The 1960 Mercury Park Lanes displayed the most brightwork, including rocker panel moldings that extended through fender skirts and across the quarter panels to meet the vast taillight housing. A sharp creaseline above the rocker panel reached over the front wheel. Five trim pieces ahead of rear wheel openings identified the Park Lane; three such strips went on Montclairs; none on Monterey.
A column-shift three-speed was standard on the 1960 Mercury Monterey; Montclairs came with Merc-O-Matic, with Park Lanes adding Multi-Drive to the automatic. Mercury's ladder frame had bowed box-girder side rails, with convertibles adding X-type center reinforcement.
Convertibles were offered in the 1960 Mercury Monterey and Park Lane lines, while Commuter and Colony Park station wagons (the latter sided in woodgrain) formed a series of their own. Prices ranged from $2,631 for a Monterey two-door sedan to $4,018 for the luscious Park Lane ragtop.
A diverse color selection included 15 Super Enamel monochrome hues and 35 two-tone combinations. Options ranged from power steering at $106 and a four-way power seat for $76.50, to air conditioning at $471. Lesser-ranked Mercurys could step up to Multi-Drive Merc-O-Matic (with dual drive ranges) in exchange for extra dollars.
Substantial size translates to ample weight, and Mercury was no exception. A Park Lane convertible tipped the scales at 4,500 pounds; the Colony Park wagon added a few more.
Even with all that heft to haul, performance wasn't too bad. Motor Trend evaluated a Montclair with the 310-bhp, 430-cid V-8 and optional Multi-Drive Merc-O-Matic. Taking off in D-1 Range yielded a 0-60 time of 12 seconds flat, while the quarter-mile demanded 17.7 seconds at 76 mph. Using D-2 range took an extra 1.1 seconds to hit 60 mph, and the quarter-mile lasted 18.6 seconds (75 mph).
Reaching the 154,000 mark, full-size Mercury production was up a few thousand from 1959. As it would turn out, however, this was to be the last Mercury with a distinct identity. Starting in 1961, Mercury would shrink to a 120-inch wheelbase and amount to little more than a restyled, posher, and more costly Ford -- just as it continues to be today.
See the specifications for the 1960 Mercury on the next page.
