Mercury Monterey 1955 - 1956
The Mercury XM-800 concept car was designed by John Najjar and first exhibited at the 1954 Chicago Auto Show. The design of the XM-800 heavily influenced Lincoln and Mercury's 1955 and 1956 models. The 1955 Mercury used a 119-inch wheelbase body. Ford's new Y-block V8 was given to the Monterey in 4,778cc (292) for 1955 and 5,115cc (312) for 1956. The Monterey was launched as a 4-door sedan, 2-door and 4-door hardtop, station wagon and convertible. From 1952 the Monterey had been Mercury's top model line but from 1955 it sat below the new Montclair model.
aa Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan badgem
aa Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan badgem
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door - badge on front wing
ac Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan head
ac Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan head
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan. Mercury gave its three model lines the 4,778cc (292) for 1955, and put them all a 119-inch wheelbase.
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan front
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan front
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan. The 4-door sedan was the only 4-door body available for the 1955 Monterey, but for 1956 Mercury added the 4-door Phaeton hardtop and the 4-door Sport Sedan
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan rear
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan rear
Mercury Monterey 1955 4-door sedan. Built on a 119-inch chassis the three Mercury lines shared 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, 4-door phaeton coupe and station wagon bodies for 1955
Mercury Montclair 1955 hardtop front
Mercury Montclair 1955 hardtop front
Mercury Montclair 1955 hardtop, powered by a 4,778cc (292) V8 engine.
Buick Special 1955 Sedan front
Buick Special 1955 Sedan front
Buick Special 1955 Sedan. In 1954 a new Fisher body was developed for GM's B-body cars, and shared between the Buick Special and Oldsmobile 88. In 1955 both cars were given their annual update. It is possible that 'spies' from the British Rootes Group saw this design and plagiarised it for what they regarded as the 'British Buick', the Humber Hawk/Humber Super Snipe.
Plymouth Belvedere 1956 sport sedan front
Plymouth Belvedere 1956 sport sedan front
Plymouth Belvedere Sport Sedan 1956. 1956 Plymouths were built on a 115-inch wheelbase, and the Sport Sedan was the 4-door hardtop
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