1957 Mercury Monclair Phaeton Sedan

"Beauty shared by no other car – biggest size and value increase in the industry."

In 1957, Mercury's designers went mad. After the elegant lines of the predecessor, they created a car which perfectly fitted into the jet-age euphoria. Mercury's top-model Montclair was overloaded with details and had chunky proportions, but the design was a hit with the motor press, because it was something new. Unfortunately, the customers initially weren't that euphoric about the fancy styling.

This Mercury, parked in the streets of boiling Santiago de Cuba, shows off what the advertising described as: "Exclusive dream-car design. Here is clean-lined beauty, a massive grace, that is Mercury's alone. Notice the distinctive Jet-Flo bumpers, V-angle tail-lights . . ."