Vehicle Description
1951 Mercury Coupe
There's no accounting for taste. That's the reason as to why the
1951 Mercury remains a wallflower among many car collectors
including those who get weak in the knees over the curvaceous
postwar Mercury's. Pop culture is probably to blame; images of the
models preceding the 1951 release are much more prevalent, and we
know how much of an impression the boob tube makes. Generationally,
though, we may be finally escaping the celluloid nostalgia that's
done so much for the 1949 and 1950 models - James Dean driving a
1949 in Rebel Without A Cause to Sylvester Stallone and the chopped
top 1950 in Cobra. Perhaps those landmarks of dreck forced car guys
to belatedly give the 1951 Mercury a serious look. As the
advertisement said "New 1951 Mercury, There's Nothing Like It on
The Road. Nothing Like It for Staying Power!"
With hauntingly small numbers of these cars surviving, let alone
being restored, this is a hen's tooth of a consignment. An
all-steel body and a 255ci displacement flathead V8 gives us the
Eight designation, and at the turn of the new decade it's the best
it gets as to the design. Aerodynamics were a second thought in the
day; however, this car has the design of a sleek rocket ship,
albeit in Buck Rogers heavy form, but still sleek and swept. Big
chrome adds to the look, and weight, which nearly eclipses 2 tons!
The beneficiary of a restoration in the past, presenting nicely
inside and out, a multiple time show winner, and mechanically
sound. Grab this baby and start crowing about it.
Exterior
Arriving in our first zip code is the massive 3 tier Merc grille
that is polished to the nines and has teeth aplenty to grind up the
competition. Flanking this big chrome is more...well chrome with
rounded headlights complete with wide bezels in chrome, and chromed
visors and for the center badge, a representation of the god of
merchants, transporters of goods, thieves and tricksters. This
fronts a bulbous hood that has a stylized jet streaking in front
along with some Von Dutch style pinstriping and leading the way for
the wonderfully large hood bathed in a pearl tan. Rounded
integrated fenders with more curves than Brigitte Bardot are bathed
in more pearl tan which makes their way back to the large door and
lower belt line trim spear works its way from front to rear. In the
next zip code is the passenger compartment roof with its Fulton sun
visor and chromed spotlights, (everyone was a policeman in 1951?
...or a "necker checker"), window surround trimmings and beautiful
door handles with some extra pinstriping embellishments just for
s**#s and giggles. More of the beautifully applied pearl tan runs
to the rear of the car, on a rounded rear quarter, shades of
Marilyn Monroe. Only a few minor chips and cracks are noted
throughout the curvaceous body. On the back is more pinstriping a
la Von Dutch to highlight the tail lamps, another portrait badge
ode to our god and some big chrome in the form of a bumper that
wraps around the rear quarters. Rear fender skirts and wide whites
all around shown off by polished smooth caps make this iconic skate
even more bada$$!
Interior
Swinging open the long sleek door and we are met with a multi tan
hue and material covered door panel that has a mix of smooth
broadcloth on top, a central perforated broadcloth area and darker
tan vinyl lowers. These panels have color and material delineated
but a thin chrome strip and the panels are peppered with shiny
chrome cranks and handles. This beautiful cloth and vinyl plays out
on the seats with clean perforated tuck and roll lower cushions,
also covering the half of the upper cushion before transitioning to
a smooth light beige broadcloth and lowers all wrapped nicely
around the bolsters with smooth tan vinyl. A back seat bench just
like the front only adds some vinyl armrest to the ends, and we
have room for 6. Clean tan carpet floods the floors, and up front
above this carpet floats the dash with its tan steel dash top, and
mostly chrome ribbed dash front and instrument surrounds. These are
all clean, looking great and are fronted by the original steering
wheel, fashioned out of black bakelite with a leather wrapped rim.
A tan cloth headliner in sewn ribbed format is above.
Drivetrain
A pull of the interior release and doing our best Olympic
weightlifter impression we open the massive steel hood and feast
our eyes upon a blue painted engine of the 255ci flathead V8
variety. Producing 112 horsepower and topped with a 2-barrel
carburetor all is well here. Backed by a 3-speed manual
transmission with overdrive and putting power to the ground via a
3.91 geared rear axle this sled should be able to move nicely. We
note that the electrical system has been converted to negative
ground and more Von Dutch pinstriping in red decorates the bay.
Undercarriage
Very original nice patina with surface rust but no invasive rust is
seen. A stock independent coil sprung front suspension is on, and
in back the car utilizes leaf springs. Drum brakes are on all 4
corners and a solid X frame supports all this menagerie. Dual
exhaust with Smithy's muffler works its way to the rear of the car
where exhaust gases exit from bright chrome tips with static strips
hanging below.
Drive-Ability
Sitting inside such an amazing vehicle one cannot help but put a
smile on his face. She fired right up, idled with a low rumble, and
took off like a rocket. All functions worked great save for the
radio, good brakes, nice easy steering, and a beautiful cruiser
that turned more heads on our test drive than if I would have
walked naked down main street...but I digress... I could not keep
my hands off the headliner either!
Every now and again amidst all the classics that show themselves at
our front door, one becomes a standout for its design,
construction, awesome power, or just plain old uniqueness. This one
covers all those bases and then some and is a most beautiful 1951
Mercury example with all its restoration receipts, a copy of the
original bill of sale and a slew of extra parts. All waiting for
you in our Hallowed Halls of the Classic Auto Mall.
VIN DECODE
51SL44144M
51-1951
SL-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
44144-Sequential Unit Number
M-Mercury
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.