Having a Dilema

So my grandma has a '66 Mercury Montclair. It has a 2-barrel 390 strapped to a C4 trans. However, my uncle is getting crazy sending stuff to the scrap yard (He already sent off my grandpa's '67 IH 1300C off) and I'm afraid this one is the next to go. He's tried to sell this car and nobody wants it. It needs work, but it will run. It has some typical cancer on the quarters and the frame is solid (full framed Fords of this era have an issue with frame rot).

I don't want this car to go to the scrapper. I really love full size cars and this one has been in my family for a long time. I think the worst part of the whole thing is the quarters and the brakes. Which I do body work (but no welder) and brakes on this car would be easy.

However, I have no money to work on this car, so it will just end up sitting like it has for a long time. I also have no place to keep it where I'm currently at. My garage is full of crap because there is no storage here in my condo, but I really wish I could put this in there up on jackstands and just work on it.

I don't know what to do here.

How about finding a partner interested in a shared project, or donating it to the local trade school?

I would like to find a partner in crime, but I have no friends interested in a project (due to lack of car guy friends).

I didn't think about the trade school, but its not up to me where it goes, my uncle is going to want money for it.

So, give him scrap price, take it to the trade school for them to use as an extended project, volunteer to work with them when you can, and pick it up in a year or 2.

They won't get many opportunities to work on a car like that these days.

SVreX wrote: So, give him scrap price, take it to the trade school for them to use as an extended project, volunteer to work with them when you can, and pick it up in a year or 2. They won't get many opportunities to work on a car like that these days.

Oh, you mean have me buy it and then give it to the trade school to work on while I pay for parts?

Hmmmmm

See if he'll let you have a shot at selling it, he might be missing the car guy marketplace.

How much was he trying to sell it for?

Wouldn't a 390 have a C6? And is that Lime Gold? That is a sweet car, and well worth trying to save. Even if you have to sit on it for a year, try to make it happen!

In reply to fasted58:

I tried, I had no luck. He specializes in antique cars so he knows the market, he even tried to sell it to a couple guys that collected that year car, but they weren't interested.

In reply to logdog:

I was selling it last year for $800. I'm going to talk to him this week about keeping it. I really want this car.

Javelin wrote: Wouldn't a 390 have a C6? And is that Lime Gold? That is a *sweet* car, and well worth trying to save. Even if you have to sit on it for a year, try to make it happen!

I believe its called Olive Mist. Or at least that's the closest color I can find on the '66 Mercury Ditzler color chart.

I just found some info on it, so yes it does have a C6, being that was the trans they put on all big block engines.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:

Javelin wrote: Wouldn't a 390 have a C6? And is that Lime Gold? That is a *sweet* car, and well worth trying to save. Even if you have to sit on it for a year, try to make it happen!

I believe its called Olive Mist. Or at least that's the closest color I can find on the '66 Mercury Ditzler color chart. I just found some info on it, so yes it does have a C6, being that was the trans they put on all big block engines.

why not just call it "light green"?

get that thing off the ground and get a good look at the undercarriage and see if it's even worth trying to save.. there has to be a reason that the people that collect that particular car turned it down..

In reply to novaderrik:

That's what I want to do before my uncle sends it off. Sheet metal isn't an issue, but the frame could be.

That is freaking sweet...

If I had a trailer and more room I'd store it for you. If you'd be comfortable with it, I could ask a few local gear heads if they'd be willing to store it.

In reply to The_Jed:

Thanks for the offer, but I would rather keep it closer. You're 3 hours from me and I don't want it that far away.

However, looking at Rock Auto this morning, parts are ridiculously cheap, so getting this thing running and driving may not be as difficult as I thought.

I really need some gear head friends. I have none.

Tons of drag racers and left turners here but they're not bad people once you get to know them.

C'mon People !!!

I can't be the ONLY one thinking Challenger!

Gut it, roll bar, slam it, poke out the inboard headlights for ram air! If only the middle of the country wasn't so far away......

When your Uncle was trying to sell it, what was he asking?

Y U NO LIVE CLOSER? I don't really have too many car guy friends either (well I do but most if not all would not be interested in such a project, financially or otherwise), and I have all sorts of space to work on and store something like that.

Someone should make a website for car guys to gtg. Carguymatchdotcom or ECarmonydotcom.

In reply to DuctTape&Bondo:

No seriously, there needs to be.

I've spent part of the day looking up parts for this car and they are ridiculously cheap and available. I think that's mainly due to being a full size Ford. This could be a viable project.

If the frame is solid and the body isn't too far gone in the bad places, I think I'm going to keep this somehow.

I'd say just give it a Comet wash and a quick buff 'n wax. And find some 16" steelies from a junkyard.

berkeley me, well I got kind of excited for nothing, my uncle sent it off to the scrapper this past weekend.

damn.. that sucks

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: berkeley me, well I got kind of excited for nothing, my uncle sent it off to the scrapper this past weekend.

Oh geeeez that's bad. Hate to hear it.