I think it's kinda cool that they went to the effort to make the wagon a hardtop, though. But yeah, still kind of an ugly looking thing, overall. Mercury must have wasted a lot of money on that design. I've heard that the 1959 was all-new, although to me it just looks like they took a '57-58 Mercury, stretched the wheelbase a bit, and gave it a facelift. Anyway, the '59 was a poor seller...not exactly the right time to start making your cars even bigger than before! I think the '60 sold even worse, although overall sales were probably up thanks to the Comet. And the for 1961 they scrapped that Mercury-only body, and the new Mercury was just a dressed-up Ford. Probably a much better balanced, better-handling car, but suddenly there was little reason to pick a Mercury over a Ford.
I think Grbeck, Lemko, and I actually saw that very car at Hershey a couple weeks ago! And that does look like Hershey's Giant Center Arena in the background. That woodgrain applique on it was really, for lack of a better term, groovy!
**Edit: Yup, it was at Hershey. Here's a view of the car from the rear.
It had been for sale, but by the time we saw it, I think it had been sold.
Wagons this old, in any kind of good condition, are getting rare, because wagons were beat to death in their day. A niche market, but perhaps up and coming? Good "let's look cool" surfer cars at any rate.
The front shot shows rubber pads - the fact that the bumper itself isn't huge makes me also guess '73, the trasition year before the full 5mph standard went into effect.
Shoot, I imagine a Ford wagon of this vintage is a rare creature. My Dad had a 1972 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon that rusted with such a vengeance, a Vega, by comparison, would've appeared to have been stamped from the finest, most corrosion-resistant stainless steel alloy on earth. By the time he got rid of it, it looked as if mice ran through the body. It had a princely trade-in value of $150 in 1981.
Many a baby boomer could tell you station wagon stories about when they were growing up in the 'burbs. I grew up in NYC, so all our vehicles looked like cop cars.
Yeah! That's the one. Dad's car was a dark green metallic and it had two big bumper guards near the central grille. That styling was leftover from Bunkie Knudsen's short reign at Ford when he tried to make everything look like a Pontiac.
Yeah, the Electra, DeVille, and Ninety-Eight were all on GM's C-body (although I've heard the Caddy referred to as a "D" body from time to time). The B-body (Chevy/Pontiac, LeSabre, and Delta 88) were essentially the same thing, too, just a few inches less wheelbase, and less room in the back seat.
The last year for a pillarless Electra coupe was 1974. They came standard that way, but if you paid extra, you got a landau top with stationary rear windows. I always thought it was annoying that you paid more money to have the windows NOT go down, but I guess with a/c, nobody cared anymore. Plus, that isolated personal luxury coupe look was all the rage, so they capitalized on that. For 1975-76, the Electra coupes all had stationary windows and a B-pillar.
Those old hardtops are cool cars...just as long as you don't roll one over! :surprise:
this monster has caught my attention... Any guesses as to what it is? Lemko, I know this would be too easy for you! It's actually for sale, but they want $6800 and I think it only has a 350. always liked the oddball hardtop roofline on these.
wow, that's a rare bird, indeed....an airport limo based on the FWD (this one's a '68) Olds Toronado. I think some of these chassis were also used for motor homes, IIRC. Since we're on the subject, this is an interesting site (discovered after seeing an 8-door '68 Pontiac sedan airport limo in a chase scene, of all things, on 'Hawaii Five-O' (one of the best shows, along with 'Jeannie', 'Bewitched' and 'Beverly Hillbillies') for car-spotting. Being an unemployed geek is bad. Anyway:
" And the for 1961 they scrapped that Mercury-only body, and the new Mercury was just a dressed-up Ford"
It sure was! I remember taking a tour through the Mahwah NJ Ford Assembly plant in 1962. As I recall, about every 6th or 7th car on the line was a Mercury!
.....it was her first car in high school (2-door sedan, baby blue, matching interior, 5-speed, rusty) but got her from Chicago to Florida when she ran away from home (with no oil changes, or anything resembling maintenance). It wasn't much fun to drive (spongy suspension, kinda wheezy engine) but got the job done, I guess.
I think her stepdad bought it for her (my friend) in 1987 or '88 (if '88 it was early, because she ended up buying a brand-new base Civic hatch that year). Chicago suburbs....?
Comments
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
HINT: 1980s
HINT #2: Often described as "The car for people who hate cars"
HINT #2: Often described as "The car for people who hate cars"
Gotta be a Volvo 240DL
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
No, I didn't set fire to it myself.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
**Edit: Yup, it was at Hershey. Here's a view of the car from the rear.
It had been for sale, but by the time we saw it, I think it had been sold.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I really liked the styling of the early '70s full-size Fords at the time. Of course, I was in second grade in 1972. . .
ToyotaLexusToyotaLexus ... LF-A.My dad had a coupe that looked just like that.
'Bout time somebiody chimed in w that!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
My dad's looked like this IIRC, I was less than 10 years old at the time so I just remember a lime green coupe with a white vinyl top, no B-pillar:
The last year for a pillarless Electra coupe was 1974. They came standard that way, but if you paid extra, you got a landau top with stationary rear windows. I always thought it was annoying that you paid more money to have the windows NOT go down, but I guess with a/c, nobody cared anymore. Plus, that isolated personal luxury coupe look was all the rage, so they capitalized on that. For 1975-76, the Electra coupes all had stationary windows and a B-pillar.
Those old hardtops are cool cars...just as long as you don't roll one over! :surprise:
I e-mailed him to ask.
Any guesses as to what it is? Lemko, I know this would be too easy for you! It's actually for sale, but they want $6800 and I think it only has a 350. always liked the oddball hardtop roofline on these.
http://my.net-link.net/~dcline/limoair1.htm
It sure was! I remember taking a tour through the Mahwah NJ Ford Assembly plant in 1962. As I recall, about every 6th or 7th car on the line was a Mercury!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
1980 or so for the model year.
I had a coupe that sort of looked like that.
I sold it to a guy who replaced the clutch soon after. The exhaust was also leaking so I think he fixed that, too.
Funny thing was it was Rear wheel drive!
Not fun like a 510 was, though.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93