LN7_NUT's 1961 Monarch
First let me start by letting you know that this is not a Mercury Monarch, the Mercury monarch was a mid 70's based car that was sold in the US and Canada, this is a Canadian Monarch which was marketed as it's own brand and sold only in Canada from 1947 to 1961.
It's not a Ford monarch, it's not a Mercury monarch, it's just a Monarch.
Of the roughly 3300 1961 Monarchs built, there was only 497 4 door hard-tops, of those built I hear there is less then 5% that still exist.
I bought this car from an estate of a car collector I knew in my area, he was a business man and car guy who always treated me well. I never even heard about the auction till weeks after it happened, but I heard there were still some cars left over, the dregs basically, and I needed parts for a few of my projects so I figured it was worth investigating.
When I got there I was shocked at the quality cars still left, and I ended up buying 6 cars out of there (2002 Bonneville with 32 000 km on it, 56 Meteor Niagara wagon, 59 Meteor Rideau 500 2 door hard-top, 66 Mercury M 100 step side, and a 56 Mercury COE) everyone I talked to about the Monarch said it was rusted out, had bad floors and a bad engine, but I have been doing this long enough to know what to look for and where, so inspected the car and the only rust I found was on the inner rear quarters and the rockers, both easy to fix places! so I pulled the car out, winched it on my trailer and took it home, within an hour we had it running and driving, and it runs like a top! (I rewired most of the under hood harness)
The car has a power front bench seat, power windows, power locks, power steering and power brakes, and a 390 HO with a 4 bbl!
This winter was bad... still waiting for the snow to finish melting and the yard to dry so I can get started, but I did fire her up the other day... ran so nice!
When I cleaned out the trunk I found a full set of the extremely rare hubcaps and spare trim and other hard to find parts, so all I need now is one headlight ring and some minor TLC!
I picked up a new master cylinder for it and am locating all the rubber brake lines and wheel cylinders to do it all the right way, I have some tires for it too, so this will get underway in the spring!
Nice Photoshop by James D on the HAMB.
True to my word, this spring even though it has been extremely wet and dreary out, we did the wheel bearings and the brakes all the way around. But first I had to pull the car out of the mud...
I never parked it in mud, the mud found us, lucky for me I just happen to have a tow truck!
I recently picked up a 1961 plate for the front of the car, looks nice!
We put the car up on jack stands to facilitate working on all four corners easily, I really need a shop to work on cars in. While the car was off of the ground, I took the opportunity to try on different wheels for fun.
I was not really fond of any of them, but at least I have a lot of options on this bolt pattern. We finally settled on 16 inch 2000's Crown Victoria Police car wheels and centers, I think it looks great with them!
My dad and I got the power windows working on the front, but the rears are seized, so I need to find new motors for them.
But I did finally get to see the car with the windows down... it looks cool!
Some Photoshop from me for fun.
We took the Monarch to the 14th annual Reynolds Alberta Museums "History Road" car show, and it went over very well.
Got many many comments from people that they had never seen a 61 Monarch before, lots of compliments too!
Fellow CarDomain member cdncarnut83 was there too with his 2003 Mazda Miata MX-5 , he managed to get his belly in my photo when I was trying to get a shot of the Monarch in the line up at the show, LOL!
Lining up for the parade, such cool cars at this show, and they display us in chronological order, so it's quite the sight!
While cruising the event a celebrity hopped in with me for a while, that was fun!
From left to right is my older Brother Jay, Joe McBryan from "Ice pilots NWT" (on Discovery) my dad, Me, and cdncarnut83 A.K.A. Nate!
People were really taking photos at that point, even one of the local newspapers!
After the show my dad and I drove the Monarch home, this is the first time in maybe 30 years the car has more then idled around off road, my older brother followed in his bonneville just in case there was an issue.
At first it was hesitant to shift, and the Police pulled us over...
but the car was legal and he was really nice to us and even told us about a car accident farher up the highway, so we took the back roads home to avoid it and go at our own pace. the tranny worked perfectly after 5 miles and the car has loads of power!
I snapped this photo of my dad driving the monarch, he loved it.
So as it sits now, the car is still in need of a tune up, and upper ball joints and one tie rod end, not too much at least!
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© LN7 NUT 2010-2013
