112bhp, 255.4 cu. in. Flathead V8, two-barrel carburetor, three-speed manual transmission with overdrive, independent coil spring front with rear leaf spring suspension and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 118"
Little did Ford Motor Company realize in 1949, that the curvaceous Mercury that was about to be unveiled would, in no time at all, be a favorite of customizers across North America. California was the first to discover how this Mercury lent itself so well to chopping, channeling, lowering, etc. Sam Barris took his nearly new '49 Mercury and transformed the rather bulbous in places original into a sleek, chopped and lowered custom legend. Actor James Dean would later drive a black 1949 Mercury in the 1955 motion picture "Rebel Without a Cause", that was nosed, decked and lowered. By that time custom Mercs were common, but following the film, the "lost generation" of teenagers in the 1950s saw the Mercury as a bold symbol of the times.
Originally advertised as "Not a new model" but rather, "the All-New Mercury", it was completely re-engineered; it took its bodywork from the latest Lincoln, rather than the newest Ford. Not just a poser, there were plenty of aftermarket performance parts available for the Flathead Ford V8, but even in "stock car" racing the Mercury came first in two NASCAR events in 1951.
Fully rebuilt from a rust-free, low mileage (22,000 miles) Mercury from California, this Sport Coupe has been lowered, nosed and decked then sprayed in a light blue/gray metallic which highlights the mild customizing that was done. The show quality paintwork and discrete use of gleaming, fresh chrome are subtle, but important changes to create a distinctive, clean look. Inside, the interior was replaced with a correct factory spec blue and gray cloth, which complements the exterior metallic paintwork. A black, fully restored steering wheel is poised in front of a beautiful, typical 1950s chrome-filled, silver-painted dash. Fresh grey carpets stretch from front to back. Under the hood lies a fully detailed Mercury Flathead V8 with a dual-barrel carburetor hooked up to a manual transmission with overdrive.
Expected custom features include the fitting of dual Appleton spotlights, wide whitewalls, full chrome wheel discs on painted bright red steel wheels and rear fender skirts. A heater/defroster and AM radio are features that will increase driving pleasure.
With its California black plates, this 1951 Mercury Two-Door Sport Coupe is the epitome of a custom fifties car. Superb for show or go (and still cool), it will be a great addition to any enthusiast's garage.
Little did Ford Motor Company realize in 1949, that the curvaceous Mercury that was about to be unveiled would, in no time at all, be a favorite of customizers across North America. California was the first to discover how this Mercury lent itself so well to chopping, channeling, lowering, etc. Sam Barris took his nearly new '49 Mercury and transformed the rather bulbous in places original into a sleek, chopped and lowered custom legend. Actor James Dean would later drive a black 1949 Mercury in the 1955 motion picture "Rebel Without a Cause", that was nosed, decked and lowered. By that time custom Mercs were common, but following the film, the "lost generation" of teenagers in the 1950s saw the Mercury as a bold symbol of the times.
Originally advertised as "Not a new model" but rather, "the All-New Mercury", it was completely re-engineered; it took its bodywork from the latest Lincoln, rather than the newest Ford. Not just a poser, there were plenty of aftermarket performance parts available for the Flathead Ford V8, but even in "stock car" racing the Mercury came first in two NASCAR events in 1951.
Fully rebuilt from a rust-free, low mileage (22,000 miles) Mercury from California, this Sport Coupe has been lowered, nosed and decked then sprayed in a light blue/gray metallic which highlights the mild customizing that was done. The show quality paintwork and discrete use of gleaming, fresh chrome are subtle, but important changes to create a distinctive, clean look. Inside, the interior was replaced with a correct factory spec blue and gray cloth, which complements the exterior metallic paintwork. A black, fully restored steering wheel is poised in front of a beautiful, typical 1950s chrome-filled, silver-painted dash. Fresh grey carpets stretch from front to back. Under the hood lies a fully detailed Mercury Flathead V8 with a dual-barrel carburetor hooked up to a manual transmission with overdrive.
Expected custom features include the fitting of dual Appleton spotlights, wide whitewalls, full chrome wheel discs on painted bright red steel wheels and rear fender skirts. A heater/defroster and AM radio are features that will increase driving pleasure.
With its California black plates, this 1951 Mercury Two-Door Sport Coupe is the epitome of a custom fifties car. Superb for show or go (and still cool), it will be a great addition to any enthusiast's garage.
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Auction details
RM - Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook
8:00 AM PT - Aug 2nd, 2008
offered by
RM Auctions
5 West Forest Ave
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
