Remember when Mercury tried to sell its Milan? You know, the division’s entry-level intermediate sedan named after the Italian city? Unveiled in 2005, it was available as an ’06 model later in the year. Unfortunately, the only memorable aspect was Jill Wagner leaning against what was basically a re-trimmed Ford Fusion, fitted with plusher accoutrements, stating “You’ve gotta put Mercury on your list.” Mercury sold 166,126 Milans through 2011 (including a scant 2,884 Hybrid versions against a projected 25,000 units annually), as compared to 572,866 Fusions during that period. This highlights a conundrum FoMoCo’s mid-priced division had always seemed to face despite its best efforts.
Case in point is the 1969 Mercury Montego two-door hardtop gracing these pages. The intermediate model entered its second year of production on the heels of racing success, courtesy of Cale Yarborough, who drove his newly minted, Wood Brothers’ prepared, Montego-based Cyclone fastback into the 1968 Daytona 500 winner’s circle in fine fashion. Despite its out-of-the-gate win against the Mopar juggernaut, and another six wins on the NASCAR circuit alone, it was Mercury’s sibling—Torino—that
