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1951 Mercury find

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by wide34, Feb 18, 2013.

  1. wide34
    Joined: Mar 2, 2006
    Posts: 634

    wide34
    Member
    from Texas

    Attached are pictures of a 1951 Mercury I recently purchased, I had asked some questions on the board about 51 Mercury's and been asked to post some pictures so rather than PM them I decided to go ahead and post them here.
    The car is not a barn find since it was going to go up for sale on e-bay but the story behind it really interested me and while I think I got a fair deal it was not a bargain. The man that owned the car had bought it from his brother's estate approximately 20 years ago with the idea of restoring it back to what his brother had done (his brother had owned it approx. 10 years and had done the original customizing) but the current owner never was able to get started on the car and has reached an age where he didn't think he would ever be able to finish it so decided to sell it. The car is in rough shape but repairable, my current plans are to get it stripped and then replace the floors, rocker arms, etc. I've been told the flathead does run so I'm going to tear it down and see what condition it is in, if it is good I'd like to use it just because I've always wanted a flathead. Once that is done (and I'm VERY slow at getting things done) I'll decide what to do about chopping the top etc. I really like the looks of a chopped Mercury but there are so many out there and I hate copying what everyone else is doing yet don't have any better ideas so I might just put it back like it was minus the visor!
    Thanks for looking.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Nothing wrong with a uncut Mercury,,I like them with a stock look. HRP
     
  3. Mudslinger
    Joined: Aug 3, 2005
    Posts: 1,964

    Mudslinger
    Member

  4. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,305

    hombres ruin
    Member

    Great find. Chopped or unchopped a merc is still a fine automobile.
     

  5. I'd do her like the PO was going to, fix it up like it used to be. Its got a good look.
     
  6. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Nice find.Not all merc's have to be chopped ro look good.
     
  7. do the floors etc , throw a wiring harness in it and just drive it as a survivor ! cool looking merc .



    .
     
  8. rotorwrench
    Joined: Apr 21, 2006
    Posts: 633

    rotorwrench
    Member

    The Mid Century Merc coupes were the cats meow back in the 50s. Most guys that were interested in cars wanted one. They have always been popular either lowered or not. I prefer standard myself. The lid was already pretty low compared to some cars of the era. They would get up and cruise pretty well with the Borg Warner electric overdrive.

    I've seen that car advertised several times. It's good it found a new home with an interested owner. If you haven't already seen the "Mercury Parts List" thread, you should look it up. A lot of good parts sources there. That looks like a Merc-O-Matic car. You can change them to a C4 pretty easy if you want to keep an automatic.

    Sun visors just rattle and slow you down.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2013
  9. Doctor Detroit
    Joined: Aug 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,051

    Doctor Detroit
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Cool car... looks good. I like that it's a custom, but retains the front hood emblem. I don't see that much, and I was planning to do that too. I also noticed the merc-o-matic column. You'll get differing opinions on how well a merc-o-matic works. I've got one too, and I'll give it a try for a year or two. Any idea what the knob on the dash between the radio and glove box is for? There's a link to the Mercury Parts List in my signature.
     
  10. I think I would get it cleaned up, repair whats necessary, get it running and have a little fun with it then decide which way to go.
     
  11. 40FordGuy
    Joined: Mar 24, 2008
    Posts: 2,907

    40FordGuy
    Member

  12. CruZer
    Joined: Jan 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,934

    CruZer
    Member

    Actually, around the northeast in the 50's-60's the early Mercs were almost all un chopped.
    They were daily drivers for young guys who couldn't afford to have them off the road for any length of time,yet wanted them to look cool.
     
  13. Great find....I would clean it up may-be repaint the top as it looks to have some issues, get it running and drive the shit out of it while I make up my mind what I want to do to it.
     
  14. JAMES DEAN
    Joined: Sep 13, 2007
    Posts: 6

    JAMES DEAN
    Member

    wide34 awsome find
     
  15. eightbanger
    Joined: Feb 17, 2007
    Posts: 378

    eightbanger
    Member

    Love pics like this! Awesome find.
     
  16. Blakmerk
    Joined: May 15, 2002
    Posts: 320

    Blakmerk
    Member
    from St.Joe MO

    I remember that car. It used to live here. The flathead should still run, cause I saw it on the road in 91-or 92. Unless its locked up now. I remember the orig. owner.(brother and his son) Nice score anyway, and good luck.
     
  17. wide34
    Joined: Mar 2, 2006
    Posts: 634

    wide34
    Member
    from Texas

    Thanks for the comments, I was 10 or 11 and living in a small mid-west town when a young man returned from the Navy and built a 1932 Ford coupe and then a 1949 Mercury that was chopped and painted black with flames- I don't know what engine he had in it but I have always thought they were the 2 coolest cars I had ever seen so when I had a chance to get this one and knew the history I had to try and get it!



    The knob runs to the choke and is labeled choke but I have no idea if it was original or not.

    The car did come from near St. Joe, I'm going to PM you and hope you know more of the history. Thanks for letting me know you had seen it.
     
  18. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    Nice old ride !!!!
     
  19. low merc51
    Joined: Nov 20, 2010
    Posts: 227

    low merc51
    Member

    Good for you ,, merc fever is a very dangerous sickness I caught it 30 years ago and there is no cure !!!!!
     
  20. Blakmerk
    Joined: May 15, 2002
    Posts: 320

    Blakmerk
    Member
    from St.Joe MO

    There is a (patch) not a cure...Looks like you have one.
     
  21. zjerry
    Joined: Feb 11, 2013
    Posts: 319

    zjerry
    Member

    Nice Merc..Don't look too bad..
     
  22. jfrolka
    Joined: Oct 4, 2007
    Posts: 898

    jfrolka
    Member

    You lucky dog.

    They do look absolutely beautiful when chopped.

    The flatheads are fun, a bit slow... Fits the lead sled montra tho.

    I once had a 51 coupe. Stripped it, fixed the rust, then went straight into the chop. Never finished the chop 100%. I sure do miss that car. I slammed mine on springs, overdrive 3 speed, ford 8 rear end, old offenhauser trans adapter to accept a 283 Chevy.

    Good luck with your merc. They sure do grow on ya after awhile.

    Crazy bout a mercury
     
  23. jfrolka
    Joined: Oct 4, 2007
    Posts: 898

    jfrolka
    Member

    There was a dropped unchopped 51 coupe in the classifieds here. It was a beaut. I think it got traded for a deuce. Try searching for it. The dove grayish paint really looked great.
     
  24. Blakmerk
    Joined: May 15, 2002
    Posts: 320

    Blakmerk
    Member
    from St.Joe MO

    Wheeeeeers's BAD-BOB? FlamedAbone, Charlie.?????
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2013
  25. Ha!
     
  26. Butch11443
    Joined: Mar 26, 2003
    Posts: 353

    Butch11443
    Member

    Had a 51. Was mint. Replaced the flattie with a 56 Nailhead. Made a fairly quick car for 1963.
    Butch
     
  27. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    Cool merc, I seen it listed somewhere awhile back also. Keep us posted on the progress..As far as visors, i'm not a big fan, but this merc i saw the other day, is cool as hell visor and all!!
     

    Attached Files:

  28. Ltorch
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 349

    Ltorch
    Member

    Yeah that merc been for sale for a while,Now maybe it will see the road again..Lots of luck with it.
     
  29. flamedabone
    Joined: Aug 3, 2001
    Posts: 5,438

    flamedabone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yep, I remember that car well... My buddy Blakmerc and I used to oogle over it many years ago. The car was kind of a local legend and was owned by a local barber.

    That poor little car has the same dust on it as when I first saw it in the 90s. I hope you can give her some love and get her on the street where she belongs.

    Good luck, -Abone.
     
  30. I'm always jealous when someone finds a Merc that's been sitting...UNCHOPPED! One of these days i'll come across one. I would just get it running and fix what it needs,and leave the rest alone. Just my opinion.
    I'll add you to the Merc Club roster when I get a minute. Congrates.....
     

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