The Classic Mercury' s at a Glance ...

The Mercury brand was introduced to the public in 1939. The Mercury had been on the drawing boards for four years. The  Mercury line was the idea of Edsel Ford, who wanted to offer the public a car that was positioned between the Ford and the upscale Lincoln.

The Mercury for 1939 came standard with a perky 95 horsepower flathead V8 motor, and was known for its performance right out of the gate. It was quicker than the Ford, and could easilly reach 100 mph.  In what was unique at the time, the transmission gearshift was located on the steering column, which caused quite a stir amongst the buying public, who were used to having their gear shifts on the floor.

At the age of  10, Mercury was marked with the introduction of the newly designed 49 Merc. A new, larger V8 motor, new “inverted bathtub” styling, brought in 300,000 new owners for a car that was destined to become a true American classic, and in later years a favorite of hot rodders and street rodders alike.

The Fifties produced their share of classic Mercurys as well, and the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser surely was one of them. It was inspired by the experimental show car in 1956, the Mercury XM Turnpike Cruiser. The production 1957 Turnpike Cruiser came with enough gadgets to make Inspector Gadget crazy with envy.

The list of "standard" features in itself was pretty impressive.   A "skylight dual curved windshield", with an electric powered "drop down reverse slanted back window" started things off on the outside. Inside, there was the "Seat-O-Matic" which could be adjusted to 49 different positions, front, back and up and down, and then "squatted down" when the ignition key was removed for ease of entry and exit.

A "computer clock" was featured that could calculate average trip speeds, and it even featured an odometer (not common to Fifties cars). A push button "Merc-O-Matic" transmission "keyboard control" was standard, as were power steering and power brakes. And then there was the unique flattened out top steering wheel which was supposed to give you a better view of the road. And speaking of roads, their was a map that showed all of the available turnpikes in the USA in 1957. Quite a ride.... this 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser! A convertible version of this car was the Pace Car for the 1957 Indy 500 race. The production models were an exact replica of the Pace Car, painted "Sun Glitter" yellow.  The exterior featured front fender turn indicators, and a illuminated Mercury Crest rear deck ornament. There were 1,265 units produced, which sold at $4,103 each.

The Sixties Mercury's were all about speed and performance, keeping with Ford's "Total Performance" Program.  Models such as the Cyclones, Marauders, and Meteors rounded out the Sixties, with the decade coming to a close with the introduction of the classic Mercury Cougar.

Classic Mercury History Timeline:

• 1940 Sealed Beam headlights featured
• 1942 Late model Mercurys were chromeless "Blackout" models
• 1946 Wood side body Sportsman Convertibles introduced
• 1950, August 1 Millionth Mercury produced
• 1954 Mercury Sun Valley with Plexiglas Roof

Mercury Car Quick Facts:

• Mercury name hand picked by Edsel Ford
• "Falcon" and "Winged Victory" names were considered

Classic Mercury Advertising Slogans:

• "A dramatic expression of dream car design"
• "Non-stop to Miami with the Mercury"
• "More of everything you Want"
• "The car that Makes Driving Easier"
• "Have you Driven a Mercury Lately?"

Significant Mercury People:

• Edsel Ford
• Benson Ford, Head of Mercury Division

Classic Mercury Body Styles:

• 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan,
• woody wagon, station wagon
• 2 door hardtop, 4 door hardtop
• phaeton, coupe, convertible, fastback

Classic Mercury Model Names:

• Sportsman, Monterey, Meteor
• Custom, Montclair, Medalist
• Sun Valley, Turnpike Cruiser, Park Lane
• Commuter, Voyager, Colony Park

More Classic Mercury:  Mercury Images, Mercury Video, Mercury Car Ebay Auctions, Mercury Car Parts Ebay