This is one of those “see it for what it can be, not what it is” type of things. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with the car as it is now, but it could be taken the whole way home to be a really accurate and snarling version of the car that David Pearson drove in the 1974 NASCAR season. As it stands now, this Montego is kind of a stock, gutted, tribute paint wearing cruiser and for many people, that could be enough, but let’s put our thinking caps on here.
Imagine taking this baby and running the full NASCAR style cage, a truck arm rear suspension, dropping the the whole works about three inches, and running a set of electric cutouts that could be activated when rolling in an out of shows, etc. A proper 351 Cleveland needs to be built with a load of compression and camshaft, a four speed handle needs to permeate the floor, and the car needs to be autocross capable in all of its too-heavy steel-bodied glory.
The car right now is cool and anyone who loves old NASCAR would certainly have fond feelings for the era that it recalls but it’s 30% of the way there. This thing needs the full treatment…right?
Craigslist: This 1974 Mercury Montego is a David Pearson tribute car
Oh Hell Yes! I’ve wanted to build a Pearson tribute car for years ! No Cleveland tho’ – awesome engines but this needs a 429 with compression and attitude that thunders even idling, a top loader and deep gears. “Brawler” build with zero subtlety-yes on cut outs- no on truck arms but definitely get it lower. Make sure it can live on the street and the track and then have a ball!
No really a Ford fan but that’s something I would gladly own! OKSnake08 is right about changing it too a 429. Boss9 would be even better!
How about taking the tribute part even further – and making a functional vintage race car out of it? Imagine opening up a wicked 429 on the back straight of Road Atlanta.