I've been having problems sleeping this week and for one reason or another, my body decided to catch up last night. As such, I got off to a late start this morning. To make matters worse, I sat down in front of the keyboard this late morning with no... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Always loved the look of that mercury, never knew until today that it was called the "Mermaid". That speed boat like airfoil defitely gave it a unique look.
I've had that issue of HR for ages and always imagined that car in the bright orange-red shown on the magazine cover; it's a little weird to see the recreation in that darker color that I'm assuming is '57 Merc "Fiesta Red." Whatever the color it's one of the coolest factory race cars ever!
I think the original was lost forever if I'm not mistaken. I think the picture is Royce's replica. Still, badass car.
Ryan ... cool post ... and since I believe a thread can never have too many pics, here's some more culled from the Internet (via a BING images search) ... ... HRM July 1957: ... Re-created by Royce Brechler in 2000: EDIT: D'oh! ... Just noticed Ryan's "Editor's note" which provides a link to the StockCarRacing.com webpage with these 9 pics. NOTE: More pics & info can be found on Royce's The Mermaid Merc Site website (click HERE).
Thanks Ryan and Hemi32! Love the side by side on the cover of the July 57 HOT ROD and those light cover treatment.
I will see if I can find the article I have on the recreation. It might have been destroyed in the flood a couple years back.
Love the car,but I love the Lincoln valve covers more. I think they were an option on the AMT 3'N1 T kit, but the memory might be a little shakey. What are the chances of finding a Lincoln w/ these valve covers? Now you got me starin' at the ceiling!! Have a good weekeng and be safe,Cat
Righty-o on the 1/25 covers being in the AMT "T" double kit. The 1/1 valve covers were only on the '56-57 Continental Mk-II, IIRC.
After reading this I had a strange slightly O/T thought. When Richard Strock bought the Lloyd Bakan 3w he did not get the Desoto motor that was in the car. I was told that the car went to Keith Black's shop to have a Chrysler hemi installed but because of the amount of work required, an already built Lincoln race motor was installed. The motor did have the MkII valve covers and I was trying to help when the chromed Crower U-fab manifold was installed. Though it could probably not be verified now I can't help but wonder if the Mermaid motor was the one installed. Yes I know this wasn't the only Lincoln race motor built back then but the area and the period were very close.
Found a couple more pics: '57 Mercury Mermaid on Daytona Beach (image from Hemmings.com) ... and the results from Daytona Beach Speed Week 1957: page 53 of the February 25th 1957 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine NOTE: The SI "DAYTONA'S SPEED CARNIVAL" article is a pretty good read ... just click HERE ... and go to page 50.
Turdytoo I bet you are right. Good thinking. Seems very possible and you were there and probably know the best. Thanks for sharing that thought. <!-- / message -->
To me the Merc is a cool looking race car, as a street car it would leave me cold. It's like Gasser's they look cool at the drags as street cars they look like four off road cars. CRUISER
That and it's got the aerodynamics of a barn door .. Think of what it would have been in a '53 Studebaker ...
I don't know if anybody remembers my Photochop of a '52 Ford 4 door I had that was inspired by the Mermaid... Next time you see a rust free 4 door for cheap....
I believe I have a DVD at home with them running it on the Beach at Daytona, I'll look tonight when I get home. If so I'll find someone thats not a computer moron to post it.
I have this footage on an old VHS tape also. I don't have a working VHS player so I can't confirm it, but I think the tape it is on is called Racing Legends with coverage of the '57 Daytona & '56 Darlington race. It doesn't mention the Mermaid on the box cover, but I think it's the same one. It was one of the budget VHS tapes I picked of somewhere.
Tim Flock sold a VHS tape of the 57 Daytona Beach race of which I have a copy it spotlighted the Mercury racing team and the Mermaid along with some of the other teams including the Cotton Owen's Pontiacs which won the race.. I would love to obtain a DVD copy, to have this transfered to DVD is pretty pricey........