1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 Concept Car. Press Release
Lincoln-Mercury News Bureau
Press Release, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1954
“The most advanced design in a car capable of going into volume production is the Mercury Monterey XM-800, a four-passenger hardtop coupe now being shown by the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company. Embodying features of both sports and ‘dream’ cars, the XM-800 is only 55.6 inches high. It has radically different exterior styling including a concave front grille, wrap-around windshield and integral bumpers. Individual contoured seats are divided by stationary arm rests containing a variety of controls. The car will be placed in actual production if public demand warrants, according to Benson Ford, vice president and general manager of Lincoln-Mercury.”
The XM-800 never went into actual production. Despite the initial plans and promotional material suggesting it was engineered for volume production, public demand did not warrant it. Instead, Ford decided to create the Edsel division to compete with Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile.
The XM-800 remained a concept car and was later donated to the University of Michigan's Automotive Engineering Lab for training purposes. It was eventually restored and auctioned off in 2010, selling for the hefty sum of $429,000.
1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 Concept Car. Press Release
Lincoln-Mercury News Bureau
Press Release, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1954
“The most advanced design in a car capable of going into volume production is the Mercury Monterey XM-800, a four-passenger hardtop coupe now being shown by the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company. Embodying features of both sports and ‘dream’ cars, the XM-800 is only 55.6 inches high. It has radically different exterior styling including a concave front grille, wrap-around windshield and integral bumpers. Individual contoured seats are divided by stationary arm rests containing a variety of controls. The car will be placed in actual production if public demand warrants, according to Benson Ford, vice president and general manager of Lincoln-Mercury.”
The XM-800 never went into actual production. Despite the initial plans and promotional material suggesting it was engineered for volume production, public demand did not warrant it. Instead, Ford decided to create the Edsel division to compete with Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile.
The XM-800 remained a concept car and was later donated to the University of Michigan's Automotive Engineering Lab for training purposes. It was eventually restored and auctioned off in 2010, selling for the hefty sum of $429,000.