Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen’s tenure as President of Ford was very short-lived; 19 months in total. He was hired by Henry Ford II from GM to be the President of Ford, bypassing a very disappointed Lee Iacocca. It was never going to work; GM was a remarkably unpolitical organization; more like a chummy club were the executives mostly looked out for each other. Ford was the epitome of political, since everything revolved around HFII’s mercurial temperament and a few key execs who tried to stay in his good graces.
But Bunkie left his imprint at Ford. He was very much oriented to design, as was Iacocca, which only ignited the flames of their enmity for each other. Bunkie would arrive at the design center at seven every morning, earlier than Lee, and demand changes that Lee later in the day would try to counteract. But Bunkie was the boss, and got his way, as is very obvious in this 1970 Montego. It wasn’t exactly very original, though.
What more can I add? Of course it’s not a dead ringer, but that ’67 Olds front end was clearly a major inspiration.
As is the rounded semi-fastback roof, which was of course a GM staple since 1965, and quite unlike the Ford and Mercury roof previously, which were either short and formal or endlessly long fastbacks. How about something in between?
Like this? Again, not a direct copy, but the proportions and general feel is more than a bit familiar. And it works, which is the important thing. Well, from the side in any case.
Its front end is a matter of taste. It’s certainly bold and…long. Thanks to that version of a “Bunkie Beak”, the Montego was now 209.9″. That makes it the longest Falcon ever; well except in Australia, where the 1976-1977 P6 LTD stretched 2″ further. But it had a longer 121″ wheelbase. The Montego’s is 117″.
In case you were wondering about what I said above about it being the “longest Falcon ever”, yes, underneath a couple of generations of face lifts and body lifts, there is a 1966 Falcon/Fairlane inner body. That’s on full display on the Montego wagon, as from the cowl back, it is essentially unchanged from the 1966 Falcon wagon.
This view from the rear makes that all-too obvious. A compact wagon with full-size length; what a brilliant concept!
Enough with the boring wagons. The hot stuff was called Cyclone, and there were no less than three versions. The just “Cyclone” was plenty warm, what with a standard 429 V8 making 360 hp, and optional versions with 370 and 375 hp on tap, the latter being the 429 Super CJ, with lighter internal parts and lots of other hi-po goodies, all of which added up to…5hp. Well, it was the days of fudging these things to keep the man from getting too worked up over big numbers.
Somewhat curiously, the Cyclone GT was much milder, with a standard 351 2 barrel. The more powerful ones were also available.
And of course the Spoiler, the counterpart to the GTO Judge. It was
The Spoiler came standard with the 370 CJ, with the Super CJ optional. These brochure suggests that the semi-hemi Boss 429, designed to be Ford’s hemi-killer, was also available. It was not, in reality. And it undoubtedly made more than 375hp, in reality. But who’s concerned with reality in 1970?
Let’s get back to our featured car, which initially threw me a little, as it has the hidden headlight front end from the Montego MX Brougham, the sedan version of which I have also encountered and made famous here.
But one quick look into the back seat made it obviously that this was no Brougham, even if that Brougham I wrote up had rather pathetic upholstery and interior trim for a car bearing that regal moniker. No, this is a basic Montego; Falcon-grade, in other words.
And then it hit me: this is an old familiar face, despite being lifted. I found this same car in my early CC days ago, looking rather decrepit, and I wrote it up at the old site within days of ten days ago, on Feb. 27, 2010. A curious coincidence. But then the owner had told me a few years back when I noticed it was gone, that he was having it majorly fixed up.
It’s even got the same wheels still, although with a new coat of paint.
I kind of liked that original purple, but this trendy matte black actually works quite well.
The front compartment sports a couple of unique touches, like this rather tall floor shifter.
And the padded dash has the most severe case of vinyloma I’ve ever seen on the inside of a car. Is it a special effect, created by pouring a mild acid on it? Or? The owner is an artist, so anything is possible.
I rather like the Impala-ish six tail light treatment. And since the base Montego had only a Bel-Airish four, this must have come from the same donor as the front end.
Very 1970. Did all the companies buy this plastic egg crate material from the same supplier? Egg Crates R Us.
I’ve run out of time and things to say, so I’ll leave you with the most memorable element. It’s hard to unsee.
Prefer the purple too, but that matt black with blank face carries nice menace. Ford XA did those taillights better.
+1
I loved these when they came out. But then I was 10 or 11 years old – probably the only demographic who really loved this look. Add in the fact that a 1970 Mercury sales brochure I got from my Dad was one of my prized possessions, and you can see why I was all over this car.
Your solution to the mystery explains perfectly the dodgy fit of all the pieces that come together on the drivers side front corner of the car. I guess it looks better than it did in the “before” state.
I still harbor a grudge against the elderly lady at the cash register at the Haag Drug store where I used to buy model kits. A model car kit cost $2.25 back then. I found a kit of a Cyclone Spoiler and (as noted above) I just had to have a car with that front end. There was no price tag on it and she claimed it was something north of $4. She tried claiming that it was special because there was a Cycle in it. I would have won the argument today, but I lost badly as the kid that I was. I never saw that kit again, at least until years after I had built my last model car.
‘I would have won the argument today’
hehehe
It’s the predecessor of the 1975 matador
Buick and olds had that W shaped front end it worked for them , not so much for the thunderbird or this montego
The nose sort of resembles a 90s Buick Skylark.
“Bunkie” Knudsen also put a beak on the ’70 Thunderbird.
For me, as a Ford and most especially a Mercury fan, this model and it’s Ford counterpart are kind of Mehmobiles. I do like the 4 doors and the wagons, for some perverse reason, but the 2 doors just strike me as too much of a basically plain thing. Sort of like being given a “bonus” of 2 additional scoops of vanilla ice cream along with the 2 scoops you originally asked for when you mentioned that you LIKE vanilla ice cream.
The hidden headlight NON sporty models try to look upmarket, but that wide expanse filled with just horizontal bars…it borders on ugly. If only they had relieved the front end styling with some kind of “distraction”, a fine mesh box of some kind, maybe?
I think I have to agree. If not for the front end, is there a memorable line anywhere on this car? The shape is kinda GM, kinda Mopar, but not as nicely done as either. It looks like the average between a 68 Pontiac LeMans/GTO and a 68 Coronet. It is just not a very satisfying shape.
How bad is it when the 4 door hardtop is the most attractive version of your 1970 mid size car.
I learn something every day here. The engine chart states the 370hp 429 used a Rochester carb.
I grew up during the “GM vs. Ford vs. Mopar” era which at times took on a Cold War climate, but had little knowledge of the interplay between the three camps with regard to cooperation with parts supply.
Wow a P6 is actually longer probably more flexible too, I can see the Aussie Falcon XABC hardtop hiding in some of those shots, I know there wasnt supposed to be any colaboration between design teams when the Aussie car was drawn but for sure they’d had a look around at the US Ford range before getting their pencils out.
A floor shifter AND a column shifter? I guess I should say “gear selector.” That’s quirky. Great to see this car get a refresh. I pretty much instantly recognized it from previous posts.
I’ve always been fascinated by this car. I around 7 when this car came out and don’t recall seeing many in the wild, although I still remember seeing a beautiful restored Cyclone driving around Chicago about 12 years ago. GTOs, 442s, GTXs, Camaro and Mustangs just don’t leave a lasting impression (although a ‘68 Charger would).
The LAPD used 1970 Montegos as Black & White patrol cars and once in a while they show up in 1970’s TV Police shows.
I’ve always wondered why American cars in the early ‘70’s started to get so bland (this Mercury is more odd & derivative then banal), especially after reaching terrific heights of style in the 1960’s. Was it a backlash against Federal safety regulations?
I wonder the same thing. I grew up in the 60’s and each September was exciting when the new models came out – until 1972 or so, when the big 3 all seemed to throw in the styling towel. I swiftly stopped paying attention (I’d discovered girls too, which probably had something to do with it) and to this day cannot reliably identify any post-1972 car’s model year.
I’ve always wondered if Ford (Mercury) was doing the whole “Parts Bin” thing with these back then regarding the taillights….
Exhibit A – The Mercury Comet:
It does beg the question, “who wore it better?” Those taillights are single handedly the reason to wander over to the Lincoln/Mercury dealer and buy the Comet instead of the Maverick.
This example appears true to the advertisement.
For someone outside of US this car in this matte black looks like a car of a kidnapper or a serial killer from a low-budget film hahah. Anyway the Montego is one of my favorite American car as the Lincoln Mark VII and VIII, I just love them!
Always liked these better than their Ford Torino fastback corporate stablemates . Never cared for the Torino fastback styling (although the contemporary Falcon used the same semi-fastback styling as the Montego). The “gunsight” grill on the Cyclone GT/Spoiler was so ugly it was cool. Exposed headlight version preferred to the hidden headlights (with fiddly/unreliable vacuum operated doors). The Cyclone instrument panel with its in-dash mounted gauge package was also unique.
As an aside, the 429 SCJ was one of the performance bargains of the era. As part of the so-called Drag Pak, for a mere $155 on the option sheet you got basically a whole different engine with a 4-bolt main block, excellent breathing big valve SCJ heads, aluminum dual plane intake with a Holley 780 cfm 4-barrel carb, plus an engine oil cooler, 3.91 limited slip diff (4.30 optional), and a close ratio top loader 4-spd tranny (C6 auto optional). Factory power ratings were, of course, a joke…actual HP was well over 400.
These were some if the fastest muscle cars of the era. And this body style proved successful in NASCAR, especially the Woods Brothers #21 car with wheelman David Pearson.
I like this car but the instument panel is uninspiring, doesn’t suit the car, it needs something like what the Australian Falcon would get in 1972.
The Spoiler dash is where it’s at
There were complaints in the late sixties about “planned obsolescence” against the auto manufacturers. The large sedans typically got a refresh every years and the other lines were typically refreshed every two-three years. Then with safety and emission regulations coming these issues were one of the main reasons for the longer runs between body refreshes. Yea, Bunkie should not have been hired and Lee Iacocca should have not been fired. I was looking at purchasing a Cyclone Spoiler way back in 72-73. Muscle cars were dirt cheap due to first oil embargo. Ended up purchasing a 68 Cougar, 428 Cobra Jet, and I still own it.
To see the full-on Oldsmobile look Knudsen was trying to force on the Montego, check out the MX Brougham four door hardtop. They look enough like a concurrent Olds Cutlass to easily be mistaken for one. For some unknown reason, both Torino and Montego received a four door hardtop body for only 1970-’71.
All this series were terrible rust-buckets after just a few years. The build quality was mediocre at best and they were not wonderful driving cars. I had a few, don’t want any more…