Editing Mercury Montego (section)

==First generation (1968–1971)==
{{Infobox automobile
| name = First generation (1968-1971)
| model_years = 1968-1971
| class = [[Mid-size car|Intermediate]]
| body_style = 2-door hardtop<br>2-door convertible<br>4-door sedan<br>4-door hardtop<br>5-door station wagon
| related = [[Ford Torino|Ford Fairlane/Torino]]
| transmission = 3-speed manual<br>4-speed manual<br>3-speed automatic
| wheelbase = {{convert|116.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (sedans) <br> {{convert|113.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (station wagons)
| length = {{convert|206.1|-|209.9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (sedans) <br> {{convert|203.9|-|211.8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (station wagons)
| width = {{convert|76.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = 
| engine = {{ubl|
|{{convert|200|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} I6
|{{convert|250|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} I6
|{{convert|302|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8
|{{convert|351|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8
|{{convert|390|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8
|{{convert|428|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8
|{{convert|429|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8
|}}
| height = {{convert|53.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (sedans) <br>{{convert|55.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (sedans) <br> {{convert|56.0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (station wagons)
| image = 1969 Mercury Montego MX 4-door sedan, front right, 06-08-2024.jpg
| caption = 1969 Mercury Montego MX 4-door sedan
}}
[[File:1968 Mercury Montego MX Convertible.jpg|left|thumb|1968 Mercury Montego MX convertible]]
[[File:1969 Mercury Montego MX Villager wagon.jpg|left|thumb|1969 Mercury Montego MX (optional "Yacht Panel" exterior trim)]]
For 1968, Mercury introduced the Montego as part of its intermediate [[Mercury Comet]] product line.  While its predecessor was repackaged as an entry-level trim, the Montego (sharing its M-letter nameplate with full-size Mercury sedans) replaced the Comet Capri and Comet Caliente under a single nameplate; the high-performance [[Mercury Cyclone|Comet Cyclone]] became a stand-alone model line.  The Montego was the counterpart of the [[Ford Torino]] (itself, phased in to replace the Ford Fairlane).            

The first-generation Montego was initially offered in four body styles: two-door hardtop and two-door convertible, four-door sedan, and five-door station wagon.  The model line was marketed in three trims: Montego and Montego MX (replacing the Comet Capri and Comet Caliente, respectively) and the Montego MX Brougham.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Mercury Full Line Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1968%20Mercury/1968%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image23.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Mercury Full Line Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1968%20Mercury/1968%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image26.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Mercury Full Line Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1968%20Mercury/1968%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image56.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref>  For 1969, the 200 cubic-inch inline-6 was replaced as the standard by a 250 cubic-inch inline-6; a 351 V8 was added as an option (alongside the 302 and 390 V8s), in addition to a 428 Cobra Jet V8 (for non- MX Brougham vehicles)<ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Mercury Full Line Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1968%20Mercury/1968%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image56.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref>
=== 1970 facelift ===
[[File:Mercury (3101067119).jpg|left|thumb|1970 Mercury Montego 2-door hardtop]]
[[File:Flugplatz Mönchengladbach Oldtimer Fly- & Drive In.jpg|left|thumb|1971 Mercury Montego 2-door hardtop]]
For 1970, the Montego underwent a mid-cycle revision, with the Mercury intermediate range dropping the Comet name entirely.  The chassis gained an inch of wheelbase (for both sedans and wagons), as the front fascia was styled with a forward-thrusting grille and hood (concealed headlamps on MX Brougham trim<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Mercury Full Line Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1970%20Mercury/1970%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image14.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref>).  The convertible was dropped from the model range, with the two-door hardtop adopting a sleeker roofline.  Following the introduction of exterior wood-panel trim for Montego station wagons in 1969, Mercury added the Montego MX Villager (serving as the wagon equivalent of the MX Brougham).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Mercury Wagons Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1970%20Mercury/1970%20Mercury%20Wagons%20Brochure/image4.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref> The V8 engine lineup was revised, dropping the 390 and 428 V8s (in favor of a 429 V8; high-performance versions were reserved for Mercury Cyclones<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Mercury Mid Size Brochure |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1970%20Mercury/1970%20Mercury%20Mid%20Size%20Brochure/image13.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref>) and replacing the 351 V8 with an all-new engine of the same displacement.          

For 1971, the grille was restyled to an egg-crate style (retaining the forward-thrusting shape); the concealed headlamps were dropped from the MX Brougham/Villager.  During the model year, Mercury began to add the Cyclone to the Montego line (as its Ford counterparts were all Torinos).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 Mercury Montego Cyclone advertisement |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/autohistorian/8220564240/in/photostream/ |access-date=April 27, 2025 |website=www.flickr.com}}</ref>  The rest of the model line dropped the 429 V8, leaving the 351 Cleveland as the highest-performance V8.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 Mercury Full Line Prestige Brochure (Rev) |url=https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1971%20Mercury/1971%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Prestige%20Brochure%20(Rev)/image27.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.oldcarbrochures.com}}</ref>          

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