By: Robert Tate, award-winning automotive historian and researcher
Images courtesy of Henry Ford Media Archives.
MotorCities Story of the Week
The 1963 Mercury models were great-looking automobiles that offered dramatic new styling and a unique roofline design that the public admired and enjoyed. The 1963 Mercury featured a completely restyled Monterey model with a new front bumper and concave grille, along with new quarter panels, a new rear bumper and great-looking triple taillights. The Monterey series also incorporated several engineering advances designed to reduce maintenance costs, along with increased power and performance that consumers thoroughly enjoyed. One of the most popular Mercury models for the new year was the Breezeway series.
1963 Mercury Breezeway models photo.
1963 Mercury color illustration.
The Breezeway series offered consumers a retractable rear-window design that could be operated from the driver's seat. The window could be lowered to provide additional ventilation and comfort while driving. Breezeway models were offered in the Monterey series in several two-door and four-door configurations. The 1963 Monterey two-door hardtop coupe with Breezeway design sold for $2,930, while the Monterey Custom four-door sedan with Breezeway design started at $3,075.
1963 Mercury Breezeway advertising
1963 Mercury advertising
For 1963, Mercury offered the Monterey, Monterey Custom and Monterey S-55 series, along with the popular Monterey Marauder fastback hardtop. The Marauder was introduced midway through the 1963 model year as a 1963½ model and was available in Monterey, Monterey Custom and S-55 versions. The fastback roofline was one of the Marauder’s most distinctive features and was designed in part with an eye toward improved high-speed aerodynamics for competition.
1963 Mercury Marauder advertising.
The Marauder quickly became one of Mercury’s best-known performance-oriented models. The 1963 Monterey Custom Marauder listed for $3,083, while the S-55 Marauder listed for $3,650. The S-55 version included performance-oriented equipment such as bucket seats and a console, along with the 300-horsepower, 390-cubic-inch V-8.
In 1963, Mercury also offered convertibles in the Monterey Custom and S-55 series, along with the attractive Mercury Colony Park station wagon. The Colony Park featured wood-grain-style side trim and was available as a six- or nine-passenger station wagon. The 1963 Colony Park listed for $3,295 in six-passenger form and $3,365 as a nine-passenger model.
1963 Mercury with race car driver Parnelli Jones. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 races during the 1960’s.
The 1963 Mercury models also had an important connection to professional racing. Parnelli Jones, one of America's most accomplished race car drivers, teamed with legendary Mercury builder Bill Stroppe. Parnelli (August 12, 1933- June 4, 2024) drove a modified Mercury 2-door Fastback # 15 with a 427 cubic engine to compete and race with other drivers on the tracks throughout his career in auto racing. In 1963, Jones drove a Stroppe-prepared Mercury Marauder stock car to victory at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, setting a stock-car speed record in the process. Jones also competed successfully in USAC stock car racing during the 1963 season.
In 1964, Mercury celebrated its 25th anniversary with a revised full-size lineup. The cars carried over much of the previous year's basic design, but Mercury gave the models a new front-end appearance and other styling changes. The Monterey remained the lower-priced full-size Mercury, while the Montclair returned to the lineup and the Park Lane was reintroduced as the top-of-the-line series.
For 1964, the Monterey series started at about $2,819, depending on body style, while Marauder fastback models were available within the Monterey, Montclair and Park Lane lines. The Marauder was also expanded for 1964 to include four-door fastback models.
Mercury also continued its distinctive Breezeway design for 1964. Rather than being a separate series, Breezeway referred to the reverse-slant rear-window design offered on various Mercury body styles. The Montclair returned as an upscale series above the Monterey, while the Park Lane occupied the top position in the full-size Mercury lineup.
1964 Mercury Breezeway photo
1964 Mercury Colony Park station wagon.
The 1964 Park Lane convertible was Mercury's most expensive regular-production model, listing for $3,549. The Colony Park station wagon was again offered with attractive wood-grain-style side trim. Six-passenger Colony Park models listed for $3,434, while nine-passenger models listed for $3,504. Mercury also offered the Commuter station wagon in six- and nine-passenger configurations.
Performance continued to be an important part of Mercury's image in 1964. Buyers could select powerful V-8 engines, including the 427-cubic-inch engine, which was available in high-performance form. The 1964 Marauder, especially when equipped with the 427 and other performance equipment, helped strengthen Mercury's connection to stock car racing.
In conclusion, the 1963 and 1964 Mercury models were memorable automobiles that combined distinctive styling, comfort and performance. The Marauder fastback, the sporty S-55, the luxurious Park Lane and the wood-grain Colony Park station wagon all helped make these Mercury models stand out during the early 1960s. Many people still have great memories of these cars, and today they remain interesting and collectible automobiles for enthusiasts and collectors.
For more information on the Mercury models, please contact the International Mercury Owners Association or www.mercuryclub.com or (847) 997-8624.
Bibliography
Dammann H. George. “fifty Years of Lincoln Mercury” Crestline Publishing 1971.
Langworth M. Richard & Robson Graham. “New Complete book of Collectible Cars 1930-80 Auto Editors of Consumer Guide 1987.
Ford Motor Company. “1963 Mercury sales catalog information” Lincoln Mercury Division 1963.