Nameplate year of origin: 1940 (1961 as a standard sedan nameplate).
Current bodystyle lifespan: 1961 through 1969 (major restyles in 1964 and 1966).
Predecessor to this model: Premiere (1958 to 1960).
Replacement for this model: Continental (1970 to 1979).
Percentage of division’s sales volume: 100%.
Corporate siblings: None.
Primary competition: Cadillac de Ville and Imperial Crown and LeBaron.
Notable changes: New grille and minor revisions.
Major standard equipment: Nylon and leather (sedan) or leather (convertible) front bench seat upholstery with folding center armrests front and rear, vanity mirror, looped-pile carpeting, AM transistor radio, power operated door latching system, padded instrument panel, electric windshield wipers with electric wash-ers, power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission and 9.00 ×14 WSW tires (9.50 ×14 WSW on convertible).
Measurements
Wheelbase 123.0"
Length 213.0"
Width 78.6"
Height 53.7"
Legroom — front 44.2"
Legroom — rear 46.3"
Headroom — front 33.5"
Headroom — rear 33.4"
Luggage capacity (cu. ft.) NA Fuel capacity (gals.) 21.0
Models Available
Change from Shipping Change from
Style Number Base MSRP LY Wt. (lbs.) Production LY
Continental 4-Door Sedan 53A $6,074 +0.08% 4966 27,849 +24.87%
Continental 4-Door Convertible 74A $6,720 +0.07% 5370 3,212 +12.43%
TOTALS Avg. price $6,397 +0.08% Production 31,061 +23.45%
175 1962 • Mercury
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MERCURY
“1962 Mercury … best-looking buys … now in each size.”
This year brought the introduction of an all-new size of Mercury. The Meteor was a mid-size or intermediate car, offered before most of the buying public was ready for such a car. In fact, considering the fiasco developing with the smaller 1962 Plymouths, it is amazing that Mercury continued to offer cars so close in the market with Ford.
The new Meteor was a stablemate of the Ford Fairlane.
Both of these new models were loosely based upon some Falcon components; however, they were larger cars and bet-ter equipped than the Falcon or Comet. The Meteor and Fairlane were about the same size cars as the new Plymouth and Dodge Dart lines. Unfortunately, the public saw all of these cars as smaller full-size models (particularly since both nameplates had actually been full-sized cars in prior years), and they were reluctant to buy what they perceived to be a watered down Mercury. Mercury even promoted the Me-teor as the new standard size Mercury. The MeMe-teor was also too close in size and price to its own Comet, and by 1964,
the Meteor would be replaced totally by the Comet line. A model line limited to 2-Door and 4-Door Sedans probably contributed to lack of public interest in the new-size Mer-cury.
The traditional but smaller full-size Mercury Mon-tereys were once again based on the full-size Ford platform.
Styling was freshened, but in a manner that actually looked more like a Ford than in prior years. With the Meteor nameplate on a new mid-size car, the Monterey became the base line, with a new Monterey Custom replacing the prior Monterey. A new S-55 model was introduced to com-pete with the new Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Wildcat from GM. This sporty 2-door line could be optioned out with bucket seats, floor consoles, floor shifting and all the other Mercury luxury items. For the compact Comet, a new upgraded Custom line was introduced, along with a new grille and side trim.
Comet 4-Door Sedan
Meteor Custom 3-Door Sedan Comet Custom 2-Door Wagon
Meteor Interior Monterey Custom 2-Door Convertible Monterey Custom 4-Door Sedan
1962 • Mercury 176
Model year production: 324,145, up 2.14% over 1961.
Domestic market share: 4.87% (8th place).
Base price range: $2,084 to $3,738.
Industry average base price: $3,025.
Mercury average base price: $2,698.
Introduction date: October 1961.
Assembly plants: Mahwah, NJ (E); Dearborn, MI (F); Lo-rain, OH (H); Los Angeles, CA ( J); Kansas City, MO (K);
San Jose, CA (R); Wixom, MI (S); Metuchen, NJ (T);
Wayne, MI (W); and St. Louis, MO (Z).
Data plate identification: Eleven digit code read as follows: 2 for 1962; 2nd digit is assembly plant code; 3rd digit is series (1 or 2 is Comet, 3 or 4 is Meteor, 6 is Monterey); 4th digit is body style; 5th digit is engine code; 500001 and up for serial number (800001 and up for Comet). Example:
2W63Z100001 is a 1962 Mercury Monterey 2-Door Hard-top with a 390 CID V8 engine, serial number 500001, built in Wayne, MI.
Powertrains
Gross Engine Transmission Monterey Monterey
Engine HP Code Availability Comet Meteor & S-55 Custom
144.3 CID Thrift-Power Six, 1-bbl., 6-cyl. 85 S 3-speed manual S - -
-2-sp. Automatic $172 - -
-170 CID Thrift-Power Six, 1-bbl., 6-cyl. 101 U 3-speed manual $45 S -
-2-sp. Automatic $217 $172 -
-221 CID, 2-bbl., V8 145 L 3-speed manual - $103 -
-Overdrive - $211 -
-Merc-O-Matic Automatic - $275 -
-223 CID Six, 1-bbl., 6-cyl. 138 V 3-speed manual - $45 S2
-Overdrive - $153 -
-Merc-O-Matic Automatic - $217 $2172
-260 CID, 2-bbl., V8 164 F 3-speed manual - $155 -
-Overdrive - $263 -
-Merc-O-Matic Automatic - $327 -
-292 CID, 2-bbl., V8 170 W 3-speed manual - - $1092 S
4-speed manual - - $2972 $188
Multi-Drive Automatic - - $3262 $217
352 CID Marauder, 2-bbl., V8 220 X 3-speed manual - - $1612 $52
4-speed manual - - $3492 $240
Multi-Drive Automatic - - $3782 $269
390 CID Marauder, 4-bbl., V8 300 Z 3-speed manual - - $2472 $138
4-speed manual - - S1/$4352 $326
Multi-Drive Automatic - - S1/$4642 $355
406 CID Marauder, 4-bbl., V8 385 B 4-speed manual - - $3331/$6302 $521
Multi-Drive Automatic - - $3331/$5592 $550 406 CID Marauder, 3 ×2-bbl., V8 405 B 4-speed manual - - $3911/$6882 $579 Multi-Drive Automatic - - $3911/$7172 $608
1S-55 models. 2All but S-55.
Major Options
Comet Meteor Monterey
SelectAire air conditioning $271 $271 $361
Tinted glass $31 $40 $43
Power steering - $82 $82
Power brakes - $43 $43
Power windows - - $102
Electric windshield wipers w/washer $23 $21 $21
Electric clock - $15 $15
Pushbutton AM radio $59 $59 $59
White sidewall tires — std. sizes $30–$33 $37 $37–$53
Full wheel covers $16 $19 S
Paint Colors
Code Presidential Black A
Peacock B
Ocean Turquoise Metallic D Pacific Blue Metallic E
Sea Blue F
Blue Satin Metallic H Castilian Gold Metallic I
Carnival Red J
Light Aqua K
Teaberry* L
177 1962 • Mercury
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Options common to most models. (- = Not Available, S = Standard equipment.) Items may be standard equipment, optional at different pricing, or unavailable on certain models. This chart is only a guide.
Code
Sultana White M
Scotch Green Metallic P Sheffield Gray Metallic Q
Jamaica Yellow R
Champagne T
Velvet Turquoise Metallic* U Black Cherry Metallic X Desert Frost Metallic Z
*Monterey only.
Comet
“The compact Mercury — smartly ahead of the compact crowd!!”
Nameplate year of origin: 1960.
Current bodystyle lifespan: 1960 through 1963.
Predecessor to this model: None.
Replacement for this model: Comet (1964 to 1965).
Percentage of division’s sales volume: 50.97%.
Corporate siblings: Ford Falcon.
Primary competition: Buick Special, Dodge Lancer, Oldsmobile F-85, Pon-tiac Tempest and Studebaker.
Notable changes: Revised grille and minor trim and detail changes.
Major standard equipment: Nylon and vinyl front bench seat with foam cushions, black carpet textured rubber floor covering, 17” Lifeguard steer-ing wheel, dual front armrests and dual sun visors, dome light, glove com-partment, bright metal front and rear window trim, and 6.50 ×13 BSW tires. Custom adds: deep-pile carpeting, front and rear armrests, deluxe steering wheel, and additional sound deadening materials. S-22 adds: All-vinyl front bucket seats, All-vinyl-covered center floor console, S-22 exterior trim.
Measurements
Cars Wagons Wheelbase 114.0" 109.5"
Length 194.8" 191.8"
Width 70.4" 70.4"
Height 54.5" 55.1"
Legroom — front 43.4" 43.5"
Legroom — rear 39.3" 39.1"
Headroom — front 34.2" 34.0"
Headroom — rear 32.7" 33.0"
Cargo capacity (cu. ft.) 29.1 76.2 Fuel capacity (gals.) 14.0 14.0
Models Available
Change from Shipping Change from
Style Number Base MSRP LY Wt. (lbs.) Production LY
Comet 2-Door Sedan 62A $2,084 +4.20% 2420 73,800 +3.13%
Comet 4-Door Sedan 54A $2,139 +4.09% 2457 70,227 -17.70%
Comet 2-Door Wagon 59A $2,396 +3.63% 2626 2,121 -49.49%
Comet 4-Door Wagon 71A $2,439 +3.57% 2662 16,758 -24.39%
Comet Custom 2-Door Sedan 62B $2,171 NEW 2431 * NEW
Comet Custom 4-Door Sedan 54B $2,226 NEW 2468 * NEW
Comet Custom 2-Door Wagon 59B $2,483 NEW 2642 * NEW
Comet Custom 4-Door Wagon 71B $2,526 NEW 2679 * NEW
Comet Villager 4-Door Wagon 71C $2,710 NEW 2712 2,318 NEW
Comet S-22 2-Door Sedan 62C $2,368 +3.68% 2458 * *
TOTALS Avg. price $2,354 +6.95% Production 165,224 -16.25%
*Production not available by trim level, only by body style.