There’s a certain charm about disposable cars. The vehicles that were once common and subsequently junked clearly never received love, so there’s a certain irony in loving something that has managed to survive the travails of ownership. Our Pick of the Day is one of the unloved, only to later realize the potential for love was always there. This 1974 Mercury Montego MX Brougham four-door sedan is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Saugatuck, Michigan.
The Mercury Montego can trace its origins to 1968. While the base model was the Comet, the upward steps in trim level were the Montego and Montego MX, plus the Cyclone. For 1969, Mercury added a Montego MX Brougham at the top, while the Comet had its final year as an intermediate. One redesign in 1970 was followed by another for 1972, with a federalized front bumper appearing in 1973 and the same for the rear in 1974.
The lineup was represented by the Montego, Montego MX, and Montego Brougham. Gone was the sporty Montego GT fastback, which was replaced by the Sports Appearance Group. Available on the Montego and Montego MX two-door hardtop, the package included the nonfunctional scooped hood from the GT, black-painted hub caps and trim rings, dual racing mirrors, lower-body paint and striping, wide-oval tires, a black-out rear panel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a tachometer and other gauges, and bright pedal pads.
For the upscale Montego MX Brougham, one could specify the Custom Trim Option, which brought a “tone of high elegance” thanks to Twin Comfort Lounge Seats with Arden velour inserts, 25-ounce cut-pile carpeting, a visor vanity mirror, door pull assist straps, and a distinctive steering wheel. For the ultimate in personal luxury, you could veer away from the Montego portfolio and go with the Cougar, which was now a newly full-fledged member of the intermediate class, though featuring a slightly different front end than the one on the Montego.
Engine choices were familiar. Standard was a 302-2V paired with a three-speed manual, with a 351-2V, 351-4V, 400-2V, and 460-4V all requiring an automatic transmission. The 351-4V, sometimes called the 351 Cobra Jet, would have its final year, the last time a mid-size Ford offered an engine with any semblance of performance.
This Gold Glamour metallic 1974 Mercury Montego MX Brougham four-door sedan is quite unusual as it managed to avoid being unloved. In fact, it experienced the exact opposite, as evidenced by 10,628 miles on the odometer. True survivor? That’s what the seller claims and, considering it has its original paint and tires, there’s a good chance that this is indisputable. Dealer-applied undercoating certainly helps, especially considering its original Battle Creek, Michigan digs. Options include the 351-2V, a gold vinyl roof, radial tires, power steering and disc brakes, a clock, air conditioning, a rear defroster, the Appearance Protection Group, tinted glass, a driver-side remote mirror, and body-side moldings. The seller has serviced the fuel system, changed the oil, and brought the car back to life after purchasing it from the original family.
Some people will claim certain cars are disposable for a reason. We are lesser as a people due to the extinction of the dodo bird and the Tasmanian tiger, so isn’t it fair to think the same for certain cars? We have to send thanks to the original owners and especially the planets, which have aligned themselves to preserve the existence of this Mercury. For $17,900, would you become the caretaker of this indisposable vehicle?
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