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History 1957 Mercury Mermaid

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Oct 16, 2009.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    TiredIronGRB likes this.
  2. Alex Yohnk
    Joined: Sep 7, 2005
    Posts: 828

    Alex Yohnk

    wow. never new about this and it's only 60 miles away.
     
  3. Asphalt Outlaw Hero
    Joined: Dec 9, 2006
    Posts: 963

    Asphalt Outlaw Hero
    Member
    from Dixie

    Wow,I'd forgotten about this car! Brings back images of Tom McCall and beach racing.
     
  4. Too bad the motor let go... cool story. I guess staring at the ceiling works!
     

  5. 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.
     
  6. froghawk
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 857

    froghawk
    Member

    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!
     
  7. 1950ChevySuburban
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 6,187

    1950ChevySuburban
    Member Emeritus
    from Tucson AZ

    Damn fine rocket ship there! Never heard of it before, sure is classy.
     
  8. autobodyed
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,943

    autobodyed
    Member
    from shelton ct

    WOW! what a machine. glad to see it still lives on.
     
  9. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,862

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    Never seen or heard of this beast, it is frightening.......I love it!
     
  10. unclescooby
    Joined: Jul 5, 2004
    Posts: 4,993

    unclescooby
    Member
    from indy

    I think the original was lost forever if I'm not mistaken. I think the picture is Royce's replica. Still, badass car.
     
  11. Silhouettes 57
    Joined: Dec 9, 2006
    Posts: 2,791

    Silhouettes 57
    Member

    Thanks for the reminder.... what a cool car!
     
  12. SuperFleye
    Joined: Jul 17, 2005
    Posts: 2,053

    SuperFleye
    Alliance Vendor

    cool car, never seen it before!
     
  13. I Drag
    Joined: Apr 11, 2007
    Posts: 883

    I Drag
    Member

    I hope you weren't impersonating David Letterman too much.
     
  14. JD's 32
    Joined: Dec 30, 2005
    Posts: 873

    JD's 32
    Member
    from TX

    Neat, cant decide if i like it or not. Man they built some crazy stuff back then.
     
  15. racer756
    Joined: May 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,559

    racer756
    Member

    Thanks for the lack of sleep. Good shit.
     
  16. 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:

    HRM July '57 cover.jpg
    HRM July '57 - Zoom of lower half of cover.jpg
    HRM July '57 - Zoom of Merc Mermaid on cover.jpg
    Art (& Llyod) Chrisman in Cockpit.jpg

    ... Re-created by Royce Brechler in 2000:

    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Close_Up_Grill.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Close_Up_Spun_Headlight_Covers.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Underhood_Engine.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Interior_Door_bar.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Interior_Dash.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Close_Up_Cockpit.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Close_Up_Fairing.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Rear_Parked.jpg
    1957_Mercury_Monterey_Mermaid+Rear_Side_View_Parked.jpg
    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).
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2017
  17. Slim Pickens
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 3,343

    Slim Pickens
    Member

    Thanks Ryan and Hemi32! Love the side by side on the cover of the July 57 HOT ROD and those light cover treatment.
     
  18. daddio211
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 6,012

    daddio211
    Member

    Yeah, cuz we're going to tell Marci unless you pay us a bunch of money! :eek:
     
  19. 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.
     
  20. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,401

    catdad49
    Member

    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
     
  21. froghawk
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 857

    froghawk
    Member

    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.
     
  22. turdytoo
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 1,568

    turdytoo
    Member

    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.
     
  23. Found a couple more pics:

    [​IMG]
    '57 Mercury Mermaid on Daytona Beach (image from Hemmings.com)

    [​IMG]

    ... and the results from Daytona Beach Speed Week 1957:

    [​IMG]
    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.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2017
  24. sr
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 418

    sr
    Member
    from Monterey

    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 -->
     
  25. Cruiser
    Joined: May 29, 2006
    Posts: 2,241

    Cruiser
    Member

    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. :eek:

    CRUISER :cool:
     
  26. That and it's got the aerodynamics of a barn door .. Think of what it would have been in a '53 Studebaker ...
     
  27. 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....
    [​IMG]
     
  28. cornernfool
    Joined: May 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,112

    cornernfool
    Member

    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.
     
  29. Mad Mark
    Joined: Jun 23, 2007
    Posts: 481

    Mad Mark
    Member

    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.
     
  30. 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........
     

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