Let’s give a few minutes of attention to this rare survivor, a ’62 Mercury Custom Villager Station Wagon. The marque’s top-trim wagon model in their compact entry line.
If these wagons don’t seem familiar to you, particularly in “Country Squire” trim, it’s no wonder. While the Comet-based wagons were available since the model appeared in 1960, the Fake-Woodie Villager didn’t appear until ’62.
To mark the occasion the model appropriately got its own devoted brochure. After all, station wagons were still a trendy thing. And Comet wagons had been doing enough business to warrant their own “Country Squire” take.
In the end, it didn’t move huge numbers. About 2300 sold in ’62 and the model’s best figures were in ’66 with 3880 units. Still, the Villager remained around until the end of the Comet’s run.
So this is one of 2300, still roaming the streets and from the looks of things, halfway through restoration? Regarding the exterior, most of the bits are still in place but with some minor non-original add-ons.
Plates are from California, though it’s selling in Hawaii. Considering the wagon’s hot climate origins, I’ll forgive the stuck-on side window shades.
There’s that Comet face! And about the Comet’s origins, we’ve talked plenty at CC (links further below).
Color is Champagne/Off White, with a two-tone black and white interior that seems to have been partially refurbished. However, the dash’s padding does seem to show its 62 years of wear. The ad claims that it has a C4 automatic (3-speed) but if so it must have been swapped in later, as the original Mercomatic was a 2-speed. Plus, there’s an A/C unit under the dash.
Still, aside from the warped-cracked dashboard top, most everything else seems to be in place. Not an easy feat after six decades around…
Engine is Ford’s 170cid inline-six with 101 hp, which according to the seller runs strong.
As an ‘upscale’ compact model, the rear window is powered.
So, if you want to stay in Dearbonr’s fold, but a Falcon wagon is just too common for you, how about this good ol’ Mercury Villager?
On the other hand, don’t expect a cheapie. There’s no price on the sales ad (HERE), and old wagons have been gaining in value. But well, that would be the price of being a tad different, right?
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1960 Mercury Comet – Orphan Looking For A Home
CC Comparison: 1958 Edsel And 1960 Comet – Edsel And Son Of Edsel
Can’t help to point out it has an automatic indicator But you can miss that big A/C compressor on the engine ! kewl & love the patina especially on this wagon !
Yes, it’s clearly an automatic. Text has been amended.
Lose the skirts!
It’s fun to see this one—and I hope its next owner looks after it well. I’m a little relieved that it’s in Hawaii and not nearby (so I won’t be tempted)–it’s the kind of car I could actually maintain mostly on my own.
Yeah me too. Whew, it’s in Hawaii.
I’m usually not much for fender skirts but in this case it goes with the overall vibe. Great car!!
From the photo, this appears to have automatic transmission, not “three on the tree”
Yes; text has been amended.
“merc o matic”.
Mom’s ’62 Comet S-22 (which I later owned) had a black vinyl padded dashboard like that, except ours was in faultless, mint condition! The Comet was garaged much of the time since Mom bought it used in ’64. The 57-58 Turnpike Cruiser/Park Lane steering wheel (standard on the S-22) was also in excellent shape–beautiful ivory and black.
Sadly, I suspect that car got junked by a later owner, and all those beautiful mint condition details got junked with it.
Looks like this car was advertised on Barn Finds in 2020 – and then after that was used in a Disney movie series filmed in Hawaii. So maybe that’s how it got to Hawaii, and quite possibly it was never registered there because it was used as a movie prop and the owners didn’t have a permanent use for it. Just a guess.
One of the commenters in the Barn Finds listing (https://barnfinds.com/1-of-2318-1962-mercury-comet-villager/) said he was familiar with this car’s history, and that it was from the Los Angeles area originally, which would explain both the lack of rust and the patina.
Neat wagon – hope it finds a good home.
Fender skirts gotta go. Seems a good deal of the car is still standing.
Mercury did a good job of making the Comet look and feel a bit upscale from the Falcon. The 1962 model here was actually the first that was a Mercury; the two previous years the Comet was its own marque. Nonetheless Mercury went all in on the divisional branding with large MERCURY badging both front and rear. This was uncommon in the 1960s when Detroit was skittish about putting the marque names in big letters on anything but their full-size cars; the smaller ones that began appearing in 1960 were prominently badged Falcon, Corvair, Valiant, Chevy II, Chevelle etc., but you had to look closely to find any Ford or Chevrolet branding on the car. Small cars didn’t seem to be considered “real” Chevys, Fords, Buicks, etc. until well into the ’70s.
The underdash A/C unit has Mercury branding. Was this what was supplied at the factory, or a dealer add-on?
Apparently AC was offered, which surprised me a bit. But here is the picture from the ’62 sales brochure: And, besides being slow, these things had tiny brakes…certainly inadequate if you’re going to have 6 passengers and gear in a station wagon!
When living in New Jersey, between 1958-62, my mother’s first car as she didn’t drive earlier, was a white Comet station wagon. More than likely a 1960 for all I know as I was only six. However, I do remember hanging out the back window when she was driving. This Comet, in the story, looks to be a grade 4+ to 3- car at best and I know what I would value it at Curious what the seller thinks?
Ditch the awful fender skirts and the fake wood it would almost be an attractive car, but after one early Falcon already I sure dont want another.
Pretty neat, I hope it goes to a good owner who will love and cherish it .
Not including the price shouldn’t be allowed at it usually means jerkhoff seller.
-Nate