For Sale: 1954 Mercury Custom in Lavergne, Tennessee

This 1954 Mercury Customline not only radiates with its vintage personality, but also genuinely radiates with its metallic paint. So as you look over all the details, this one loves to transport you back to another time, right down to the working AM radio. And Mercury/Ford fans know this is a terrific and exclusive year for the V8.

You paid extra for a Mercury, and this one loves to remind you why. The brightwork is a well-done premium package. It starts up front with a detailed style that includes double wraparound bumpers, dual pointed bullets, and a grille that would be popular with the lead sled crowd. There's plenty of bright trim on the side, including the full-length strip that shows off the straightness of the sheetmetal. And the rear has a wraparound bumper that likes to frame the formal Lincoln-like taillights. This has all the best classic details, like the windshield sun shade, fender skirts, and big whitewall tires with bright Mercury logo wheel covers. The whole package is presented in a deep blue paint that's a quality respray. It has the right metallic to really evoke your nostalgia.

The sea of blue continues inside. The full package gives you the right updated pieces without ever taking away from the vintage feeling. For example, the seats have a classic style, but the comfy cloth feels far fresher than anything from the 1950s. You'll love slipping behind the artful steering wheel and gazing at the horizon-like speedometer. In the space between those houses all the essential heat/defrost controls. It leaves more room for a clean and stylish dash that has everything from the original clock to the working AM radio to enjoy the '50s atmosphere.

Under the hood is something special. 1954 was the debut of Ford's new V8 - the Y-block that would make cars like the Thunderbird famous. This 256 cubic-inch displacement was only available in a Mercury and only in 1954. The tidy engine bay is nicely detailed with a deep green on the block, a minty green on the big air grabber, and matching Mercury branded valve covers. So this motor is not only a great one to showcase, but it's a great powerhouse for driving. You have a glasspack-style dual exhaust that gives this V8 a nice tone, and the three-speed manual transmission gives you good control over it all. There are even newer bushings to give this classic a more confident feeling on the road.

Complete with owner's manual, this is the distinctive car that loves to show off a very vintage and very premium presentation. So if you love an upper-class true classic, call today!