest Mercury is called the Meteor, aptly enough for it is the name under which Canadians know Fords rebadged as Mercurys and sold through Lincoln-Mercury’s dealerships. Unthinkable a short while ago as the race for ever larger engines and more power was on in Detroit, all full-size Mercurys are sold with a six-cylinder block as standard.
Mercury's 1961 range includes three lines: Mercury Meteor (subdivided into Meteor 600 and Meteor 800), Mercury Monterey and a line of station wagons that includes the Mercury Commuter and the Mercury Colony Park.
Mercury Meteor 600
The Meteor 600 is now Mercury’s cheapest full-size car, which competes in the low-price field. In standard form, it is provided with a 3.7-litre six mated to a manual gearbox, though both Merc-O-Matic and the better Multi-Drive are available as options. Overall, the Meteor looks similar to this year’s Fords, but the six taillights on its rear panel set it apart.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Mercury Meteor 800
The Meteor 800 adds backup lights and an electric clock to the 600’s equipment. On the outside, it sports three horizontal chrome bars on the front wings and a chrome rocker moulding.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
Mercury Commuter
The Commuter name is carried over for the station wagon version of the Meteor.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door station wagon.
Mercury Monterey
Significantly, the cheapest Mercury model last year becomes the most expensive one today. It receives better appointments and upholstery, but is offered with the same choice of engines and transmissions as the Meteor.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Mercury Colony Park
The large Colony Park wagon is back. It is close to the Monterey and distinguish itself from the Commuter by its side woodgrain panels and its power tailgate window.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door station wagon.
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: 1961 – 1962 – 1963 – 1964
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.
Mercury's 1961 range includes three lines: Mercury Meteor (subdivided into Meteor 600 and Meteor 800), Mercury Monterey and a line of station wagons that includes the Mercury Commuter and the Mercury Colony Park.
Mercury Meteor 600
The Meteor 600 is now Mercury’s cheapest full-size car, which competes in the low-price field. In standard form, it is provided with a 3.7-litre six mated to a manual gearbox, though both Merc-O-Matic and the better Multi-Drive are available as options. Overall, the Meteor looks similar to this year’s Fords, but the six taillights on its rear panel set it apart.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Mercury Meteor 800
The Meteor 800 adds backup lights and an electric clock to the 600’s equipment. On the outside, it sports three horizontal chrome bars on the front wings and a chrome rocker moulding.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
Mercury Commuter
The Commuter name is carried over for the station wagon version of the Meteor.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door station wagon.
Mercury Monterey
Significantly, the cheapest Mercury model last year becomes the most expensive one today. It receives better appointments and upholstery, but is offered with the same choice of engines and transmissions as the Meteor.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Mercury Colony Park
The large Colony Park wagon is back. It is close to the Monterey and distinguish itself from the Commuter by its side woodgrain panels and its power tailgate window.
● Introduction: 1960. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 135 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 175 hp; V-8, 5.8-litre, 220 hp; V-8, 6.4-litre, 300 hp; and V-8, 6.4-litre, 330 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: 545 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door station wagon.
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: 1961 – 1962 – 1963 – 1964
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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