I met up with Michael Obermeyer recently at the Dutchess Cruisers Saturday Night Gathering in Highland. I have known Mike for several years. His hobbies include restoring cars and trucks and making model cars that resemble full-size cars. I must admit, I am one of Mike’s customers. He made an exact copy of my 1968 GTO, right down to the hanging fuzzy dice.

Mike’s recent classic car is a 1964 Mercury Monterey Marauder. He has had it for about a year. It was purchased in the Liberty area from the second owner of the car. The Monterey sports the original 390 V8 engine with 335 horsepower. It has a three-speed automatic transmission. The exterior paint is called Polar White. The 1964 Mercury Monterey Marauder has a seating capacity of six passengers. The original sticker price in 1964 was $2,820. It has a curb weight of 3895 lbs. It is 215.5 inches in length and has a wheelbase of 120 inches. There were only 2,926 two-door sedans produced. Polar White Monterey Marauders are even rarer.

Mike enjoys going on cruise nights and talking to other car people He enjoys cruising Hudson Valley country roads with his wife, Amanda, listening to Heavy Metal music.

What was happening in 1964: President Johnson was re-elected President, North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin, The Beatles released their first album in the U.S., Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston for World Heavyweight Championship, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr received the Nobel Peace Prize, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Johnson, “My Fair Lady” was Best Picture of the year, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles was the number one song for the year.