Mercury Montego Sports Hauler

What I really enjoy — and sometimes hate — about Car of the Day is that it forces me to learn new things. I'm very interested in European sports cars, micro cars, concept cars…

But it'd get boring after a while if I only wrote about what I like. 

Nobody: 

Me: “Oooh, look, another Citroën…"

I know very little about full-bodied, Malaise-era American classics, trucks, work vehicles…and muscle cars. Growing up in Canada, astride the American border, with Corvettes, GTOs, Chevelles, personal coupes, and every manner of pickup truck as ubiquitous as clouds in the sky.

Suffice it to say, it means I needed to do some homework on the Mercury Montego.

The Montego is the sister car to the Ford Torino, sized in the "intermediate" class of automobiles, loosely defined as something having between a 112 and 118-inch wheelbase.

With more than six available engines, three transmission options, and 11 (!) possible body styles between both Torino and Montego of that vintage, it's not long before I get distracted by the sheer amount of variation between related models of American cars.

What you need to know about the Montego is that, in coupe form, it could be considered a personal coupe or GT car. At the top end in Cyclone trim, a V8 with at least 360 reasons to punch it and wail toward the horizon.

Technically, however, the Sports Hauler wasn't actually a real Montego: it was based on the Ford Ranchero pickup truck, another close relative built on the Torino/Montego chassis. Even though it's cleverly disguised, it makes sense: with a long truck bed already designed, there's plenty of room for cargo.

The only thing left…is to cover up any clues it's a Ranchero. Sports Hauler sports a Montego front end and a Montego-like faux fastback. Without rear seats or windows behind the doors, from the side it's almost an awkward-looking design.