This 1930 Ford Model A coupe was stored for an extended time before it was built into a hot rod between 2009 and 2017. Highlighting the build is a 401ci Nailhead V8 that is topped by an Offenhauser tri-power intake manifold with three two-barrel Rochester carburetors, and it is linked to a Ford 9″ axle through a T5 five-speed manual transmission. The steel body has a 3″ chop by Iversen Originals and was mounted on Speedway frame rails and painted green, and the car rides on a lowered suspension with American Racing Salt Flat wheels mounted over drums. The interior was redone with panels from Brookville and has a Pioneer sound system and Stewart Warner gauges as well as a tilt-out windshield. Acquired by the seller in 2019, this Model A hot rod is now offered with service records and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
The 401ci Nailhead V8 was rebuilt by Wholesale Automotive Machine with .030″-over pistons, a hydraulic camshaft from TA Performance Products, and Offenhauser finned valve covers from Speedway. The three Rochester carburetors are mounted on an Offenhauser intake manifold, and the seller states they were recently rebuilt, mounted on correct secondary baseplates, and fitted with progressive linkage. The headers are from Sanderson, and the aluminum radiator is a Champion unit.
The steel body was removed from its original frame and repairs were performed before it painted green and mounted on frame rails from Speedway. The 3 ” chop was done by Dave Iversen of Iversen Originals. The lights were replaced as part of the build and ’50 Pontiac blue-dot lenses were utilized, and the car has a tilt-out windshield, a fabric roof, and a windshield visor as well as a body-color grille surround with a stainless-steel insert.
The car rides on a drop front end with components from Speedway including hairpin radius rods, a Super Slide spring, and a polished Panhard bar, and Posies supplied the rear spring and shock mounts for the Ford 9″ axle that was sourced from ’69 Bronco. American Racing 15″ Salt Flat staggered wheels around mounted with Firestone tires, and the front drum brakes are from an F-100. The car also has a Vega-style manual steering box, and the brakes were flushed and adjusted recently.
Interior panels were sourced from Brookville, and the bench seat is trimmed in brown vinyl. Behind the seat is a hidden Pioneer CD stereo and speakers, and the under-dashboard heater was converted into a speaker box.
The steering wheel is mounted on column with an OTB gear finned drop. The Stewart Warner cluster indicates 5,500 miles, and the seller notes that less than 500 miles have been accrued since the build was completed.
The T5 five-speed manual utilizes an adapter kit from Bendtsen’s Transmission Center, and the Traction-Lok rear end has 3.50 gearing according to the seller. The ladder bars are chromed, and there are nicks on the frame. Touch-up paint is included.
The car is titled as a 1930 Ford in California using the serial number 2824613, which is stamped on the body number plate above.
Historical images are presented in the gallery along with build records.
This replica of a Ford Model A convertible was produced by Glassic Industries around 1967, and it has been modified with the installation of a Chevrolet 350ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The blue-over-white car is built on the frame and underpinnings of an International Scout 800A. Equipment includes a white convertible top, staggered-width 15″ wheels, front disc and rear drum brakes, an Edelbrock carburetor, exhaust headers, a roll bar, a B&M shifter, and lap belts. The current owner acquired the car in mid-2023 out of Maryland. This Model A replica is now offered on dealer consignment with a clean Nevada title that describes the car as a 1967 ASVE Ford.
Glassic Industries Inc of West Palm Beach, Florida, began production of its “Contemporary Reproduction” of the Ford Model A in 1966. The cars were built on the chassis and running gear of the International Scout 800A and featured fiberglass bodies. Approximately 300 Scout 152ci four-cylinder–powered examples were built through 1971, according to GlassicAnnex.org. Glassic powered its vehicles with Ford 302ci V8 engines beginning around 1972, and a company called Replicars Inc took over the business in 1975 and produced 302-powered examples through 1980.
The fiberglass bodywork of this replica has been repainted in metallic blue and features a white convertible top, a grille guard, a radiator-surround ornament, fenders, bright bumper-like sections, A-pillar-mounted side mirrors, and diamond-plate running boards as well as headlights, taillamps, and turn signals. The seller notes pitting on some of the brightwork.
Staggered-width 15″ wheels are mounted with 205/65 Sailun Atrezzo SH402 front tires and 295/50 Telstar Turbostar G/T rear rubber. Braking is provided by front discs and rear drums.
The cabin features a bench seat upholstered in white vinyl, which is carried over to the door panels and the dashboard. The interior also has a B&M shifter, lap belts, and a roll bar.
An A1C steering wheel sits ahead of a suite of AutoMeter gauges including a 120-mph speedometer. The five-digit odometer shows 7k miles, and true mileage is unknown.
The Chevrolet 350ci V8 was installed under prior ownership and is augmented by a single Edelbrock carburetor, flame-pattern rocker covers, an aftermarket camshaft, and tubular exhaust headers.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission that was installed under previous ownership. Corrosion is noted on underbody components.
The serial number shown on the identification plate pictured above is in the range of other Glassic Model A–style replicas that are reported to have been built in 1967.
The Nevada title lists the car as a 1967 ASVE Ford.
This Factory Five Racing ’33 Hot Rod was assembled by the seller between 2009 and 2011, and it is comprised of yellow, while, and maroon fiberglass bodywork mounted over a jig-welded tube frame. Power is provided by a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 linked with a four-speed automatic transmission, and the car rides on adjustable coilovers along with 15″ American Racing Salt Flat wheels with Mickey Thompson tires. Wilwood disc brakes and power steering were fitted during the build, and styling details include a raked windshield, white bodyside accents, red pinstriping, a front fender cutout, a black soft top, and triangulated roll hoops. The aircraft-themed cabin features bomber-style seats, quilted red vinyl upholstery, a riveted console, a magneto-style ignition switch, and Classic Instruments gauges. This FFR ’33 Hot Rod is offered with build records and a clean Arizona title in the seller’s name describing the car as a 1933 KINL.
The fiberglass roadster bodywork is finished in yellow with a maroon-outlined white oval accent on the bodysides. Further styling details include a domed hood, a raked windshield, decklid pinstriping, a custom black fabric soft top, a polished grille, LED headlights, and billet side mirrors. Full and cut-out engine covers are included in the sale, and photos of both configurations are provided in the gallery. A “black chrome” finish was applied to the grille, windshield frame, valve covers, supercharger, and front suspension components during the build.
American Racing Salt Flat 15″ wheels wear 26×6″ front and 28×12″ rear Mickey Thompson S/R rubber. The Factory Five Racing ’33 Hot Rod was designed with a focus on high-performance handling, and the seller tells us that this example rides on QA1 adjustable coilovers and unequal-length control arms. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs with yellow Wilwood calipers, and it is equipped with electrically assisted power steering.
The aviation-themed cabin features fixed-back bomber-style seats trimmed in red vinyl with Boeing logos embroidered on the backrests, and triangulated roll hoops and four-point racing harnesses protect the occupants. A riveted center console houses a piston-style shifter, switchgear, and cupholders, and the ignition is actuated via a vintage Bendix Scintilla magneto-style switch.
The Grant steering wheel sits on a tilting column with billet stalks, and a suite of Classic Instruments Moal Bomber Series gauges is mounted on the dashboard fascia. The odometer shows approximately 3,100 miles, which represents the mileage accumulated since the completion of the build.
The 4.6-liter “Modular” V8 breathes through a Roots-style supercharger and a custom air intake, and a “black chrome” finish was applied to the aforementioned induction components. A billet accessory drive setup sits between the engine and the aluminum radiator, and further details include MSD ignition, stainless-steel headers, a lithium battery, an AutoTrend EFI ignition system, Infinitybox wiring, and a dual exhaust system with four polished finishers. Pinstriping adorns the underside of the hood, and various underhood components have been chromed or polished. The intake piping is disconnected.
Power is routed through a four-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 8.8″ solid rear axle. Photos of the body-color belly pans and boxed triangulated crossmembers are displayed in the gallery.
Photos taken during the build process are provided in the gallery.
Open-top driving is one of the finest motoring pleasures. Just imagine yourself driving along the coastal roads on warm summer evenings, enjoying the views and sitting behind the wheel of a sporty, two-seater convertible that drips with style and presence. Even though true roadsters are rare nowadays, they are still relevant since their driving dynamics are unique. Let’s see what cars created this class, what the most desirable examples are, what roadsters you should invest in, and their place in the automotive landscape.
MG B
Photo Credit: Pinterest
One of the most popular and typical British roadsters from the ’60s is the MG B. Introduced in 1962, MG B was a fairly modern car with unibody construction, a roomy interior, and decent suspension and steering. Some contemporary tests call MG B underpowered, and 95 hp from a 1.8-liter engine certainly isn’t much, but since the car weighs only 2200 lbs, it can keep up with modern traffic. MG produced over 400,000 of all variants, so finding one won’t be a problem.
Austin Healey Sprite Mk1
Photo Credit: AutoWP
The little, bug-eyed Sprite Mk1 is a tiny roadster with two seats, a cramped interior, and a small trunk. It weighs 1500 lbs and is powered by a 943 ccm engine with 45 hp. Yes, we know it sounds like a joke. But, the Sprite Mk1 was an immensely popular roadster back in its day, and people here loved it for its compact size, peppy engine, nice driving dynamics, and pure driving feel.
BMW Z3
Photo Credit: Edmunds
Roadsters became pretty popular in the ’90s, with Mazda Miata showing the way, and all relevant car companies wanted a piece of the action. Using the E36 Compact 3 Series platform and rear suspension out of the old E30 model and covering it with a sexy new open-top body, BMW created the first Z3 model. The result was a stylish convertible with two seats, a lineup of potent four and six-cylinder engines, lightweight, and excellent driving dynamics. The car was significantly more expensive than the Miata but also faster and more luxurious.
Honda Beat
Photo Credit: Honda
The spiritual successor of the classic Honda S600 roadster is the ’90s Honda Beat. Introduced in 1991 and sold until 1996, the Beat was a small, elegant roadster with a displacement of just 660 cm and 63 hp. At just 1,656 pounds, it was immensely fun to drive, and over 33,000 were made in the five-year production run.
Triumph Spitfire
Photo Credit: Flickr
This legendary roadster was introduced in 1962 and powered by a pretty diminutive 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine with 63 hp. Over the years, the power grew to the 1.5-liter engine with 71 hp and more torque, which improved the driving dynamics. Like all other British roadsters, the biggest market was the US, and from 314,000 made, most ended up here. This means the Spitfire is easy to come by and inexpensive to purchase.
Mercedes SL R129
Photo Credit: Car Domain
What do you get when looking for a luxurious and powerful roadster? The mid-’90s SL 600 with V12 engine. Today, those cars are significantly cheaper, but not for long, since more and more people have realized how good the SL 600 is. If you want a bit lower price and maintenance costs, look for a V8-powered SL 500, which is almost as good to drive.
Mazda Miata
Photo Credit: Net Car Show
One of the most successful stories in the car industry must be the tale about Mazda’s Miata roadster and how this little car changed the world and became a best-selling open-top model in history, passing the 1 million mark in 2013. The Miata’s secret was simplicity, lightweight, and balance. Mazda didn’t try to invent something new; they just copied the basic concept of a classic British roadster, added modern materials and design, and made the whole thing dependable and agile. With 116 hp from a twin-cam 1.6-liter engine, it may not sound as much, but in a 2,200 lb car, it’s more than enough.
Triumph TR6
Photo Credit: Trade Classics
If the Spitfire was Triumph’s roadster for the masses, the TR6 was a car for a serious lover of open-air driving and speed. The Spitfire could be considered underpowered despite weighing only 1500 lbs, but the TR6 had decent power and convincing performance straight out of the box. Production ended in 1976 after more than 90,000 were made, and today, TR6 is a popular choice for classic roadster fans who want old-school looks and feel but with decent performance and speed.
Datsun Fairlady Roadster
Photo Credit: AutoWP
One of the most interesting Japanese copies of European cars was a cute and compact Datsun Fairlady Roadster built from 1959 to 1970, also known as Datsun Sports. However, Datsun did more than just copy the British. It gave the little roadster some significant power with the 2.0-liter engine, better handling, and driving dynamics. Most importantly, it guaranteed the quality of the cars, which is something that British examples had difficulties with.
Alfa Romeo Spider
Photo Credit: Mecum
Introduced in 1966, the Alfa Romeo Spider was an Italian answer to the popularity of British roadsters. Eventually, it became globally popular and became an Alfa Romeo model with the longest production run. While the rest of the roadsters vanished from the American market, Alfa managed to sell Spiders in 1994, which shows how popular this car was here. The engine choices ranged from 1.3 to 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 105 to 130 hp. Earlier cars had carburetors, and later models had fuel injection systems.
Porsche Boxster
Photo Credit: Car And Driver
It has been almost 30 years since Porsche introduced this roadster; it is safe to say that the Boxster revolutionized the concept of an open-top fun car and stood the test of time as a future classic that you can own today. The Boxster has a mid-mounted flat-six engine, perfect balance, two trunks, and sublime handling. Since the base 2.5-liter delivers a healthy 200 hp, it makes even the most affordable Boxsters pretty agile, fast, and exciting to drive, especially if paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Fiat 124 Spider
Photo Credit: Mecum
Introduced in 1966 and sold in America until 1985, the Fiat 124 Spider was designed by Pininfarina and built on the 124 Sedan platform. The mechanics were pretty straightforward, with a twin-cam engine, 4-speed manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive. The 124 Spider was one of the more comfortable options, featuring a roomy cabin, big trunk, and good ride quality, so nice examples are sought after.
Honda S2000
Photo Credit: Wiki
This model was a valid driver’s car with all the important features like lightweight construction, ideal weight distribution, powerful and rev-happy engine, and razor-sharp handling in an elegant open-top package. Under the hood was a 2.0 or 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 hp, which was the car’s main selling point. Thanks to intelligent engineering and lightweight, the S2000 had respectable performance and perfect handling, for which it was universally praised.
Mercedes SL R107
Photo Credit: Wiki
This generation was in production from 1971 to 1989 and is very common. The engine choices include one six-cylinder engine and several V8s, including the range-topping 560 V8. We recommend you find a 450 or 500 V8 engine since they are the most popular and offer the best combination of power and efficiency.
Sunbeam Alpine
Photo Credit: Net Car Show
One of the classic roadster class’s most fascinating but forgotten models is the Sunbeam Alpine, an English two-seater convertible built from 1959 to 1968. The Sunbeam is a classic English brand, long gone from the market and remembered by only a handful of enthusiasts. But Alpine is a very nice-looking car with dependable and conventional mechanicals and a small 1.5—or 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine.
Chrysler Crossfire SRT6
Photo Credit: Chrysler
Do you remember Chrysler Crossfire? In 2004, Crossfire was a Mercedes SLK with a different body but the same mechanics and drive train. Even though the press didn’t like the car, one version with proper performance credentials was the Crossfire SRT6. The SRT6 was, as expected, an SLK, but this time, it was AMG, which meant that it was equipped with an AMG-prepared V6 engine delivering 330 hp, performance-tuned suspension, brakes, and other components.
Jensen Healey
Photo Credit: Flickr
In a desperate attempt to save the company, Jensen launched the Jensen Healey roadster in 1972. Under the hood was a 2.0-liter Lotus-derived engine with around 100 hp and modest performance. However, the modern design and nice stance attracted buyers. As with all British cars from the ’70s, the Healey had problems with rust and electrics, which is why they are cheap today.
Fiat 850 Spider
Photo Credit: Auto Evolution
Fiat has always been one of the best producers of superminis and compact cars, often making sportier, open-top versions for keen buyers. This is exactly what the 850 Spider is. Despite looking like a toy compared to other full-size cars of the period, the 850 Spider was a capable driving machine because it was so light and nimble. With just 49 hp, the car couldn’t outrun any Porsches, but since it was so small, it could provide much driving excitement.
Pontiac Solstice
Photo Credit: GM
Although the Solstice roadster couldn’t save the company or become a sales hit, it is still one of the best Pontiacs ever made and a very competent little car with great potential. Imagined as a little sports convertible to fight the Audi TT and BMW Z4, the Solstice was, in fact, faster and nimbler than most of its rivals. With a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and 260 hp on tap, the Solstice had vivid performance and competent handling.
Toyota MR2
Photo Credit: Top Speed
One of the most compact and affordable sports cars with an open top is the Toyota MR2. Toyota introduced it in 1984 and sold it until 2007 in three generations. The MR2 was always a great-handling, lively-performing two-seater model with great driving dynamics. The last generation was known to be tricky to drive, but it was still enormous fun and provided owners with endless hours of open-top driving.
Both Chevrolet and Ford introduced forward-control trucks in 1961. They were not similar aside of being based on their respective compacts. Ford’s Falcon-based Econoline was entirely conventional, while the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbriar van and Corvair 95 trucks were the polar opposite. The latter included the Corvan and two pickups: Loadside and Rampside. “Driver’s up front . . . engine’s in the rear . . . all the rest is load space!” read one brochure, touting the cubic-feet of load space assisted by the flat floor and elimination of the hood.
While the Corvan was the commercial van Corvair (and the Greenbriar the civilian van), the Loadside and Rampside were the pickup truck versions of the same vehicle. The Loadside was a typical pickup with a gate in the rear. Contrast this with the Rampside, which featured both the rear gate plus a side gate that dropped down to form a ramp for easy loading and unloading. Chevrolet claimed 1,900 cargoes were cake, with gross vehicle weight being a robust 4,600 pounds—impressive for a 145ci flat-six.
Power for the 1961 Corvair was either an air-cooled, 80-horsepower Turbo-Air 6 (available with three-speed, four-speed, or Powerglide) or 98-horse Super Turbo Air 6 (ditto), but the Corvair Greenbriar and 95s made do with the former.
Chevrolet touted advantages that only its rear-engined truck could espouse, like low, accessible loading height and driver comfort due to the engine being in the rear (versus between the two front seats, like on the Econoline). Of course, another notable feature was the four-wheel independent suspension with transaxle. A first for a U.S. truck, the suspension added “stability to truck performance and to take the roughness out of road surfaces.”
Each of the Corvair trucks had different production lifespans: the Greenbriar was produced from 1961-65, while the Corvan was available through 1964. For the pickups, the Loadside was only available 1961-62, while the Rampside was produced through 1964.
This 1961 Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside stands out from the others due to the four-speed manual backing the 80-horse six. The two-tone paint just looks right, and it’s complemented by the chrome grille and optional chrome bumpers (white was standard). Other features include “West Coast” mirrors, rhino-lined bed, and mag wheel covers, a post-1965 addition. “Spotless interior, optional heater, AM/FM radio, and blinkers,” says the seller. Blinkers? Nonetheless, “the underside is very clean.”
For 1964, Chevrolet introduced a more conventional Chevy-Van based on the Chevy II (with the family-oriented Sportvan appearing the following year), though a pickup was never offered. That makes this 1961 Rampside quite unique. While the 10,787 built (the peak during its existence) sounds somewhat generous, the Rampside was a disposable workhorse so they are few and far between. For $27,500 (sans the Corvair Monza GT go-kart), this is a fine conversation piece at car shows and landscaping jobs alike.
AutoHunter Cinema brings you an up-close look at one of the cars most kids had a poster of on their wall back in the day: a 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10. Like its spiritual ancestor, the Shelby Cobra, it was a raw performance machine with muscular curves, but it also had something that made it unique.
Under that massive hood is a 400-horsepower 8.0-liter V10 that blasts its output to the wide rear tires through a 6-speed manual gearbox. This iconic piece of rolling ‘90s nostalgia sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2024 Scottsdale Fall Auction for $33,000.
While many cars from the Malaise era in the 1980s weren’t known for performance (emissions regulations, after all, caused almost all manufacturers to dial back engine sizes in the interest of fuel efficiency). But one thing that American manufacturers excelled at was cabin comfort – I will never forget the look and feel of the six-passenger velour interior of my Chevrolet Celebrity.
Other GM cars of the era, including Oldsmobiles, had the same idea.
Plant yourself on the plush driver seat, complete with tufted brown cloth upholstery. Then, look around, where soft finishes continue to the carpeted door panels and even a carpeted dash mat. The cabin is the kind of place you could enjoy a cross-country drive without getting the slightest bit fatigued.
The 98 (later stylized as Ninety-Eight, then Ninety Eight) was the full-size flagship model for Oldsmobile. Its origins date back to 1940, and the name was chosen because the car was on the “Series 90” platform and had an eight-cylinder engine. The car’s 10th generation ran from 1977 to 1984 and was offered a two-door coupe and as a four-door sedan.
Reportedly owned by the same family since 1988, this Ninety-Eight is a largely original, garage-kept time capsule of the Malaise era, when wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, wood-grain trim and a multitude of ash trays were the defining characteristics of high-end automotive status.
One Oldsmobile advertisement said, “Luxury carried to its most logical conclusion.” It went on to say: “A luxury car, happy to report, can still be a most logical purchase. That’s the Olds point of view behind the new Ninety-Eight Regency. Most logical of all is that you needn’t be extravagant to get the elegance you want. And with Regency, the niceties – from air conditioning and power accessories to its richly appointed interior – are all standard.”
Power comes from a 5.0-liter carbureted V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Oldsmobile rated the car at 140 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque when new. The car has accrued 140,000 miles (although its five-digit odometer has rolled over, so it only shows 40,000). The CARFAX report starts in 1992 in Florida and shows ownership in Michigan beginning in 2009.
If you’re ready to treat yourself to the 1980s version of executive travel, your opportunity is ready for the taking.
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In a momentary lapse of reason, I sold my ’71 Cutlass S custom (a rare “post coupe” model) in October 2019 after 16 years of ownership. The buyer was a guy in Tucson, Arizona, and I shipped the car to him. It was rather traumatic.
Later, knowing I’d be in Tucson on business, I reached out to the owner, hoping to visit my old ride while in town. Coincidentally, he had just put the vehicle up for sale, consigning it to Hi-Speed Rods & Customs, a high-end restoration shop in Tucson. I spent over an hour there reuniting with the Cutlass and checking out a bunch of other cool custom rides in the shop.
When I sold the Cutlass, it had a long list of performance upgrades, including a pro-built 455 with Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum cylinder heads, Art Carr 200-4R Extreme Duty overdrive transmission, 12-bolt rear end with Eaton posi-traction and 3.55 ratio gears, front disc brake conversion, MagnaFlow Performance 3-inch dual with Tru-X pipe and more.
Although the Cutlass needed nothing to cruise/show when purchased, the current owner spent over $25,000 in parts/labor on a large list of upgrades, including a completely new powder-coated frame, four-corner coilovers with front tubular control arms, Sniper fuel injection, Vintage heat/air conditioning, a Be Cool aluminum radiator with twin Spal fans and more.
Sadly, through our communication while I was in town, I learned the current owner was under distress with his wife’s medical situation. He originally turned down my considerably lower-than-asking-price offer to buy the car back but then accepted it after further consideration.
I hired InterCity Lines to enclose ship the Cutlass approximately 2,700 miles from the shop in Tucson to my home in Southern New Hampshire, where it now joins my other three joy rides.
Although the original buyer/now seller and I share quite the special relationship, we still have not met in person!
Even though the Germans invented the automobile back in 1886, British engineers and brands gave it a unique perspective and helped create the car industry as we know it today. It is very unusual that such an influential car industry has lost almost all of its specific brands, and very few British brands are actually owned by UK owners. However, remember how this small island created automotive history and presented cars enthusiasts still lust after.
Jensen Interceptor FF
Photo Credit: AutoWp
One of the best British Gran Turismo cars ever built was the Jensen Interceptor. With its Italian styling by Vignale, massive size, superb comfort, and powerful Chrysler 383 or 440 V8 engine in the front, this four-seater coupe was one of the fastest and most comfortable cars for crossing continents in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The latter part of the name comes from Ferguson Formula, which means that this model is equipped with all-wheel drive and an early form of ABS brakes. In 1966, this was space-age technology.
Nineteen fifty-seven is a popular year for many American brands, but not for Mercury. That was the year Mercury unveiled its series with “Dream-Car Design,” but enthusiasts and collectors tend to look elsewhere for Atomic Age greatness. Our Pick of the Day is one of these dark horse classics: a 1957 Mercury Montclair. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Greely, Colorado. (Click on the link to view the listing)
Mercury might as well be known as “Sybil” because Ford Motor Company gave it several images that made it seem the brand had multiple personality disorder. Initially created to fill a gap between Ford and the Lincoln Zephyr, Mercury eventually grew into a junior Lincoln, then had its own exclusive bodies, then evolved into a premium Ford after the Edsel debacle, back and forth. After spending several years in the shadows of its competition (if not Ford) in the 1950s, Mercury was poised to make a splash for 1957 with its own unique interpretation of personal transportation.
“Styled to influence the shape of cars for years to come,” the “Big M” 1957 Mercury featured styling reflected by the 1956 XM-Turnpike Cruiser show car. Canted taillights leading to “projectile side theme” rear fenders were unusual, even for 1957. Available “Quadri-Beam” quad headlights was a forward-thinking feature. “Keyboard Control” push-button automatic transmission was a contemporary option that’s more commonly seen as a Mopar feature. A new power seat option featured a dial to save your seat setting.
Under the hood, Mercury appeared to step up to the plate and greet Chrysler in the horsepower wars: a “Safety Surge” 312 four-barrel with 259 horsepower was standard, with a 290-horse “Turnpike Cruiser” with four-barrel being optional for the Monterey and Montclair. On top of that, buyers could specify the M-335 power package that included dual-quads and 335 horsepower.
Speaking of Turnpike Cruiser, that also was the name of a new, special Mercury model that sat above Monterey and Montclair. Said to have been named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, this new flagship featured every power item offered by Mercury, including the following:
The “Monitor Control Panel” dashboard was ‘driver-planned” with tachometer, and featured a “Average-Speed Computer Clock,” which worked both as a timepiece and a speed calculator. The steering wheel also featured a recessed hub for better vision and safety.
The “Skylight Dual-Curve Windshield” wrapped upwards, as well as around, and was flanked by twin antennas atop the A-pillars.
“Breezeway Ventilation” brought air in through “supplementary roof-level air intakes.” Air flowed out through a retractable, power-operated backlite on hardtops.
In the collector car world, the Turnpike Cruiser garners the most attention, leaving cars like this 1957 Mercury Montclair Phaeton Coupe (Mercury’s way of saying “two-door hardtop”) to fend for themselves. Painted in Classic White with a Fiesta Red top and gold-hued side sculpting, “this often-overlooked gem of ‘50s Americana boasts its original 368-cubic inch V8, one of the largest, most powerful engines on the market at the time, producing 290 horsepower and mated to a Keyboard Control automatic transmission,” says the seller. Note the optional quad headlights.
He also calls the car a “survivor”—is it? Or just a loose use of the word to suggest “unrestored?” This under-appreciated piece of 1950s glitz certainly deserves your attention and, if its space-age styling doesn’t do it for ya, maybe the $9,999 asking price will.
