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My First Car and Dear Old Dad... [PIC]

Rich Sufficool · 2024-01-24T14:45:29Z

By 1963, I had saved up a few hundred bucks, borrowed a friend's car and got my license. I was ready to buy my first car. My father, who wouldn't let me drive his car, pretty much took over the process as he suffered from "Father Knows Best Syndrome". He steered me into buying this '56 Mercury Montclair hardtop that looked exactly like this Sun Star model... except a bit more tired looking. We found out later that the previous owner removed the 312 V8 and replaced it with a 368 Lincoln. With the optional 3 speed automatic, I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel. My father took my cash and went to bring it home. I paced back and forth in the driveway for my father's triumphant return. Suddenly from a distance, I heard a cacophony of smoking, popping and wheezing as the Mercury came around the corner. Actually the first thing I noticed was all 4 tires had ballooned looking like a cartoon car. It turned out that the dealer had taken bald tires and had new tread cut in them. So at highway speeds the side walls ballooned but fortunately didn't blow. I guess he probably didn't do too much at highway speeds as both head gaskets blew and on top of that, there was a significant oil leak from the rear main seal. Unapologetic, my father had me push it into the garage and he would direct me to restore the damage with almost zero help from a licensed mechanic with the proper tools. He bought a couple of gallons of this carcinogenic solvent called "Varsol", 'loaned' me his socket set, and had me take the engine down to the block. What I hated the most was all the after school drudgery of hand grinding the valved with a friggin' suction cup on a stick which took me all winter. Dad did get the heads milled, but everything else was my slave labor including new drums, wheel bearings, points, plugs, distributor, rotor caps, ad nauseum. I finally did get to drive the car the second half of my senior year, and in anticipation of freshman year at college, I nosed the hood, removed the scripts, dumped the skirts and full wheel covers, painting the wheels black and adding baby moons. I did the Bondo number and repainted those panels with rattle cans. First day at college, I drove up early to get a prime parking spot, got matriculated and went to make a grand exit. The Merc had an automatic choke which upped the idle about 1000 rpm. As I started to pull out, the choke suddenly engaged. I lurched forward and creased a good part of the passeger side on the corner of the bumper of the car in front of me, turning my triumphant arrival into a humiliating defeat. I learned so many of life's lessons in this old Merc. When I see one at a car show, I beg the owner to let me sit in the driver's seat for a minute just to relive those bitter-sweet moments. Anyway, thank you, Sun Star!

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Marty Johnson

(@marty-johnson)

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Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1642

27/01/2024 2:55 pm

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

When was the last time you repacked your front wheel bearings?

Wow! The recounting of your memories stirs my own. I can say the last time I've actually done that was 1969. That would make it 55 years ago. My goodness, but it seems like yesterday!

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Christopher Moroni

(@chris)

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Joined: 29 years ago

Posts: 9997

27/01/2024 3:55 pm

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

When was the last time you repacked your front wheel bearings?

About 22 years ago on this car (that I sold a few years back ).

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Anonymous 197205242

(@Anonymous 197205242)

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Posts: 5402

27/01/2024 9:35 pm

Great memories from all and that certainly also is a great 1956 Mercury ! I happily have two convertibles and one hardtop of SunStar's excellent '56 Mercury. I am delighted that this beauty was done by them in1/18 scale.

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Bob Jackman

(@bob-jackman)

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Posts: 14747

28/01/2024 9:50 am

@rich-sufficool Wow Rich, your comments above really hit home with me. My 55 Imperial is presently in a weekend inside car show. In order to get the car ready for the show last week, I had to change the spark plugs and subsequently used my Craftsman timing light, no kidding. Also while driving the car to the show I heard a faint grinding noise and thought to myself that I needed to check the wheel bearings when I got the car home. Wow, you are good at knowing what my old cars need before I do. What are you doing this week? I could sure use your insight in my garage. I would ask Bill Bennett but he's one of those guys who plugs his cars into computers so I'm thinking he would be of no help.

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