Invective
04-06-2020, 06:22 AM
Another bit of Mercury history I ran across yesterday that was new to me. In 1957 only, Mercury sought to certify it's NASCAR presence with Monterrey coupes sporting the Lincoln derived 368 motor with 2 4bbl carbs, high lift cam, etc. 100 nearly stripped Monterrey coupes (reportedly all white) were sent from the Los Angeles plant down to Bill Stroppe's shop in Long Beach for the engine install and further modifications. All cars were reportedly 2 doors and 3 on the tree transmissions. All of these cars were sold to the general public, as per NASCAR homologation rules. The M335 option was hoped to be an across the board engine option for all 1957 Mercurys but it didn't happen. What did happen was the M335 parts were sold separately at the Mercury parts counter, resulting in an unknown number of cars being converted, many turning up for sale to this day. The following year in 1958, the short lived Super Marauder engine option did make it into general production and was offered and installed in any Mercury model available. Again, it is believed that only 100 cars were sold in 1958 with the Super Marauder engine option installed.
https://i.imgur.com/L3Nvpj0h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2FKeDjgh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/x2p0hmDh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dGlecIMh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0Y5eeCPh.jpg
http://ford-mel-engine.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=1286
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/nasty-1957-mercury-monterey-m-335
https://i.imgur.com/L3Nvpj0h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2FKeDjgh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/x2p0hmDh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dGlecIMh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0Y5eeCPh.jpg
http://ford-mel-engine.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=1286
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/nasty-1957-mercury-monterey-m-335