Mercury Commuter
As a full-size station wagon manufactured by Mercury, the Commuter was in production from 1957 to 1968. With its lower price point than Mercury’s two other wagons, it was designed to appeal to a more fiscally conservative consumer. The vehicle made its debut with a new body style as Mercury tried to gain distinction with the construction of hard top station wagons.
The Commuter was released as a two door wagon and then as a four-door. The two-door model had a very brief run lasting only two years. In 1957, optional equipment for the Commuter included a 368 cubic inch Lincoln Y-Block V8 engine.
Production of the Commuter was temporarily suspended in 1963 as Mercury, along with many other auto manufacturers, tried to monetize the public’s interest in the Space Race. The United States and the Soviet Union were in competition to see who could master space flight first. The public was very excited as if they had an actual stake in the outcome. But many residents of both countries wanted bragging rights as their governmental leaders fought for technological dominance. This was the catalyst for the United States’ drive to be the first to land on the moon. Mercury attempted to cash in on the public’s appetite by producing a line of Mercury Meteor station wagons. The Meteor was a series of low-end full-size vehicles that were a dismal failure for the company.
In 1964, the Commuter was reinstated after the Meteor was discontinued. Interest in the Space Race did not translate into sales for a vehicle no one wanted. Though the Commuter was brought back to life, it was permanently phased out after the 1968 model year.
All in the Family
One of the sister station wagons was the Voyager. It was a medium priced full-size wagon that was manufactured from 1957 through 1958. It was offered as a two-door and as a four door. The car did not make much of an impression in the automotive market.
The Colony Park was the other sister station wagon to the Commuter. This full-size wagon had a longer production run being manufactured from 1957 to 1991. For those paying attention to the mid-priced station wagon segment of the market, the Colony Park was well-known for its simulated wood-grain paneling on the sides. Consumer sentiment and taste changed in the early 90s. The station wagon body style was dropped by many manufacturers including Mercury. The Colony Park had no replacement.
The SUV and minivan segments grew in the late 1980s and never stopped expanding. Their success caused the sales of full-size wagons to decline sharply. Though its time was brief, the Commuter was not entirely forgotten. In 1968, a 13-year-old toy company called Matchbox added a 1:72 scale model of the Commuter to its lineup. Matchbox, now owned by Mattel, is still very popular among car collectors both young and old.
It didn’t have much of an impact in the industry, but the Mercury Commuter still showcased many traits of the automobiles of the era.
