1963 2dr HT - S33 Barn Find

[vwbus1979]

Check out this amazing barn find I purchased about two months ago!

A 63 Meteor S33 Custom with 99,980 on the clock!

vwbus1979.imgur.com/1963_mercury_meteor_s33_squeeky

I was trolling Craigslist looking for a new habit when I found this lil' Meteor from the 2nd owner. He bought it from his father-in-law in 1980 but just garaged it. He has ailing heath so he needed to sell it. $4700.00

When I saw it, I had never heard of a Meteor before. I did a little research and found that the S33 2DR HT was only done in 1963 and was very rare. They only made ~7000 units of which most were sent to Canada. Someone correct me here if I have that wrong. I'm still a bit of a Meteor N00b...

So I called right away and asked "Does it have the V8?" - Yes....My next question: "Where do you live?" ha ha ha...I was so lucky. I was the first caller! I pulled $400 from the ATM, drove to Washington and watched him drive it out of the barn. I was STUNNED to say the least. He let me drive it around the block. I came back, shook his hand and handed him the money. His phone kept going off the hook with others but it was too late for them!

It fired right up! No ticks, rattles, drips, whines or grinds. No problems at all. I asked him about the history. His father-in-law bought it from the showroom in Portland OR. He handed me the paperwork and every single receipt ever done on the car. Then he shocked me: He also had the dealer window stickers. WOW!

This car is 100% original. Red on Red. Immaculate Interior. It only needed a water pump, battery, wiper blades and air in the tires. I AM SO LUCKY!

So...I've contemplated doing some rod mods but everyone tells me "LEAVE IT ALONE"...What are your thoughts? Should I mod it? Drop a 427 in there with a 4 speed? Or do more mild mods like dual exhaust, lower it, bigger wheels? I'm curious as to what you guys think. You own beautiful examples of this fine automobile so I thought I would ask.

Thanks for your time!

Dave

[289hipo]

you are very lucky to find a virgin car like that!it will turn heads just the way she is and should be left in its orig condition! its extreeeeemly gourgous!i think you have the nicest meteor left on the planet!i would love to see under the hood ,trunk,interior photos! good luck! pete wanabe s33 hardtop with 351 windsor!

[octanefam]

Very nice car......

I think less than 7000 were produced at least according to site:

www.mercurystuff.com/1963-models/index.html

Sent you a PM

Todd

[bbqbob]

Dude, you stole that car! You should definatly leave it as is. Original is always more desireable than modified.

bbqbob

[Rob]

Hotrodding reduces reliabilty. According to me!! Just kidding, I always tell people, yours may be faster, but mine is for sure to get there.

[johnc118]

Survivor! awesome

[rustynuts62]

IMHO messing with that car would be like taging the Mona Lisa. Find something that isn't numbers matching to create your artwork.

[fuggug]

In the words of the Beatles "Let It Be, Let It Be Let It Be"

Ours was a bargain find at a garage sale in 1980, paid $400 for it,

All Original and we have left it that way except for the addition of skirts.

The only thing is ours is a 62 4dr sedan. It is in near mint condition and we wouldnt change a thing.

Yours is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! You are so lucky.

[w2zero]

It's yours, do whatever you want with it. Chop the top, alter the wheelbase, primer it and lower it, it is your project. But, take detailed pictures of every square inch of the car, over under and inside every part. Unmolested examples of old cars are hard to come by and the documentation is invaluable. The number stamps on a generator bracket are important to a restorer.

If you want to make it a little more peppy, then think about different rear end gears. They will cause a little increase in fuel consumption but it will result in a bit more fun accelerating. If it is a two barrel carb, and you want the option of hearing secondaries opening up, then opt for a SMALL four barrel of between 410 cfm to 500 cfm as it will still be economical and fun.

Mechanically, everything is available new, repro or rebuildable with the exception of some of the suspension parts.

However, it sounds like this is a case of "everything works good, so don't fix it."

[roy]

If it was a really rare hi-po i'd say leave it alone too
but, you have the perfect base car there to build a wonderful street, track style corner carver.
Really solid car to build that dream machine, Chris Allison now makes a full frame for the early Fairlane, they have the full C-5 suspension bits & when you add up doing the mustang 11 front, a late 8.8" rear the approx. 9K for chris allison full frame suddenly doesn;t sound that expensive!
With a stroker or 351, 5 0r 6 speed, Allsion frame/suspension it would be a dream to drive & certainly be a unique build!

[doberdawg]

4865 63 Meteor S33 2 door hardtops made. Keep engine, but consider dual exhausts, perhaps a 4 barell & DISC brakes, if you are going to drive it much. I need a horn ring center piece if you run across a spare, & have 3 62 & 63 4 door parts cars in California. I am [e-mail]. I have 2 - almost as nice - S-33s One with factory air, back up lights, & power brakes. Both have been converted to (a 289 & a 302) later engines & C4 trannys. But I would prety much leave yours alone except brakes, then only if you intend to drive it a lot.