Vehicle Description
1953 Mercury Custom 2-Door Coupe - From Phoenix, Arizona - Owned 30
Years by Previous Owner - Ford Mechanic - Frame Off Restoration -
18k Miles Since Restored - Flathead V8 (Please note: If you happen
to be viewing this 1953 Mercury Custom on a website other than our
Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some
of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website
limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 125
photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video,
please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.) The name was
selected by Edsel Ford, the only son of Henry. Mercury was the
winged messenger and the god of commerce according to Roman
mythology, symbolizing speed, skill, dependability, and eloquence.
�€" Classics and Beyond, History of Mercury Automobiles Hagerty
gives some '53 Mercury history: Ford completely redesigned its cars
for 1952 (continued on the '53 models), including the Mercury
lineup, and the cars now sported a taller, square shape with larger
greenhouse. Front and rear glass was now curved, keeping up with
the modernization of design, and an entirely new grille and
brightwork were employed. The Mercury L-head eight-cylinder engine
still displaced 255 cid, but now produced 125 hp. Offered here is a
1953 Mercury 2-door in metallic green over gray, sporting a rare
Continental kit rear spare-tire carrier. The Phoenix, Arizona car
has been well preserved and respectfully upgraded to serve as a
reliable road car and a stunning show star. (It was owned for 30
years by a Ford mechanic, and was treated to a frame-off
restoration 18, 462 miles ago, which is indicated on the odometer's
current reading.) The design of the car's exterior reflects the
exuberance of early-Fifties America. Not over-the-top, as some cars
that would appear later in the decade, but rather a presence and
flair that exuded stylish optimism. In this case, the jade-green
metallic exterior-paint choice was perfect, and the condition of
the paint across the entire body (as well as under-hood area, door
jambs, and trunk interior) has been well maintained, showing only
very minimal patina. There is no obvious damage to any body panel.
Rear fender skirts add to the sleek, horizontal flow of the basic
design. Exuberant-but not excessive-stock chrome brightwork,
including the lower-front bumper, hood-scoop trim, bodyside trim,
and cabin-glass trim, is in excellent condition overall, with some
age-related wear (as on the door handles). The Mercury beautiful
sloping rear deck and chrome-surrounded taillights are even more
striking with the added spare-tire carrier and rear-bumper
extension in body-color, and Mercury-embossed chrome bumper. Dual
exhaust tips are the final chrome signature. Cabin glass, in
particular the curved windshield and rear window, is clear and
undamaged; lighting lenses are clear as well. The rear-fender
Mercury-script emblems, and the individual-letters M-e-r-c-u-ry on
the hood are properly in place. Twin spotlights, a popular period
modification, have been added, as have chrome, faux-spinner
full-wheel covers. Inside, it's clear the car's restoration was
performed to a very high standard. Stylish original trim has been
maintained throughout. Door trim, for example, incorporates, from
top to bottom, body-color painted metal, gray vertical-pattern
cloth, chrome trim, and dark-green carpeting in a delightful
combination. Pleated seat upholstery is executed in a pleasing
light-gray and dark-green combination. Cabin floors are covered in
dark-green carpeting (which continues in the same professional
installation in the trunk). The driver's view through the green
steering wheel (with delicate horn ring and Mercury-logo center) is
another perfect-Fifties design. A half-circle 110-mph speedometer
is flanked by aircraft-like pull-levers for heating and
ventilation, and the entire dashboard surface matches the exterior
paint. (Auxiliary engine-monitoring gaug