Vehicle Description
1949 Mercury 9CM Series Coupe
"James Dean's performance as troubled teenager Jim Stark embodied a
certain ethos of misguided rebellion and irresistible cool. Through
sheer acting chops, Dean projected his attitude into his 1949
Mercury, (9CM), coupe, which did not have as much street cred as
other vehicles of the time. The Mercury coupe was actually marketed
by Ford as a family car for middle class American families getting
their first taste of prosperity in the wake of World War II."
Thxgoldeagle.com
For consignment, a 1949 Mercury 9CM Series coupe, showing 59,266
miles but the true miles are unknown. This one presents in the same
color as Mr. Dean's and presents in mostly original condition. If
you're an Elvis fan, buy a Lincoln or Cadillac. If you're a fan of
James Dean, you'll need a 550 spyder or a '49 Mercury 9CM. If
you're a fan of big, bold cars of the 40's and 50's, or a Mercury
devotee, this one is worthy of serious consideration.
Exterior
If you took a rectangular block of sand and let the wind slowly
carve a shape from it, it would very likely come out looking like a
'49 Mercury. The front fenders sweeps back to form a defined body
line over the door and everything in back descends gently over a
smooth slope that starts on the roof. Bold waistline trim
interrupts the black paint, running parallel to a body line that
has its origins in the fender. The finely toothed grille is like
the baleen of a whale and just as wide while the gape is
underscored by a wrap-around chrome bumper in nice shape. 15-inch
wheels wear covers stamped with planetary design and are wrapped in
215/75R15 wide white wall tires. In back, a rounded rump is flanked
by simple horizontal tail lights that, like the bumper below it,
wrap around the corner of the car, elegant and handsome. Some of
the metalwork is lightly pitted or scuffed and the paint, appearing
original, has a number of scuffs, touched up scratches, open
scratches, and cracks.
Interior
Nicely redone, the interior show starts with door panels dressed in
red tweed along with red and gray patterned vinyl. It's a dark red,
akin to oxblood and when mixed with gray it creates a sharp
presentation. In front, the split bench seats retain the color and
materials of the doors and are in great shape, copied in back with
a straight rear bench with armrests that rival a sofa and plenty of
legroom to match. Back up front, a white steering wheel with gray
center cap leads cleanly to a gray dashboard in excellent shape,
with minor patina, and featuring the gauges and knobs you would see
in the showroom in 1949. The push button AM radio is in place like
your personal jukebox just below a center clock that retains the
deco style font seen throughout the interior. Maroon low pile
carpet covers the floor protected by gray carpeted mats, and the
gray headliner above is very nice. The large trunk is fitted with a
gray mat and has a period spare tire in place.
Drivetrain
A driver quality 255ci flathead V8 sits low in the enormous engine
bay, rated at 110 horsepower and fueled by a 2-barrel carburetor. A
three on the tree 3-speed manual transmission gets this sled moving
with power going back to the rear wheels and 3.91 gears. Drum
brakes occupy both front and rear wheels.
Undercarriage
Driver quality under here as well with plenty of surface rust and
substantial build ups of grease, as well as the appearance of
invasive rust on some thinner metal components and muffler. There
is a drop of green up front, some oil on the pan, and the rear diff
is coated in both oil and grease. The undersides of the doors are
flat and clean. Dual exhaust runs through Smithy mufflers before
heading back to the chrome tips in the rear. Suspension consists of
coil springs in front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
We step into an enclosed living room and look out over a football
field sized hood, then prime the 2-barrel and start her up,
grabbing the column mounted black knob and rolling this big car
onto the test loop. The V8 delivers adequate power and has a decent
rumble while the 75 series tires help quell road imperfections and
track the car straight. And unlike the disaffected youth in Rebel
Without a Cause, everything in the car works well, without
complaint. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions
were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee
these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A car so famous, it made it into a Bruce Springsteen song: "James
Dean in that Mercury '49, Junior Johnson runnin' through the woods
of Caroline, Even Burt Reynolds in that black Trans Am, All gonna
meet down at the Cadillac Ranch!". Not just an iconic movie car,
but a fine automobile by any classic standard. This one is in very
good condition and its fender skirts help create a windblown
profile that will be a standout at any cruise night. Get your cool
on with this fine '49!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
