Mercury Montego

The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The nameplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar expanded its lineup. During the mid-2000s, the Montego name was revived for a full-size car; it was rebranded the Sable for 2008.

First generation (1968–1971)

1968–1971
1969 Mercury Montego 2-door hardtop
Overview
Production	1968–1971
Body and chassis
Class	Intermediate
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door wagon 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford Torino
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	116.0 in (2,946 mm) 113.0 in (2,870 mm) (wagon)[1]
Length	206.0 in (5,232 mm) 204.0 in (5,182 mm) (wagon)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Comet
Successor	Mercury Cougar (sedan & wagon) Mercury Monarch (coupe)

The Montego was introduced for 1968 as an upscale version of the intermediate Mercury Comet, which it eventually supplanted after 1969. It was essentially a twin of the Ford Torino. The Cyclone was a high performance variant of the Montego through 1971.

The 1968 models were available in four body styles: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop, station wagon and convertible, in base and fancier MX trim. In 1969, a luxury MX Brougham trim level was added. also in 1969 there was a ski-pac special not just the mx that came with a 351, posi trac system and a heavy duty heater

For 1970, the convertible was dropped, but new four-door hardtops and woodgrained MX Villager station wagon were added to the model selection. The 1970 and 1971 Montegos (and Cyclones) were notable for their striking forward-thrusting hood and grille centers. Concealed headlamps provided extra distinction for 1970 Broughams and Villagers.

1969 Mercury Montego MX Villager station wagon

1969 Mercury Montego MX convertible

Second generation (1972-1976)

1972–1976
1974 Mercury Montego MX Brougham
Overview
Production	1972–1976
Body and chassis
Class	Intermediate
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door fastback coupe
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford Torino Mercury Cougar
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8[1][2]
Transmission	3-speed automatic 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.0 in (2,997 mm) (sedan, wagon) 114.0 in (2,896 mm) (coupe, convert.)[2]
Length	223.1 in (5,667 mm) (sedan, wagon) 215.5 in (5,474 mm) (coupe, convert.)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Comet Mercury Cyclone
Successor	Mercury Cougar (sedan & wagon) Mercury Monarch (coupe)

The 1972 Montego (and Torino, which the Montego very closely resembled)^[3] was fully restyled. Whereas previous Montegos (except wagons) had been produced on a single wheelbase with unitized construction, the 1972-1976 models were built body-on-frame and used a 114-inch (2,900 mm) span for coupe models, 118 inches for sedans and wagons. Although Ford called the four-door sedans "pillared hardtops", they used a thin "B" pillar with frameless door glass, and true four-door hardtops were not offered in this generation. In 1972 and 1973, a sporty fastback coupe called Montego GT (mirroring Ford's Gran Torino SportsRoof) was offered, replacing the Cyclone. 1972 sales were up 136% over the previous year,^[4] with the MX Brougham showing enormous increases, almost 897% in the 2-door and nearly 1,021% in the 4-door.^[4]

Montego sales through 1973 remained good, but were subsequently depressed by gas mileage concerns, and in-house competition from a restyled 1974 Cougar cast in the personal luxury mold and built on the Montego's platform with similar styling, and the more efficient Monarch introduced for 1975. For 1977, the Montego name was dropped, with Mercury's restyled intermediates all taking the Cougar name.

Six-cylinder engines were offered in Montegos through 1973. V8 power—up to a massive 460 cubic inches from 1974 forward—was available throughout the entire run.

1974 Mercury Montego MX Villager station wagon

Interior view, 1974 Mercury Montego MX Brougham hardtop

Mercury Montego GT

Third generation (2005–2007)

2005–2007 (D333)
2005 Mercury Montego Premier
Overview
Also called	Ford Five Hundred
Production	2005–2007
Assembly	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	Ford D3 platform
Related	Ford Taurus Ford Freestyle Volvo S60 Volvo S80
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L Duratec 30 V6 203 hp
Transmission	Ford/ZF CVT 6-speed Aisin automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112.9 in (2,868 mm)
Length	200.4 in (5,090 mm)
Width	74.5 in (1,892 mm)
Height	61.5 in (1,562 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Sable
Successor	Mercury Sable

After a twenty-nine year hiatus, the Mercury division revived the Montego name for the 2005 model year. Along with the smaller Mercury Milan, the Montego was slotted in the Mercury lineup as the replacement for the Sable. A twin of the Ford Five Hundred, it was classified as a large car, making it the first new full-size Mercury since 1992.

Starting at an MSRP of $25,000, the Montego openly differed from the Grand Marquis. Compared to its counterpart, it was a foot shorter, six inches narrower, five inches taller, and had five seats instead of six. Instead of rear-wheel drive powered by a V8 engine, the Montego came standard with a 3.0L Duratec V6; an all-wheel drive system was an option. Front-wheel drive versions were equipped with a 6-speed Aisin AW F21++ automatic while AWD versions were equipped with a ZF CVT.

In contrast to the Five Hundred, the Montego was produced in two trim levels: Luxury (standard) and Premier (deluxe).

The Montego was built in Chicago, alongside its former cousins, the Ford Five Hundred and Ford Freestyle crossover. This plant formerly built both the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. The Montego was marketed in the US and Mexico as well as Canada. The car was praised by owners and received generally positive reviews.^[5] But to an ever greater degree than the Ford Five-Hundred, the Montego experienced lackluster sales through the 2005 and 2006 model years, attributed mainly to a lack of customer recognition.

Sales

Discontinuation

Along with a minor redesign, the 2008 Five Hundred was renamed the Taurus, and the Montego was renamed the Sable as it was felt that these long-standing nameplates had better consumer recognition. The new Sable went on sale in Summer 2007 and featured a new 3.5L V6 already available in the smaller Lincoln MKZ.

Use in competition

A Mercury Montego fielded by Wood Brothers Racing.

In the 1968 NASCAR Grand National stock car season, the fastback Fairlane body style proved much slicker than other makes, but the nose of the Mercury Cyclone Fastback was the main reason pointed to it being even slightly faster than its Ford counterpart. Cale Yarborough drove a Wood Brothers Cyclone to victory in the Daytona 500, and the Mercury bodies would remain a major force in NASCAR through 2 generations of bodies. The battle over aerodynamics would prompt Chrysler to respond with specialized "winged wonder" Daytona and Superbird bodies after its own fastback bodies proved disappointing.^[8]

References

• Encyclopedia of American Cars by Publications International, ISBN 0-7853-6275-4
• Standard Catalog of Ford 1903-1998 by Krause Publications, ISBN 0-87341-636-8

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercury Montego.

• MyFord500/Taurus - The first Mercury Montego & Ford Five Hundred enthusiast web site
• Mercury Montego Project Car and Technical Articles