1940 Mercury Eight

Description

This lovely 1940 Mercury convertible coupe represents one of the earliest Mercurys, a beautiful vehicle that is ready to tour and enjoy. Designed to bridge the gap between the Ford Deluxe and the Lincoln Zephyr, the Mercury was introduced in late 1938. Although the Ford family resemblance is clear, it rides on a unique frame, shares no body panels with any Ford, and is powered by a larger 239 cubic inch flathead V8 that made an extra 10 horsepower.

Finished in correct and traditional Sahara Tan, this gorgeous Merc shows you why original colors always look best on old cars. Showing a lovely soft glow that is entirely appropriate, the paint and bodywork on this car are very good throughout, with the only real demerits being simply age-related. It's got a very period-correct look, with paint that shines up but isn't too perfect, excellent panel fit, and details that make the car look upscale, including pinstripes along the belt moldings. It is also loaded with accessories, including grille and bumper guards, fog lights, and a driver's side mirror, which ,believe it or not, wasn't on the standard equipment list. The running boards have been restored using the proper textured rubber, and all the chrome remains excellent. This is a car that will get a lot of appreciative second-glances, one because it's not quite a 1940 Ford, and two, because it's just so beautifully executed.

Light tan leatherette upholstery gives the Mercury some of its elegant appeal, and the restoration that made the body look so good also addressed the interior. Correct materials and patterns were used throughout, and it shows only minor signs of use since it was completed. Tan carpets are a plush upgrade compared to the rubber floor mats in the base Fords, and this would be the first year for a column-mounted shifter, was sweeping the industry in an effort to increase legroom. The unique instrument panel is one of the earliest examples of driver ergonomics, with the full array of gauges angled upwards along with the steering column to face the driver. All the gauges are operational, and it includes a correct AM radio, which, as is typical, is sadly not working. A snug-fitting tan canvas convertible top is manually actuated, but folds easily into the well behind the seats where it's hidden under a matching tan boot. Even with the top down, the trunk is commodious thanks to the 4-inch wheelbase stretch compared to a Ford, and it has been fully carpeted for a luxurious look.

Ford's justifiably famous flathead was heavily revised for use in the Mercury, effectively bridging the horsepower gap between the standard V8 and the Zephyr's V12 without added complexity. Steadily upgraded over the years, the 1940 flathead in this Merc offers insert type bearings for longevity and an improved cooling system to eliminate the early flatheads' overheating woes. Finished in proper olive green paint, the flathead is nicely detailed with a correct carburetor and oil bath air cleaner, a recent fuel pump, and a proper generator up top which still generates six volts. Underneath, the chassis appears to be pretty original, but it's in good order and sports a great-sounding exhaust system that gives it a wonderful flathead burble. 16-inch wheels wear gorgeous hubcaps and trim rings, plus a set of BFGoodrich wide whites for a period perfect look.

With an interesting history, including a movie appearance, this is a very rare pre-war Mercury convertible that's also one of the best-driving of all flatheads. Call today!