1969 Mercury Montego MX Sedan
A parish in Jamaica named St. James and its capital Montego Bay, was FORD'S inspiration to name its 1968 version of the Mercury division's Comet. The Montego first appeared as the top-of-the-line midsized Mercury in 1968. Replacing the Comet nameplate almost entirely, (only a single bargain-basement priced Comet remained; the rest were Montegos), it shared a redesigned body with its corporate sibling, the Ford Fairlane, along with its fancier Torino version. Like most domestic cars back then, the Montego was available as a coupe, sedan, station wagon, and convertible.
For consignment a 1969 version of the nearly top of the line Mercury Montego MX. This has a full history of ownership including its transformation to its current muscle status, however it started life as a lowly 302 8 cylinder engine and now has a 331ci V8. During this time the car was treated to a color change to the tune of $12,000, presents very nicely and is a well cared for example, all straight, all black all shiny and all Mercury the sign of the cat! Snarl snarl...
Exterior
Plenty of shiny trimmings for this 69 Merc, especially upfront where the grill is the first to gleam and show up. It undulates inward and outward, and has dual headlights in each front corner. The center is a bump out grouping the open egg crate grille backgrounds in horizontal frame sections and a framed central horizontal badge. A matching shape bumper is below, and all presents in you'll need your sunglasses condition. A long hood sits within the front quarters and gaps are all well minded between the two. A Mercury badge is in the hood's driver's front corner. Chrome, chrome, and more chrome trimming tops of the quarters and running to the back of the car entirely along the sill line undulating with the shape of the car. Thinner chrome trimmings are with the edges of the wheel wells and a nice chromed wide rocker covering is on the bottom. The windows are all surrounded and have black tinted glass within these frames. The roofline is nice and straight with wide B-pillars diving towards the trunk. On the back, rear quarters end in a squared off design. Squared off triangular tail lighting frames either corner on back and these are kept together visually with a horizontal ribbed trimming running across the trunkline and a matching shaped shiny bumper below. Wide dual exhaust peek out of the bottom below this bumper. The paint is all very nicely applied and is smooth as silk with little to no inclusions or scratches. Pure black! Shiny 14-inch American Racing Torque Thrust 5 spoke wheels are wrapped in 225/70R14's all around sporting Cooper Cobra Radial G/T type in raised white letters.
Interior
In contrast to the exterior black, I swing one of the 4 doors and they reveal fully restored aqua vinyl door panels. These have smooth sills and lowers and some vertical stitched tuck and roll panels are gracing the center. Factory actuators, handles, armrests, and cranks are in this field. Slipping inside, I perch myself on a long solid fixed back bench with a central armrest/dual cup holder that resides in the center. This bench is in excellent condition, like new, and is also in aqua not unlike the doors. In back is another full on bench also excellent and also in aqua. In front, a fully customized dash is now installed. It sports a lineup of chrome bezel black face and white letters Dolphin gauges in the round. These are in a nice flat black dash front field. In front is a drilled chromed 3 spoke rally padded steering wheel mounted atop a polished column. The aqua takes over on top in the form of padded dash topping and some of which dives downward after the instruments to make a padded dash form for the middle and passenger side. Just below is a horizontal wood appliqu© panel that houses a modern digital radio, some extra knobs and pulls and ignition with some horizontal air vents. Just below the dash is a Vintage Air/heater control box and panel. Black carpeting is covering the floors and is very nice. Above is a nice and tight darker blue headliner.
Drivetrain
Under the hood in the completely restored engine bay all in semi gloss black I see the newer 331ci V8. It all looks very factory but it's far from that in a much better muscular way. Inside it sports a 281R hydraulic roller cam, a new oil pump and a billet aluminum timing gear set. It has Edelbrock E-Street aluminum heads and roller rockers. On top is a Holley 600cfm 4-barrel carb and on back is a FTI 2800 Stall converter connected to a new 3-speed C4 automatic. On the back to spin the tires is a Ford 8 inch 2.79 rear axle. All looking great with an aluminum radiator, and corrosion free parts attached to the mill including headers and a Flowmaster exhaust.
Undercarriage
A bit of very light surface rust pan the floor pans and inner fenders but certainly structurally sound. We see dual exhaust making its way rearward, independent coil springs suspension in front, and leaf springs for the back. Power disc braking is on all 4 corners and new shocks have been added to this very clean environment underneath.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and a smooth operator. It has nice acceleration, smooth shifting, and braking is bias free on the 4 door sleeper. All functions save for the high beams are in working order.
All buttoned up and fully restored this is a very nice example of the Mercury Montego MX from 1969. Recently restored, it holds its own in our Hallowed Halls, which are plenty full at this point but several standouts are highlighting any hall and this is certainly one of them.
9H10F609505
9-1969
H-Lorain, OH Assy Plant
10-Mercury Montego MX 4 Door Sedan
F-302ci V8 2bbl
609505-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 54D-Montego MX 4 Door Sedan
COLOR E-Light Aqua
TRIM 5K-Light & Dark Aqua Vinyl
DATE 18I-November 18th
DSO 23-Jacksonville
AXLE 3-Ford 8" 2.79 Conventional
TRANS W-C4
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
