Vehicle Description
The ultimate lead sled, the archetype, the one that everyone wants,
this 1951 Mercury Monterey Lead Sled coupe defines the breed.
Frenched, lowered, smoothed, bulging fender skirts, it has all the
traditional custom styling cues wrapped in a custom blue paint job
that ideally suits the long, low horseless carriage. Paired with
the bulletproof reliability of a fuel-injected 5.0L H.O. V8 and a
totally custom interior, this is a lead sled that's very easy to
love.
This car could have been the prototype for every Mercury lead sled
built, incorporating some of the most traditional modifications and
a few tasteful touches that make it unique. The list of body mods
is extensive, ranging from a nosed and decked hood, to the frenched
headlights/taillights, to the shaved door handles, and to the
custom grille and front bumper swapped-in from a '55 Dodge - all
popular old-school modifications that still look great today. The
custom light blue paint job grabs all the attention, punctuated by
the custom hand-painted 'flames' that were added throughout the
body, although since the clear-coat is pulling up in several spots,
a re-spray would be in order if trophy hunting is in your plans.
Thankfully, the bodywork was done well and the car is very straight
and has consistent, symmetrical gaps, and the sugary powder blue
finish still looks great when it's cruising down Main Street. Big
chrome bumpers offset all that luscious paint with a big of flash,
plus the stainless trim and faux side pipes make this car look long
and low, and if you're trying to wrap your head around the geometry
of the rear end I'll clue you in: the metal around the taillights
is from a '55 Chevrolet Bel Air - flipped upside down - and the
lenses are '54 Mercury units. It took some kind of fever dream for
the designer to come up with that idea, but the custom set-up looks
awesome and the execution was equally impressive. Fender skirts are
part of the recipe, taking up quite a bit of real estate on the
back of the car, and the 4 � inch chopped top gives this Merc a
killer profile.
Black and blue bucket seats are the perfect complement to the
high-visibility exterior, and the sculpted and sporty
leather-and-cloth seats from a Lincoln mean this is a fantastic
road trip car. With a swapped-in '89 Fox Body Mustang dashboard
full of contemporary gauges, things feel modern inside, and because
the steering wheel and center console came with the wrap-around
dash, the cabin has a very complete look and feel. Power windows, a
tilt column, and cold R134a A/C came with the swap, and with
amenities like that this Lead Sled is ready for a long-distance
Power Tour. Custom vinyl door panels, plush black carpets, and a
taut headliner insulate the cabin from the elements, and out back a
matching back seat was swapped-in and is all day comfortable for
passengers. There's also a Sony AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit in the
center stack that manages the tunes through a set of upgraded
speakers, while out back the massive trunk has enough room to
account for most travel plans, and also carries a spare tire and
jack set.
For motivation in the streets this one uses a 5.0 liter H.O. V8
with factory fuel injection and engine management that was swapped
in from an '89 Mustang Fox Body. With those modern credentials the
highest praise we can offer is that it runs and drives better than
anything the factory put together. Turn the key and it fires with
ease thanks to a full MSD ignition, it idles smoothly no matter how
hot it is, and the integration is seamless. There's a big radiator
to keep it cool, modern accessories tucked in close to the block,
and an upgraded intake and cone-filter set-up helps the block
breathe easy. Headers feed a custom fabricated dual exhaust system
with chambered mufflers, so it sounds like performance when you're
cruising the fairground. The same '89 Fox Body that provided the
motor was also the donor for the 4-speed AOD transmission, so it's
an effortless cruiser even with somewhat punchy 8.8 rear end that
came along for the build. Front A-arms, heavy-duty shocks and
springs, and power rack-and-pinion steering make it feel smooth on
the road, the ladder frame keeps it planted, and power front disc
brakes keep it safe. Painted steelies with ornate hubcaps are the
ideal period custom choice and they carry Coker wide whitewall
radials, as you'd expect in any self-respecting Lead Sled.
A lot of customs look great but don't drive very well, but this
Mercury truly runs as good as it looks. Priced right and turn-key,
this Lead Sled won't last long. Call today!
