Mercury’s Monterey was, of course, named after the city in California, one of the state’s oldest towns and one of great importance for many years. Serving as the premium, midlevel and even entry-level model through the years, the Monterey was offered in two- and four-door, station wagon, convertible and hardtop configurations. Case in point: when the Monterey was introduced in 1952, it served as the premium model through 1954, but in 1955, the Montclair was introduced, knocking Monterey into the intermediate line; but the Montclair was only available as a convertible, coupe or sedan, meaning the top-of-the-line station wagon could only be a Monterey. Sporting a heavily restyled body, the new Mercurys for 1955 were available in an ocean of color combinations with a healthy dose of brightwork. A new 292 CI V-8 was introduced available with either a manual or Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission. This 1955 Mercury Monterey Woody Wagon is strikingly finished in turquoise with wood trim. Rolling on painted steel wheels with full-size bright wheel covers all wrapped with Coker wide whitewall tires, it’s not shy to say the least. The rear windows are adorned with various fun decals from surf shops, diners, destinations and bands, and in a fun and interesting twist, the dashboard has been autographed by The Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, Dick Clark and Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady in “The Brady Bunch.” This Monterey harkens American nostalgic effortlessly and beautifully. Powered by the 292 CI V-8, which has been rebuilt to factory specs, the engine is fed by a 4-barrel carburetor and employs an oil-bath air cleaner, dual exhaust and the 3-speed Merc-O-Matic. It also has power steering and power brakes. The three-row interior is a study in ’50s style with triple-tone turquoise, white and gray patterned cloth and vinyl upholstery with matching carpeting, brightwork trim, an automatic windshield washer, compass and more. Complete with California black plates, this Monterey Station Wagon was Mercury’s most expensive vehicle for 1955, but it was still very popular among station wagons in general with nearly 12,000 units sold.
