1959 Mercury Monterey 

[@automatedelectronics6062]

I guess that you are still stuck on the Beach Boys? The song is "Wendy". The lyrics continue: 'Oh, Wendy, Wendy left me alone (hurts so bad)'.

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah buddy congratulations you got it California has been on my mind with the fires everyone out there are in our thoughts and prayers

[@nevco8774]

The years of 1959 and 1960 are known for a very interesting mixture of style elements from 1950ties and 1960ties. The curves from 1950ties are still there but one have to search for them. The flashy, choppy flatness from 1970ties is very far away. The weird unpredictable shapes of 1960ties are almost there but are very hard to spot without a trained eye. Awesome period of American classic car design!

[@DSP1968]

I just LOVE these cars! I'm a Mercury guy, and they are among my favorite big Mercs. Their design is just so space age and exuberant to me. This is a really nice example of the most common body for '59, the Monterey 4-door sedan. I love the color combination. Someone certainly spent a lot of time, money and effort getting that car to look like new. Impressive.

[@20CentMotors]

its interesting how the 59 Buick resembles the 59 Mercury in the rear fins and the wrap around glass

[@What.its.like.]

It’s like who copied who.. the XM Turnpike cruiser came out first

[@winstonelston5743]

And the curved top of the A-pillar. I believe Mercury was the first US manufacturer to use modern parallel-sweep wipers.

[@ronnieroberts9478]

Very good video thank you😊

[@stephenholland5930]

A fantastic Mercury and pretty cool-looking for a 4 door sedan. Would prefer the 2 door hardtop Cruiser.

[@What.its.like.]

I've never saw the cruiser model in person

[@danielcheatham3400]

I think fender skirts would be awesome on this car. I believe this color is lilac

[@hcombs0104]

For WYR, it’s the Mercury for me. Mostly for nostalgia. My paternal grandmother drove the same model, only it was powder blue. And it was HUGE…a veritable Land Yacht. I was fascinated with that huge windshield and how the speedometer acted like a thermometer. But in my six-year-old mind, I was convinced the radio antenna should not be bent back like that since all other cars had them straight up and down on the front fender. I should “fix” it for my grandmother! So one Saturday afternoon I sat on top of the fender and tried to bend it the “right” way. What I wound up doing instead was popping it out of the fender…shocked, I got the hell away from that car and kept quiet about it! How I got away with it I’ll never understand because I was the obvious culprit, being the only boy and fascinated with cars even then.

[@rdmineer1]

My family had two 1959 Mercury. Dad had the Monterey, white with blue interior, two-door base with 312 three on the tree. It was huge. He found Mom a Park Lane, white with tan interior, MEL 383 3-speed auto. THANK YOU, JAY, FOR THIS TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

[@rdmineer1]

Front design was cleaner than the leading Turnpike Cruisers of '57 & '58, and the rear treatment maxed out. To a 7yo me, glowing white, finding one of these in a parking lot was like walking up on a starship.

[@rdmineer1]

My favorite seat was curled up behind the driver using the hump for pillow. There are five other kids back there so I just got down out of the way. Besides, the heater blew right under the seat.

[@What.its.like.]

I'm happy that I was able to bring these memories back to you. Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us

[@claztube]

My family in the early sixties drove my two brothers and I in the 1959 Galaxie 500* which this car's front clip is very much similar in appearance. Though this Merc is more over-the-top in, for one instance the hood or scoop design of the headlamps especially if you add in the bright work in the surround. * best I can recall our Galaxie 500 was a two door model and I am saying so because I for sure remember how the front passenger seat backs folded forward to allow us rug muffins access in our dash to be seated at the widow. I was the yougest so I ultimately had the center seat. My dad painted cars for a living back then and for most of his viable healthy working life, our 500 had thanks to Pop, a unique dark green finish, almost black unless in full sunlight. Dad introduced a mystical salting of gold metal flake in the spray that in said sunlight as well under any light at night, that's when the car took on its mystical transition from a blacked out shadow to an explosion of illuminous golden brilliance. With the high toxicity of the solvents and such in his enviorment which OSHA had yet to seriously recognize, and which Pop only took a modicum of concern for he would become afflicted with bone cancer. (R.I.P Robbie, his moniker on his coveralls) Of course upon buying our first car Pop was all in if we went on his weekends off, which the shop owner allowed access to use the shop in order to refinish in a color of our choice our baby so long as we put in the muscle to prep and assist in clean up before returning home for the evening supper. Sanding and more sanding of our baby's body prepping for the primer coat. Then back at it again sanding the primer coat ceaselessly... Something you never forget! Putting the palm of your hand on the skin after sanding ad naseum, rubbing your skin upon the skin of your first car, being taught how to feel imperfections and when to know when you had it just right. I was not anywhere near competant in this process as it seemed to be something you just had or you didn't. Gee, I find salty secretions are oozing from my tear ducts just now...

[@asteverino8569]

So much design detailing in the body and interior. So many shapes stamped out of the sheet metal. And those boomerang taillights. That shape was everywhere back then. Don't know if it was called boomerang 🪃 then though. The different cut outs offered for the back glass was amazing. The interior colors are a great match for the dusty rose exterior, I think. Not the more common pink and black of the day. Thanks Jay.

[@wiiambarnarx8485]

Do the 58 model. That was wild styling at its best. 57 as well. All three have the v shaped taillights.

[@mr.lincoln5154]

I agree, the 58 was my fav of the 57-59 Mercs.

[@tedecker3792]

The side scooped fin grew from 57 to 58 to 59.

[@claztube]

Pause @7:25 and take in the detail in the wheel covers, cursive script, bling medallions, it all for me is positively jazzy... is that a word? I don't think I'd say classy... but I can see and hear a saxophone playing in my head looking at this front corner view of the Monterey 🎶🎷

[@What.its.like.]

The very end of the all these videos ( started doing this half way through last year) have all the up close detail you never get to see all in slowmo

[@allenwayne2033]

I'll take the wide-track Catalina! My great uncle had a 59.

[@niki_todorov]

Great video! In the future, can you always check from what material the dash is made and / or upholstered. I honestly have no idea when the cars from the early 60s start having plastic dashes. I am a fan of the metal skull crushers.😅😂

[@buffdelcampo]

Ford products started having optional padded dashes in 1956. I think standard padded dashes were in 1965.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you I will definitely have to do that to the next batch of videos classic auto mall is 5 1/2 hours away from me so when I go there, I try to do as many cars as I can in a day I did 10 that day plus have other stuff from earlier =) have stuff from Hershey because there is music playing. I shot it different way and it takes me way longer to put those episodes together so I'm just been trying to peppering them in. Things to look forward from Hershey that are still in the pipeline 1926 Bugatti type 35 1959 Chrysler 300 1934 Chrysler imperial

[@ernielaw]

A family friend owned a light green 1959 Monterey which they later traded in on a new 1965 Delta 88. I recall riding in the Monterey when I was 4 years old, but would have appreciated it more if I was older. My car of choice shown here would be the DeSoto because it is the rarest.

[@P_RO_]

Full-size cars back then were massive and heavy but had a smoothness in ride which nothing today can match. The 'jet age' styling is evident but moderated. Not sure about the brake booster but the dual-circuit master cylinder wouldn't be stock. A/C was still uncommon back then, incomprehensible as that is today. A very nice car for a long highway cruise if you can afford the gas or for a drive-in movie night! WYR I like the Catalina both for it's unique Pontiac style and the 389.

[@winstonelston5743]

Yeah but that same spooky hitchhiker that keeps turning up at every intersection?

[@P_RO_]

@@winstonelston5743 I didn't see a button or knob for the Twilight Zone setting but I'm sure it's there...

[@winstonelston5743]

@@P_RO_ Look up _The Twilight Zone_ season one episode sixteen, "The Hitchhiker". One of the most unsettling half-hours in the history of classic television. Inger Stevens character is taking a cross-country road trip in a '59 Mercury Monterrey....

[@ROXXXSTARCorvette8776]

Mercury for me followed by the Pontiac.

[@mossi408]

I am truly a Mopar guy, so the DeSoto is the car, I would choose.

[@luisvelasco316]

WYR: I'd take the "wide track" Pontiac. Good song; I'd listen to it All Summer Long !

[@What.its.like.]

California is been on my mind with all those fires. There's absolutely no reason for it. Super sad to see the Palisades are gone. I never got this in person. Sweet choice

[@marekhlavackovi3677]

The engine option seam kind of disappointing, I was expecting a bit more power with the top of the line engine. Maybe the 430 MEL from the t-bird

[@What.its.like.]

I concur I was shocked to see the 312 Y block

[@JamesAllmond]

Sweet, now if you could just find a wagon! (I grew up in a 59 Mercury Commuter w/ a 383 engine, Identical to the one on the right at 1:09) 59 Mercury

[@What.its.like.]

Funny you should say that I found a wagon I just found one going to see if I can do it maybe next week

[@dougtunison]

That generator light occasionally glowing at an idle was a sign it was time to replace the brushes in the generator :)

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for adding that I often wondered why some cars did that now I know

[@claztube]

Under the Hood/Bonnet, you had not noted that getting to the spark plugs seemed nye impossible. Cars of the day likely only went through one set possibly two before you retired that model as a trade-in at the dealer for the next generation Monterey or (?)... Then the dealer would likely do a tune up before putting it up for sale on their used car lot.

[@nevco8774]

Unfortunately, there are reasons we don't see so many cars like this on the road: they were very prone to rust, engine resources were good for a much shorter time than today, abuse, destroyed by accidents, people did think those are just old rusted buckets for a long time before considering them collectible.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing all of that insight greatly appreciate it I don't like it but I'm old enough to remember before eBay, having to go to junkyards to find things lol it's crazy now junkyards don't even let you in most of them don't because there's too much of liability which I think absolutely insane

[@dmandman9]

@@What.its.like. Today junkyards seem to either be full service where they don’t let you in or COMPLETELY self service where you have to pull your own parts. No in between.

[@dmandman9]

With the older vehicles the family resemblance between the various divisions was obvious. But they still differed significantly from one another. You could tell a Ford Lincoln, and Mercury were related. But they were still unique from each other. Today it’s mostly rebadging with different stickers and trim work. No wonder they’re having problems justifying different divisions. At the end, a Mercury Grand Marquis was simply a Ford Crown Victoria with a slightly different grille and taillights.

[@garymckee63]

They used to put thought into the styling of vehicles back years ago, now most vehicles look like appliances. I like the Schlitz ad , its too bad l can't find Schlitz anymore because I might drink more than a six pack every 3 or months.

[@What.its.like.]

I tried to look for unique ad to the very end I think it's really cool to show what that arrow was like in text because you get the gist of how people talked which is different than now. There are a few good looking cars that everything looks the same .. so much plastic fantastic idk I'd rather have a steel car with real leather seats

[@dakotafarm1]

I love your videos including this one, and I know this is a 30 minute video, but I wish you would slow down your speaking as I have trouble keeping up with listening and trying to absorb too much information too quickly. But thanks again!

[@stickshiftdriver1832]

It's amazing that the 2004 mercury marquis is only 5 inches shorter but back seat of it is much more cramped than this 59 mercury

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah I think this one even has a little bit more space than the 80s version I'll have to do one of those one day

[@stickshiftdriver1832]

@What.its.like. I know. I had a 2003 Mercury. I use to look at it and think about the engine compartment is not as big as the compartments of the 50s cars so that should mean eventhough the length is shorter the rear seating legroom should had been massive. Some early 1950s Ford were the same length of the 2004 mercury but the rear legroom were more massive

[@claztube]

On the wipers that follow v opposing one another, can you say which was the most common style in this era? Also as you gave us a close up view uf the passenger wiper I had to wonder just how flexible the tip is to handle or manage the down position where it seems to curve with the windscreen. On the upward sweep it seems to me there needs to be enough flex in the arm in order to flatten out to properly clear the glass sans a less that clean sweep in the middle of the blade, hence might there possibly be an obsurred view in that portion of the driver and passenger's view? I expect in the mechanics of the arm, on the upswing the blade lies in a manner that changes the sweep dynamic slightly enough to compensate. If anyone can give first hand knowledge of these wipers as to how well they cleared the windsreen, especially on the passenger side of the glass, I would really find it interesting to know if the design was flawed, or on the other hand a bit of mechanical genius to handle that great curve so pronounced at the right side of the screen. p.s. I can imagine there could be a change in how well they operate after 65 years, even a set in as pristine condition as it appears this set is found to be in today. Edit: Also I should say a front fender mounted antenna to have a near 45 degree mount to match the windscreen is quite unique. This is a hugely unique automobile and that makes it for me highly desireable. p.s. Edit: BTW our family had the '59 Galaxie 500 and the fender's top front edge above the headlamps, set back a few inches, our 500 had the Thunderbird round medallions, you know the ones of which I am talking about, on a chrome mount as I recall.

[@What.its.like.]

The most common wiper set up in the 50s seemed like the wipers that oppose but that is interesting bring that up thank you so much for all the points you made

[@alanblanes2876]

I've been Jonesing for a good glove box test...

[@What.its.like.]

Haha I went to classic auto Mall on Wednesday and the camera didn't fit in a lot of those glove boxes but fit in that one

[@Frank-sf1wh]

WYR I would choose the DeSoto

[@stevescudder9427]

Mercury

[@Frank-sf1wh]

It’s a nice car, but I would rather drive the black one next to it.

[@What.its.like.]

That 39 ford is in the pipeline =) i'm not entirely sure when that one will come out I guess spread the Ford stuff out

[@winstonelston5743]

Did you ever see _The Twilight Zone_ episode "The Hitchhiker" (season 1, episode 16) with Inger Stevens and Leonard Strong? It's one of the more chilling presentations in that series and a '59 Mercury figures prominently. Interesting that GM and Mercury went to compound curve windshields with nearly identical A-pillars for '59. WYR, I like the DeSoto's looks, not a fan of knee-knocker door frames.

[@What.its.like.]

No never have I haven't watched the twilight zone in years

[@captaccordion]

Gee, the word 'excess' certainly springs to mind. The 59 Ford is pretty enormous too, but managed to have attractive styling. This thing is just.... excessive.

[@stickshiftdriver1832]

Why did consumers in 1962 thought that the 62 Plymouths and Dodges were odd looking when the rear of this 59 Mercury look just as odd

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Looking at the shift quadrants, and the fact that FoMoCo introduced it's first 2-speed automatic for the 1959 model year, that's the transmission this car originally came with. I see that the listing shows a 3-speed automatic, but maybe somebody changed it over? Maybe they put a 1957 or older Merc-O-Matic in it? If the transmission is small and has an aluminum case, it's a 2-speed. It's surprising that it has the small 312 V8. That's a huge car! Probably can't get out of it's own way. The car has 2 too many doors for me, but of the choices, if I had to choose a 4-door car, I'd go for the Desoto. It would probably blow the doors off the other 2 cars. To me, the Merc is kinda gooney. Those deep hooded headlights are atrocious and a real wind drag. I've never like the back windows with the overhang. GM did it too for a couple of years. Those cars are known as 'flat tops'.