If you’re into rare Fords that nobody knows about, we’ve got something that has literally never existed before. The reclusive 1970 Mercury Montego Coupe has received its first-ever widebody, twin-turbo rendering makeover and has become a slammed digital race car.
The Mercury division is already a little bit reclusive. But one of the models they made is already quite famous in the classic/muscle car scene, and that’s the Mercury Cougar. Whereas that car is a fancier-looking version of the early Mustang, the Montego comes from the class above.
In 1968, the Mercury Montego made its debut across North America (it was available in Canada a year before that). It became the alternative to the Ford Torino, which was the Blue Oval’s intermediate-sized model.
The car was obviously available in all kinds of body styles, including the convertible, a four-door sedan and even a station wagon with woodgrain trim. However, we’re here to talk about the Montego Coupe. But all of them were offered in regular or MX trim levels to replace the Comet Capri and Comet Caliente nameplates.
Caliente? Yes, the late 60s had a vacation theme going on, and the Montego name actually comes from Montego Bay, a holiday destination in Jamaica. But anyway, in 1970, Ford gave the MK1 Montego a mid-life refresh with a pointy hood and grille, which means this rendering can only be based on the 70 or 71 model year.
What’s under the hood?
Digital artist Hugo Silva Designs has chosen this rare muscle car as his rendering basis. He gives no description of its features. However, I see a very clear influence from Ken Block’s Hoonicorn Mustang. Way to keep it in the family!
If you’ve been following the development of the Hoonicorn since the beginning, you’ll remember that it used to have exactly this kind of matte black look. Of course, the widebody kit also sells the drift car Montego’s new persona. Besides being slammed to the ground, the Forino’s sister car also gets massive fenders, a custom grille, and lots of aero, culminating with the rear diffuser.
However, the components that really strike you as “Ken Block would buy that” are the turbochargers and the wheels. It appears that this digital Mercury coupe now has not only a couple of turbos sticking through the sides of the hood but also a Billet intake or perhaps even a supercharger. Either way, this gives off funny car/dragster vibes, but I can’t see where the intercooler would even fit.
As for the engine, the Montego would have fit nicely with a 351 Windsor back in the day, or even a 390 V8. But of the big-block Fords, this rendering is begging for a 427 badge, simulated today as a Roush 427-R Crate Engine.
As for the wheels, I’ve always wanted to own a set of copper alloys from fifteen52 on my car, so it’s easy to spot what’s going on. The Hoonicorn has the Tarmac R40s, but these 5-spokes appear to be based on the Turbomac HDs which are on the Hoonitruck.
