Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration
5.7 liter GM LS1 V8 / 305 horsepower
GM 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior / Vintage Air conditioning / Modern
audio
Unchopped, all-steel body / PPG gold and Cinnamon Candy paint
15-inch Billet Specialties wheels
Fat Man Fabrications front-clip
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Power front disc and rear drum brakes
Ford 8-inch rear axle
When it comes to '50s cruisers, Chevrolet definitely isn't the only
shop in town. While the hallowed Bel Air might be the best-known
car of all time, the graceful Mercury Eight often provides more
substance, more style and more exclusivity. From gnarly
flame-throwers to classy museum fodder, old school Mercs offer a
little something for everyone. And, every once in a while, an
unchopped classic like this sophisticated coupe casually renews our
interest in the beauty of all things pre-kustom. Dressing a modern
small block and four forward gears in a razor-sharp restoration,
this car is more than just sweet eye candy. And if you're the kind
of buyer who's searching for a stunning, all-steel hot rod, we
can't think of anything that offers more style for less money!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Storming the scene just a few short years ago, this slick street
rod has been lovingly finessed to the absolute highest standards.
The smooth surfaces that make up the car's voluptuous profile are
comprised of clean Henry Ford steel that's been completely
stripped, carefully aligned and laboriously block-sanded. That
solid shell, dressed in PPG gold base, basted in PPG Cinnamon Candy
and sealed in PPG clear, has been buffed to a wet-looking shine.
And today, this Merc rolls as one excellent-looking custom that's
completely devoid of filler, questionable seams, strange bulges or
anything else that might demerit its otherwise superior
construction.
The styling of Mercury's second generation Eight was successful in
both ending the monotony of warmed-over pre-war designs and
differentiating the brand from its comparable Ford cousin: a trick
that spelled BIG sales success. Those newfound sales made the car
immensely popular with customizers and, in 1949, the first lead
sled, built by Sam Barris, pioneered what would become hot
rodding's definitive '50s kustom. At the front of this killer
coupe, a guarded bumper founds a polished grille between
traditional headlights, chrome-trimmed parking lamps and a nosed
hood. Behind that hood, a 3M bra leads the eye to tinted,
stainless-trimmed glass, which reflects polished wipers, modern
mirrors and shaved, electronically actuated doors. Beneath that
glass, a sultry, monochromatic profile showcases the car's classic
Mercury lines. And at the back of that profile, a decked,
electronically actuated trunk shadows traditional taillights, a
power antenna, polished exhaust tips and a second guarded
bumper.
ENGINE
Like it or not, sometimes it's good to break tradition. And
breaking tradition is one thing that makes this Merc so impressive.
Make no mistake, this coupe isn't your typical 'low and slow' lead
sled. Lift the car's domed hood and you'll find 5.7 liters of spry
LS1 small block that, produced in 1998, creates upwards of 305
horsepower. Straight from GM that proven mill combines a sturdy
aluminum block with lightweight aluminum heads, coil-near-plug
ignition and aluminum flat top pistons to create razor-sharp
throttle response and a torque band that's as wide as Texas. At the
front of the engine, an "LS1" branded air cleaner funnels wind in
to an aftermarket throttle body, which feeds a color-keyed intake
that's bolted down over completely stock internals. High-octane
fossils are provided by GM electronic fuel injection. Sparks are
sequenced through requisite Packard plug wires. Spent gases roar
through ceramic-coated manifolds. Cooling comes courtesy of a
cowled radiator, which seats dual electric puller fans in front of
a polished expansion tank and corrugated hoses. And polished
serpentine components spin a polished alternator opposite a
polished AC compressor. Aesthetically, both the Cast Silver mill
and its assortment of bright accessories seem right at home inside
their massaged and candy-coated frame. And details like trick
dipsticks, polished fluid lines and color-keyed coil covers ensure
this custom has a steady balance of looks and performance.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Speaking of looks, take a look under this sultry cruiser and you'll
find a classic Ford skeleton that's been augmented with a quality
Fat Man front-clip. At the center of those bones, a GM 4L60E
4-speed jerks a familiar Ford 8-inch axle. That axle stays straight
thanks to Unisteer power rack-and-pinion steering. At the corners
of that rack, power front disc and rear drum brakes provide
predictably solid stops. The aforementioned manifolds roll spent
gases through large-diameter pipes and throaty Flowmaster mufflers.
At the corners of the car, 15-inch Billet Specialties wheels twist
225/75 Dean Alpha 365 whitewalls. And everything, from this Merc's
stainless fuel tank to its finned transmission cooler, is reliable,
sorted and ready to roll.
INTERIOR
Like its drivetrain and body, the car's supple interior is a
completely custom creation that highlights technology while
honoring heritage. Bright Ivory buckets, power-operated for the
front passengers, ride on rich carpet that's stretched between
handsome, color-keyed sills. In front of those seats, a custom dash
frames Classic Instruments telemetry and direct-fit audio in
attractive Wabbit's Wood Works trim. At the base of that dash,
custom consoles found two cupholders, two storage bins and Vintage
Air climate control inside more Wabbit's Wood Works burl. Opposite
those islands, attractive side panels front power door windows and
pop-able quarter windows. Above those panels, a vintage mirror
leads a leather headliner. In front of the driver, a polished and
wood-rimmed steering wheel laps billet foot pedals and a polished
and tilting column. And behind the cockpit, a fully finished trunk
hides a 10-disc CD changer that, along with the rest of the car's
electronics, is powered by quality Ron Francis wiring.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACCESSORIES
An extra serpentine belt
This lights-out Mercury is one of the coolest cruisers on the
planet! Richly appointed and super clean, it's a classy hot rod
that sets itself apart from the sea of chopped, diced, smothered
and covered kustoms at your local Goodguys event. Classy, unaltered
Mercs are quickly becoming the exception to the lead sled rule, and
given the attention this coupe draws in our showroom, it certainly
won't last long!
