FOR SALE OR TRADE. 1951 marked the end of the era for the Mercury flathead V-8 motor and it was also the final year Mercury used real wood for the station wagon bodies.
This 1951 Mercury Woody Wagon is finished in Light Green with the dark wood surrounded by light wood. It has undergone a comprehensive frame-off restoration. It is powered by a 255 CI flathead V-8 engine with an automatic transmission. It is one of 3,812 produced for 1951. The car is fitted with chrome front and rear bumpers and bumper guards, a chrome deflector exhaust tip, wraparound grille, specialized Mercury brightwork and a color-matched rear-mounted spare tire hardcover. The woody rolls on red-painted steel wheels with chrome wheel covers and Firestone wide whitewall tires.
The two-tone brown and tan interior features leather upholstery and three-row seating with wood-trimmed door panels to match the window surrounds and dashboard. It is equipped with a AM radio, heater and sliding rear windows. A color-keyed windshield visor helps keep glare to a minimum.
The car was restored for the Steelewood Collection of woodies which was later broken up, and it went across the auction block at least two times before I purchased it. The car has incredible paint, chrome, exterior and interior wood and leather upholstery. But it was driven very little by previous owners. When I got it, it looked beautiful, but it needed some TLC. For example, few of the electrical systems worked as they should, due to poor grounding or oxidized connections. The electrical problems have all been corrected and even the original radio now works as it did in 1951. The car retains a 6-volt battery, generator system and a 6-volt wiring harness.
The fuel system has been completely restored. The fuel tank was removed from the car for cleaning, and a new gas gauge sender unit was installed. Also, the carburetor was rebuilt, and a new fuel pump was installed. The car starts and runs perfectly. I had the automatic transmission serviced and adjusted, so that it now shifts smoothly and the speedometer cable and speedo drive gear were replaced. The brake linings are new and the drum brakes stop the car safely. The cooling system maintains engine temps below 200F during hot Florida summers. In short, the car not only looks good, but it operates as it was designed to.
My asking price is less than the Hagerty value for a 1951 Mercury woody wagon in number three condition. But with the work I have done, the car is a very strong condition two, and it would take very little to make it a condition one car. I am selling it because I have fallen in love with nostalgic hot rods, and I only have room to store two cars in my garage, so I need to sell this one. I am looking for a 1930-1936 Ford roadster, full fender, with a manual transmission and a flat head V8 or other period correct motor (e.g. Cadillac, Oldsmobile, nail head, or Chevy 327). I you have an interesting trade let me know.
The two-tone brown and tan interior features leather upholstery and three-row seating with wood-trimmed door panels to match the window surrounds and dashboard. It is equipped with a functioning AM radio, heater and sliding rear windows. A color-keyed windshield visor helps keep glare to a minimum.
