Projects 1955 Mercury "may cause unsubscribe"

This will be the most boring assed thread in this section, maybe on the entire HAMB... no chop, no flames, no modern BS... just reports and pictures of my terribly slow progress on this mild project; black pepper mild.

a little souped up
stance
some paint
interior
sweet sound of Y-block duals.


Some may recall me posting a short history of this car when a friend of mine took me with him to look it over and determine if he should buy it. He wasn't for sure what it was.

When we got there, I discovered it was a one owner, passed on to the 75 year old son, 1955 Mercury Custom, 2 door, 3 speed, 292, everything delete (not even a heater), with a 1970 something house/brush paint job.

I looked it over and got some history from the seller. The goofy paint job was applied by his step dad to preserve the car.


The pedals weren't even worn, further evidence that the 42,000 miles was legit, and matched the "church on Sunday" story.

I urged my friend to pay him fast and we began the chore of getting from the barn to the trailer. We should have taken some rollers. We dented the trunk and back bumper using the tractor lift method (but not bad).

We managed to get it loaded and headed to the car wash. Of course, we used the "barn dust" setting on at the car wash and everything went fine.

Over the next several weeks, my buddy (78) funded the parts and I did the work and we soon had it safe, inspected and on the road. We continue to improve a few things over the next year. He began letting it set, making it less dependable and less interesting.

I was able to buy it this past June.

To this point, I have not done much.

My girlfriend decided that we should perform some "temporary" interior upgrades. We bought about 30 yard of some cloth and have completed the door panels and almost the back seat. On the door panels, some of the original material was good enough to keep intact.

Due to the paint issue (not into patina preservation), the roof will be my next modification, and I am definitely thinking subtle panels.

I am open to any suggestions or photoshops for this car, as I am just getting started.

Check back next year for updates!

 

welcome to town

 

boring

 

today

 

I like your plan. Sucker looks good now, it'll be even cooler once you make it boring.


By the way, the "barn dust" setting gave me a good laugh.

 

a little help a few months ago

don't be hatin on my temporary tweed (30 yards $10)

 

Cool! I'm surprised the 292 wasn't stuck after setting so long. Don't see many 2 door post Mercs, it's a great looking car. Have fun with it! And, I'm not hate'n on your fabric choice, it looks fine, and the price was right.

Brian

 

Nothing boring about old cars.

 

I dig it!

 

sweet ride.

 

Very cool.. Nice save.. I like that it's a 2dr post model...

 

I'm in.

 

Man, those factory seats are awesome. Teapot Holley. Cool side trim.
Very interested in this thread.

 

Call me crazy, but the green looks really good on that car, in a Jade Idol kind of way.

The dash is absolutely beautiful. I've never seen so many delete plates. The original buyer must have been a "no French pastry" kinda guy.

 

Don't sell your project short! I understand your angle of 'lowering the expectations' for all of us, but still... I'm sure there are plenty of us interested in seeing a mild makeover on a car that's sat unloved for a while. It looks like you're having fun, and not getting in over your head.

.

 

Wish I had one just like it. But then what would I do with another car?

Drive it and smile!

 

Could I ask who is doing the interior? Looks very familiar .

 

My girlfriend and I.

 

I have gotten used to the green. The original was a darker metallic and the roof a pale blue-green. It will be dark again with a light top.

The original no frills guy was a middle aged girl.

 

Cool car what's not to like about a simple fixer-upper..

BTW,I was a hater of tweed back when it was popular,,in street rods & on couches but when you find material that cheap I would probably use it myself! HRP

 

These 2dr posts are cool with just a few simple alterations... Nice car.

 

Love the Merc.
I drove it's younger brother all thru my High School years. (I had a 56).
One of the few cars that I owned that I would like to own again.
Torchie.

 

Great find! Don't worry about the speed of the progress. Rome wasn't built in a day. Sometimes even "better" ideas come with time!

 

Nice car, really like your idea of keeping things simple. Drive it and enjoy it!

 

My first car was a 56 Merc Montclair wagon.... I lived in Montclair Cal. at the time... pretty cool eh?

I worked all summer after school to save up the money to buy it.... $50.00

It was a blast to drive and wish I had another one just like it.

 

Absolutely love that old Merc. The post models have always been my favorite.

Take your time and enjoy the build. Looks like fun to me. And by the way, subtle is a good thing in my book.

 

Way under-appreciated cars. My grandpa had a 56 hardtop.

If you are taking suggestions, I say chrome reverse, narrow whitewalls and a slight forward rake - accentuate those sweet headlight coves.

 

x2.

Understated restraint is something to be proud of, not a reason to make excuses.

Leave the gimmicks to those with more $$ than taste.

 

I like old cars because of the way they were built and designed from the factory, not because of someone's one-off vision after the fact, so it's no surprise the I LOVE your car.

Keep it simple and drive it (although the house paint finish would bother me).

BTW, your interior work looks nice to me...I kinda like the tweed.

Chris

 

...I love 'stockers' and the more unusual the better and a two door IS unusual. If it were mine, I would do what you're doing and simply lower it 3-4"...