- 1966 Hardtop Coupe - 73K miles - 390 V8 - Original Paint - Absolute Time Warp

1966 Mercury Monterey : Low Mile Survivor Car : Description

Here up for bids on eBay is this incredibly well preserved Mercury Monterey. This car has remained in Oregon from new and features all original paint with zero rust issues anywhere. The interior is all original and in outstanding condition. The car runs and drives beautifully and has travelled just 73K miles in 50 years. Cars like this are becoming harder to find, this is one that has slipped through the cracks - the proverbial survivor car.
Click to enlarge any of the photos below, or click here to view a slideshow of all the enlarged images.

For having original paint, this car shines. Finished in 'Polar White', the paint quality is beautiful with excellent depth and gloss. No sun fading, checking or other age related problems. Original paint elimates a lot of guesswork about a car's past, what you see is what your get, and your'e going to like what you see here. The body is arrow straight with excellent panel gaps throughout. I have been over this car from top to bottom and have found no rust issues anywhere - no bubbling, no blistering - no problems. Tires are high quality Coker Classic radials in great shape.

The car was bought new in Bend, Oregon by Eleanor Long. She and her husband Reub were well known Oregonians from a small unicorporated homesteader community named Fort Rock, situated squarely in the center of the state. They were both instrumental in establishing the historical society that has preserved this unique part of Oregon.

Included with the car are the original owners manuals and both sets of keys, one unused. The condition of the data tag in the door jamb (4th photo) kind of serves as a barometer for the rest of the car - undisturbed, original, pristine.

All of the trim is in excellent condition with no dings or damage. Paint quality is fantastic for being original, on close inspection you will find some touched up chips here and there, and a few touched up scrapes down low on the passenger side. None of these jump out at you, the car's overall impression is very strong.

All of the glass are the Ford CarLite originals, even the windshield. None of it shows any damage or hard water spotting, all pieces are in excellent condition. All of the anodized window trim still looks terrific with no hazing or clouding.

Straight and undamaged grill, all 4 headlights are the original FoMoCo branded GE originals from new.

Really beautiful chrome on this car with no trace of pitting anywhere. The bumpers show a few shallow dents down low (none that have broken through the chrome) but overall look terrific. Tail light lenses look like new.
The trunk is all original, some of the spatter paint finish has flaked away, but it's complete and correct with all of the factory jacking equipment.

The interior in this Mercury is like stepping back in time; it's perfectly preserved. From the carpet to the seats to the headliner, the interior is simply excellent.

All gauges work correctly except for the fuel gauge, the car will be delivered with a full tank. Radio, heater and fan work as intended and both side fresh air vent sliders move freely. Lights, signals, wipers, horn, etc - all working correctly.

All of the weatherstripping is original and still in great shape. Door jambs are exceptionally clean. The windows all wind smoothly.

Dash, headliner, visors and anodized trim are all in great condition.

Whether looking around the back seat or under the dash, extreme originality is what you'll find.

The 390 V8 starts on the correct fast idle and runs strongly. This motor makes good power with no ticking, no smoke, no exhaust leaks, and powers this Mercury down the road with authority. The car rides down the road without a squeak or rattle, and the driving experience is really sublime. It feels more like a Cadillac than a Ford product, floating effortlessly with a super smooth ride, fingertip steering and a cloud-like suspension. The car shifts perfectly, brakes well, runs cool - just a really nice American cruiser.

Rebuilt AutoLite carb. Original Rotunda washer bottle and bracker. Buck tag present on firewall. Windshield washer system still functional.

All original wiring with no splices, butt joints or monkeying around, just the way it left the factory.

Extremely solid undercarriage with excellent floors, frame, rockers, etc. Just one of those special survivor cars that make 1966 seem like yesterday.

Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images.

About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you'd want to pay. This auction ends Monday, October 3rd at 10 AM Pacific Time