Vehicle Description
Beautiful older restoration with extensive recent maintenance.
Great-running 255 cubic inch flathead V8, 3-speed manual with
overdrive. New tires, exhaust, wiring, and more. Even the clock
works! A wonderful late flathead that runs and drives extremely
well.This is easily the best $20,000 car we've ever featured. No
joke. This car is every bit as nice as it looks in photos, but
where it really shines is how well it works. It starts easily,
idles smoothly and almost silently, and drives like a car half its
age. For those of you new to flatheads, this is a fantastic place
to start, although it might spoil you for anything that follows
simply because it's such a good car. The dark green paint shines up
father well and the understated styling is a great contrast to the
excesses that would come later in the '50s. The 2-door sedan body
style is at once stylish and practical, and with the accessory
visor over the windshield, it looks sporty and sophisticated. Panel
fit is quite good, and the doors swing closed with precision, not
needing a hard slam to latch properly. The long strip of stainless
trim doesn't allow much slop in panel alignment and the hood
latches down snugly. Someone was clearly sweating the details when
this one came together. They did a heck of a job!The interior is
neatly trimmed in period-appropriate fabrics and patterns that give
the Mercury an understated look. It's comfortable for all-day
touring, and you'll note that the little stuff is well done. There
are newer carpets on the floor, matching floor mats, and
color-coordinated seat belts, just to be smart. The controls are
simple, with aircraft-inspired levers for the heating and
ventilation system and a simple round pod for all the gauges. They
all work like they should, including the clock, which ticks away
reliably in the center of the dash. The wiring forward of the
steering wheel is entirely new, and there's a new harness for the
overdrive in the trunk (the overdrive works properly so we decided
to leave it alone). There's also a hidden switch for an auxiliary
electric fuel pump, which is useful for priming after a period of
inactivity or for fighting vapor lock on especially hot days. All
the windows roll up and down easily, the weather seals are in
excellent shape, and the headliner is expertly fitted. In back,
there's a big trunk with a correct rubber mat, full-sized spare,
and jack assembly.The final iteration of Ford's flathead V8 is the
one that everyone wants: the 255 cubic inch Mercury. It has all the
flathead's virtues, including smooth operation, great torque, and a
bubbly, entertaining personality that has endeared it to millions
of enthusiasts for decades. This one starts easily, idles properly,
and drives well enough that the previous owner used it daily in
good weather for several years. It's correctly detailed with
turquoise engine enamel, a big air cleaner up top, Ford script
hoses and reproduction hose clamps, and factory-style hardware
throughout. The carburetor and fuel pump are freshly rebuilt, the
engine mounts are new, and it exhales through a new dual exhaust
system with just the right mellow tone?not too harsh or raspy, but
muscular. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts nicely with light
clutch action, and the Borg-Warner overdrive works as it should,
giving this car excellent highway manners. In fact, the rear end
was recently rebuilt and includes an NOS 3.90 gearset, making it a
wonderful cruiser no matter where you are. The undercarriage is
extremely solid, showing no signs of rot, and new shocks give it a
rather smooth ride that is part of why this car is such a great
cruiser. The gas tank has been replaced, so no worries there, and
it sits on factory wheels and hubcaps with fresh 7.10-15 Goodyear
wide whitewall tires.Documentation includes the original owner's
manual and recent maintenance receipts.We're just delighted with
this car. Someone took care of it for more than 70 years and it has
been restored and upgraded appropriately to make it delightful on
the road. The clean, chiseled lines still look great today and it's
comfortable enough for the whole family. Look carefully at the
pictures, remember what I told you about how well it drives, and
then look at the price?this is easily the best $20,000 car we've
ever featured. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and
welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventor prior to purchase.
