Mercury 1949 - 51 custom & mild custom galerie

This 1951 Mercury is a one-of-a-kind custom topless roadster. It was recently professionally built from a rust-free 4-door sedan. No expense was spared on this nut-and-bolt build. It runs and drives like a new car. The fit and finish are outstanding all around.



Mechanics
Big Block 454ci V8 Engine
Quadrajet 4bbl Carb
HEI Distributor
Turbo 400 Automatic Transmission
Ford 9" Open Rear End with 3.0:1 Gears
Power Rack and Pinion Steering
Power Front Disc Brakes, Rear Drum
New Fuel and Brake Lines
Chrome Valve Covers
Chrome Alternator
New Radiator
Electric Fan with Fan Shroud
Dual Exhaust with Factory Replacement Mufflers
Leaf Spring Rear Suspension
Front Sway Bar
Mustang II Front Suspension
New Rear Shocks
Nicely Painted Gas Tank


Body
Mirror Finish Black Paint
Gorgeous Chrome Bumper and Grille
Excellent Fit and Finish
Suicide Doors
Shaved Door Handles
Door Lips and Jambs are Solid and Nicely Painted
Fender Skirts
No Top
Highly Detailed Undercarriage
Original Floors are Solid and Nicely Painted
Rockers are in Great Shape
Sub-Framed
205/75/15 Wide White's
15" Wheels


Interior
Beautiful Red Interior
Bucket Seats
Console
Lokar Shifter
Omega Gauges
Chrome ldidit Tilt Steering Column
Beautifully Painted Dash
Air Ride Controls in Center Console
Trunk is Upholstered to Match

Ford 460 CID big-block V-8 engine with four-bbl. carb with competition cam, lifters and valve springs, Weiand intake manifold, FAST E6 ignition and EZEFI self-tuning fuel injection
Automatic transmission
Updated Griffin radiator, transmission cooler, fan and shroud
Car sports a four-inch chop with a 3.5-inch slant
Air-ride suspension with ACCUAIR management system, D2600 Firestone bags and two ACCUAIR EXO compressor mounts
Front upper and lower strong arm suspension system
Aeromotive stealth fuel cell
Master power disc brake conversion, power steering, power windows, classic air-conditioning, VDO gauge cluster
Two-battery charging system, remote control entry, remote trunk release




Remember Hell’s Chariot, driven by Leo, leader of the bad-ass Scorpions gang in “Grease?” The one who raced Danny Zuko and Greased Lightning down the Los Angeles River and lost in the climactic scene? MotoeXotica is pleased to present a similar car, a 1951 Mercury Eight Custom Chop Top.

Originally made at Ford’s Edison Assembly plant in Metuchen, New Jersey, this car has been heavily modified from stock. Dressed in putty gray paint with stylized maroon pinstriping, the car’s paint and trim show very well, with only minor blemishes visible upon close inspection. Its tinted windows are in good shape and all vehicle lights are intact and clear. The Mercury’s body panels are laser straight, dent-free and the hood features eight rows of vents to allow engine heat to escape. Car sports a four-inch chop with a 3.5-inch slant.



Occupying the engine bay is a Ford 460 CID big-block V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor, replacing the original stock 255 CID Flathead V-8. The engine bay is clean and features many performance parts – a Griffin radiator, transmission cooler, fan and shroud, a Weiand intake manifold, competition cam, lifters and valve springs, a FAST E6 ignition, EZEFI self-tuning injection and a two-battery charging system. The engine is buttoned to an automatic transmission with floor-mounted shifter. To get in the car, you have to open the driver’s side vent window then use the interior door release; there are no exterior door handles. The Mercury’s brakes have been converted to power discs.



Inside, it has complementary and reciprocating hues, a maroon dash with stylized putty-colored pin stripes – plus putty-colored vinyl seats, split bench in front, with maroon cloth inserts over black carpet. The horn is inoperable but there are working VDO gauges within a burled plood border and flanking the two-spoke steering wheel with an image of the Roman god on the hub. A classic air-conditioning system is under the dashboard with a Pioneer AM/FM stereo above it and a pair of Kenwood speakers in the rear package shelf. Car also has a remote trunk release.


Another unique feature of this Mercury is that it has an air-ride suspension with ACCUAIR management system, with Firestone D2600 air bags and two compressor ACCUAIR EXO mounts and an Aeromotive Stealth Fuel Cell. Car rides on radial tires surrounding 15-inch steel wheels.

Within its era and beyond, the Mercury Eight was popular with customizers. In 1949, Sam Barris built the first lead sled from a 1949 Mercury Eight; the Eight became the definitive lead sled, much as the Ford V-8 (as the “deuce”) became the definitive hot rod. The Eights were among the first models to receive an aftermarket OHV engine swap, since Oldsmobile and Cadillac developed the first high-compression OHV V-8 engines in 1949, whereas Ford was still using a sidevalve engine. Sam and George Barris also used the 1949 body style to build “the most famous custom car ever,” the Hirohata Merc, for customer Bob Hirohata in 1953. Setting a style and an attitude, it had a “momentous effect” on custom car builders, appeared in several magazines at the time and reappeared numerous times since, earning an honorable mention on Rod & Custom‘s “Twenty Best of All Time” list in 1991. The Eight remains a very popular subject for car modelers.


Fiberglass replicas of the Eight, inspired by Sam Barris’ car, are still in production and are popular with custom and rod enthusiasts.

Engine and Drive Train:
350 engine double barrel carb (plenty of get up and go without breaking the bank for gas)
350 Auto trans.
Chevy Rear end with drum brakes
Engine needs a good cleaning and fresh paint would make it look very good. Has finned valve covers that would clean up well.



Suspension:
Original Mercury Front with drum brakes. Has been lowered in front. Steering is original mercury box and tie rods. I have new Tie Rods inner and outer as well as king pins and bushings. (Not installed yet) Front brake pads were replaced recently and wheel cylinders inspected at that time. I have a new power brake booster and master cylinder kit to do away with the old style master cylinder. It has a remote tank and mounts underneath the drivers floorboard. Included is a larger front sway bar that is also not installed yet. Rear Suspension is leaf spring with dearched springs and lowering blocks. Tires are bias Ply and have 1/2 - 3/4 tread left on them.



Body:

No rust that I have been able to find anywhere under the car (inner/outer rockers, quarters, trunk floor, etc.) Custom work includes shaved side chrome, door handles and trunk lid. Doors have electric poppers installed for entry with a key switch to shut power off to them. Single bar front grille. Rounded hood corners and Packard taillights. Paint shows well, but needs freshening up. Bumpers look good, but the chrome is older with some age showing.




Interior:
White vinyl with Blue Velor that was done probably 15-20 years ago. Carpet is blue. All shows very well and cleans up acceptable. Gauges all work, as do all the lights. Trunk is finished with same blue carpet. Heater works as it should with the exception that it needs valve to shut off during summer. All glass looks good with the exception of a little discoloring on the vent wing.