| Lincoln-Mercury
Division Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan |
| Engine |
280-hp, 390
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
3-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Standard |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Very
Good |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Very
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Very
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Very
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Very
Good |
| Driving Position |
Very
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Very
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Good |
| General |
| Vision |
Fair |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Very
Good |
|
If we are to believe
all that we read in the promotional literature we receive from
Detroit, 1968 will go down in LincolnMercury history as the
year of the roofline. Mercury's full-size model line-up, the
foundation of which is the Monterey, boasts no less than five
separate rooflines (a record) which are described in terms ranging
from "formal" to "fastback" depending on
the rake of the rear window, and includes the utilitarian (if
not very attractive) "Breezeway" rear window.
Unless you're particularly hung-up
on rooflines, however, we conclude that the Monterey has little
to offer the enthusiast other than good old Detroit-type reliable
transportation. Handling, at least with the standard suspension,
can best be described as toasted marshmallows--a trade-out
for a smoother, quieter ride. Performance, with the 280-hp,
390 cu. in. engine is understandably lackluster. The interior
is roomy, but the appointments are not particularly stimulating
in terms of trim design, or quality of workmanship.
We kept reminding ourselves that
our test car was equipped only slightly more exotically than
a rental car would be, and that we should really judge it
in context. It's probably better than a comparablyequipped
Ford, but it would take a lot of time in both cars to prove
it. |
