Factory 4 Speed 1963 Mercury Monterey Custom 2 Door Hardtop

OK Seriously - when was the last time you saw a Mercury Monterey Custom 2 Door Hardtop with a Factory 4 Speed? Great restoration project…

My late husband bought one of these new with the Factory 4 Speed and always regretted selling it. (the one that got away) - He saw this listed on eBay and purchased it in 2004. It sat in our warehouse for several years until we sold the building. He drove it home and parked it on the top of a lift in our shop where it sat until 2013 when we installed RaceDeck flooring and everything had to come out of the shop. It started up without any problem but the front brakes were locked up or frozen. He removed the drum brakes and had planned on replacing them with a disc brake conversion kit - but that never happened. My brother came by this past weekend, sprayed starter fluid into the carburetor and it started right up. The car has 84K miles. It has a few small dimple dents in the body and stainless trim. Ithas a cluster of paint chips (photo)on the passenger side door. There is a bumper dent and the tail light above the bumper is not straight. I photographed it from above to show the mis-alignment. The breezeway window works fine. All the glass is good - I do not see any de-laminating. There is some surface rust around the top and near the rear side window/roof - I pushed on all the rust spots and they all feel firm. The paint on the trunk area is a mess with large patches gone - we were told that it was stored under another car and fluids from overhead car had ate/damaged the paint. All in all, it needs paint. The interior is in really nice original condition. No smells - the door panels have some wrinkles, not sure what causes that - I do not see any signs of water stains or evidence of water leakage. Nice headliner. The steering wheel has some deterioration. There are two seat belts in the front that look like they were added? - They are bolted in the rear floor behind the front seats - one kinda matches the interior but the other one is kinda greenish.Good Battery.The trunk latch may be broken - I don’t want to slam it closed because when I put the key in, it turns the lock but I don’t see anything move on the inside? The Vin Plate is intact, the registration is current and the title is clear and in my name.

As mentioned above the car has NO Brakes so it will need to be winched onto the transport.

I have described the condition to the best of my knowledge and observation - please review the photos and call me if you have any questions 510 207 0215.

$500. Paypal Deposit within 24 hrs, balance due in 7 days direct bank deposit or cashiers check - funds must clear before vehicle is released for pickup.

I deciphered the Vin Plate as follows:

65BMonterey Custom - 2-Door Special Hardtop

XMSultana White/Black Cherry

10Block Pattern Cloth and Crush Vinyl - Med. Rose and Lt. Rose D/L

20MOriginal Build Date - December 20

53.50:1 Axle Ratio

54-Speed Manual-Shift

VIN

31963

ZSt Louis

63Monterey Custom 2 Door Special Hardtop

Y8 Cylinder 390 Cubic Inch (2-barrel)

514833Consecutive Unit Number at each assembly plant beginning with 500001

I found where the production numbers for this body style was 10,693 but I do not know how many of those were factory 4 Speed…