1961 Mercury Commuter Station Wagon. Not many of these on the road. Daily driver. Rehabbed in 2010/11. Made repair as necessary. Left stock with few upgrades. Have original owner's Manual and file of parts receipts for 2010/11. Box of original parts along with a Ford-o-Matic Automatic Transmission and Bell housing. 150,000 (148,485) I believe original miles. Motor is tired but not retired. Pulls strong. Burns about a quart of 10/40 Delo 400 15/40 a month.
Immediate maintenance:
- Steering needs attention. Power Steering components leak. Steering is loose. Ultimately would lean toward rack and pinion system (re-built that twice already).
- Replaced fuel pump with cheap electric pump out of necessity. Problematic when hot. Replacement stock fuel pump should be anticipated.
- Fuel gauge does not work.
- Emergency brake cable release has failed. Cable is broken at connection to brake release lever. Have to know where to trip the lever under the dash, or, fix it eventually.
- Headliner needs improvement. Original panels have sagged but are currently installed.
Future Maintenance:
- Engine re-build may be desired. Existing engine burns oil. Not visible to the naked eye but will consume about a quart a month with regular daily use. Runs a little rich. General tune and maintenance should extend the life of the motor. Was varying between 130-140 psi when maintained in 2011. Have not performed a recent compression test.
- Paint may be desired. Body work should be anticipated as areas around the edges of the rear fenders do exhibit rust damage. Appears to have been the original faded paint when I received the car in 2010. Vehicle has been painted over with a chalk board paint from The Home Depot. Thank you to my ex wife for that savings in addition to generally preserving the car. Looks cool when all the neighborhood kids draw on it as well.
Upgrades and General Notes:
- Upgraded from 12V Positive Ground w/Generator to 12V Negative Ground w/Alternator.
- Upgraded to Electronic Ignition.
- Upgraded from 2 barrel Carburetor to 4 Barrel Quick Fuel.
- DynoMax Exhaust sounds F<**-{) Bad Ass.
- Upgraded from Single Outlet Brake Master Cylinder to Dual Outlet w/Power Brake Booster. Would love to upgrade to disc brakes in front. Documentation on conversion kit in receipts file folder.
- Cylinder Heads were rebuilt to stock spec (tri-ground) and are unleaded gasoline compatible.
- Transmission rebuilt
- Wired for amplifier, sub woofer, and 4 door panel speakers.
- Full Window Tint. 15% driver and passenger and 20% throughout.
- Newer carpet, upholstery, and weatherstripping,
Would be happy to face time or whatever serious potential buyers for a virtual test drive or to answer any question as necessary. Time and money will reveal a serious competitor and timeless classic.. Unfortunately I have neither.
Thank you for viewing my vehicle.
