1965 Mercury Montclair 37629 Miles Fawn Beige 390 cubic inch V8 3-speed automa

Description

Like “Classic” or “original,” the word “survivor” gets tossed around a lot and as a result, it’s starting to lose its meaning. In the strictest sense, “survivor” means a car that has always been properly maintained and preserved, but never restored or modified. That means factory-applied paint, factory-installed interiors, and engines that have never needed anything more than routine maintenance. Cars that can meet all those criteria are special machines, and if you are familiar with true survivors you will... probably agree that few “restored” cars drive as well as a well-preserved original. No matter how good your shop is, they’re still not as good as the factory. Survivors like this 1965 Mercury Montclair are excellent reminders of just how good cars were back in the day—the sloppy suspensions, rough idle, and funny sounds were not standard equipment but you wouldn’t know until you had a truly superior car. This handsome Merc is absolutely a superior survivor. In fact, this Mercury is literally a little old lady special, with one-family ownership from new--it even came with a little Bible wrapped in a lace bow that the original owner said must remain in the car. It spent almost the entirety of its life in Utah, so obviously rust is a non-issue and it wears 100% original code T Fawn Beige paint. That means no bondo, no rust, no surprises hiding underneath. It shows just 37,629 original miles and comes with an actual miles title, but one drive is all it will take to convince you that this is a correct, low-mileage car. All four doors close the way only low-mileage car doors do, there are no squeaks or rattles anywhere in the car, and every control still feels precise, smooth, and well-connected, so it's just a joy to drive. The chrome is excellent with zero pitting or signs of age--yes, that's original chrome on the bumpers and emblems! Everything works, including the power roll-down rear window, which was just serviced with new weather seals and a new motor. The only issue on pretty much the entire car is a crack in the windshield below the right side wiper arm, but if I didn't tell you about it, you probably wouldn't notice it. That's factory upholstery, original carpets, and even the original rubber mats are still in the trunk, put there by the first owner to keep them from getting worn out. The seats are still firm and comfortable and the vinyl shows a bit of a shine from the aforementioned lady’s bottom sliding over the lower cushion, but there’s zero damage or signs of neglect. It certainly didn’t cook out in the hot desert sun, as the dash pad is excellent and all the weather seals are supple so it still takes a pretty good slam to get the doors closed. The only notable wear is some discoloration on the driver's door armrest where obviously someone has been resting their elbow. Be sure to check out the steering wheel, which uses clear plastic on the back side for a unique look, and no, it’s not yellowed, cracked, or damaged in any way which is truly remarkable. All the gauges are fully operational and even the clock wants to work—if you move the hands it will start ticking but only temporarily, which can surely be cured by cleaning and lubricating the movement. Even the original AM radio pulls in stations loud and clear and the original rubber floor mats have been nicely preserved in the trunk. Better still, the back seat is like new, the trunk has original mats, a full jack assembly and what might just be the original spare tire. Power comes from a rather potent Z-code 390 cubic inch "Marauder" V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, rated at 300 horsepower—this sucker is plenty gutsy on the road! It's totally stock and quite clean under the hood and it runs like new, almost silent and with no smoke or unpleasant noises. It starts easily, idles smoothly, and there’s an effortless, inevitable feel to its acceleration that’s unique to original cars. No vibrations, no rattles, no stumbles, just torque. It’s addictive, especially since this is a big car but not a terribly heavy one. That’s all factory paint on the engine, including the bright orange air cleaner and valve covers which proudly advertise the potent V8 living underneath. Power steering and power brakes are included, helping to make this car easy to handle for any driver and thanks to a recent tune-up, it just works like it should. Get in and drive this car coast-to-coast, it’s ready. The 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission shifts almost imperceptibly and with 3.00 gears in back, it's a fantastic road trip machine. Ride and handling are luxury car smooth, but well-damped, and thanks to a lifetime in Utah, rust is a non-issue and there’s no undercoating to hide the original metal in the floors and rockers. The back half of the exhaust system has been recently replaced, the brakes are new including hoses, cylinders, and shoes, and it looks like there are fresh ball joints in there. It’s hushed on the road with just a distant V8 hum that you can barely hear burbling out back. Yes, we know the current 8.20-15 Allstate wide whitewall tires are kind of hokey-looking, but if you pay full asking price, we’ll install any tires you want before delivery. This Mercury will explain everything you need to know about why original cars are special. It drives SUPERBLY. So smooth, so quiet, so composed. Some of you probably haven't experienced what it's like to drive a 55-year-old car that still feels new, and at this price, you'll have something unique that not only stands out, but can be used regularly by any driver without worries. Nobody regrets buying a great car, and if you judge this Mercury by its cover, you will miss out on a fantastic car that offers so much more than meets the eye. Call today!