During its production, the Monterey would be offered in multiple body styles, ranging from coupes, convertibles, sedans, hardtops, and station wagons.

Following the 1974 model year, Mercury discontinued the Monterey, consolidating its full-size range down to the Marquis and Colony Park station wagon.

For 2004, the Monterey nameplate was revived, becoming the counterpart of the Ford Freestar minivan; it was produced through the 2007 model year.

Standard features included leather faced seats, simulated leather headliner, wool carpets, chrome-plated interior garnish moldings, two-toned dashboard, special black steering wheel, fender skirts, dual outside rearview mirrors, full wheelcovers & gold winged hood ornament.

As Ford began to position Mercury as a mid-priced competitor to the Pontiac Chieftain, Buick Special, Studebaker Commander, Hudson Pacemaker, Kaiser Virginian, Nash Statesman, Dodge Meadowbrook and Dodge Coronet, all Mercury vehicles received a styling and engineering redesign for 1952, such as 18% more window area.

[1] Eleven exterior colors were offered and seventeen two-tone color combinations were provided, and the standard list of equipment included broadcloth upholstery, full carpeting, and electric clock, luggage compartment light and chrome window surroundings.

[1] A station wagon was first introduced as a Mercury for 1953 including an optional "woodie" appearance, the same year a Siren Red Monterey Convertible became Ford's forty-millionth car produced.

The same year, it gained the 292 cu in (4.8 L) Y-block from the Thunderbird, producing 188 hp (140 kW) with the standard transmission or 198 with the Merc-O-Matic.

in[13] and all Mercury sedans underwent an exterior revision, trading its crest badge for a "Big M" emblem.

[1] The update brought several functional revisions, including a 12-volt electric system which allowed the installation of power operated accessories to be installed including air conditioning, standard dual exhaust to improve engine performance, and an automatic self-lubrication system (for the steering and front suspension).

[19] In addition, childproof rear door locks, seatbelts, and a padded dashboards were introduced as free-standing options.

[31] For 1960, the Monterey underwent a facelift; along with visually reducing exterior trim (and tailfins),[32] the update shifted its appearance closer in line to the newly introduced Mercury Comet compact sedan and the shared Ford Galaxie platform.

While slightly more adorned than its Galaxie counterpart, the Monterey continued to adopt more subdued styling, shifting chrome trim nearly entirely to the front and rear fascias and the roofline.

[39] For 1963, the Monterey underwent a substantial revision to its roofline, reintroducing the retractable rear window used by the 1958-1960 Continental model line and the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser.

[40] The front grille adopted a sharply-divided concave design, with the six-lens taillamp rear fascia making a return.

Coinciding with the Montclair and Park Lane, the Monterey was reintroduced as a two-door sedan; the four-door hardtop was only offered as a Marauder fastback.

Growing in size to a 123-inch wheelbase (4 inches longer than Ford), the Monterey adopted an all-new chassis and redesigned rear suspension, abandoning leaf springs for a coil-sprung live rear-axle.

The rear fascia was also styled similar to the Continental (adding two taillamp lenses to the bumper); all vestiges of the tailfins were removed.

[53] For 1969, the Mercury model line underwent a significant revision, with the Montclair repackaged as the Monterey Custom trim level.

While the trim package was similar to the mid-level Ford Country Sedan the Monterey station wagon didn't have a similar trim package nameplate, the simulated woodgrain body panels or concealed headlights like the more upscale Colony Park and continued the appearance until the Monterey nameplate was retired in 1975.

While retaining the roofline shared with Ford, the Monterey adopted design elements similar to the larger Lincoln Continental, included its wide-pointing grille and taillamps.

Redesigned door handles no longer protruded from the exterior; rear fender skirts were standardized on all full-size Mercury sedans except the base-trim Monterey.

For 1972, the Monterey underwent minor exterior revisions, replacing the full-width horizontal grille for an egg-crate style design.

[55] For 1973, the full-size Mercury line underwent an exterior redesign, adapting to the introduction of federally mandated 5 mph bumpers.

[55] Along with slightly more angular styling, the Monterey adapted much of the front fascia of the Ford Galaxie, distinguished largely by a centered eggcrate grille, with fender skirts becoming an option.

Both of those 429s were replaced by single 209 net horsepower 429 four-barrel for 1972, which was designed to run on regular, low lead or unleaded gasoline as was the case with all Ford Motor Company engines starting with the 1972 model year.

The 429 V8 was discontinued after 1973 and Lincoln's 460 V8 became the top option on all models for 1974.After 1963, the Monterey was not sold in Canada, but was supplanted by the resurrected Meteor.

Meteor competed in the low-priced field, but its upper trim series (Montcalm and LeMoyne) were typically very similar to the U.S. Monterey both in styling and appointments.