1951 Mercury Convertible

Description

Finding an early '50s Mercury that hasn't been chopped and channeled is rather rare, but cars like this 1951 Mercury convertible are cars that many of us could go a lifetime without ever seeing one. This one is nicely restored and still flathead powered, making it the ideal choice for the guy who loves Mercury and doesn't want a lead sled.

Now that you've seen an unaltered Mercury, it's hard to imagine making any improvements to the way this car looks. It's bigger than you expect, with smooth, flowing lines that were probably remarkable in 1951. It's been repainted at some point, although we don't know when, but thanks to great care over the years, it still looks great. Perfect? No. But there's a wonderful soft shine that only time can create and on a car that's as rare as this one, it would be a mistake to try to improve it. Instead, admire the super straight sheetmetal, the panel alignment that suggests that the car has never been hit or wrecked, and paint that accurately captures the original Luxor Maroon. Plenty of chrome and stainless trim is a highlight of any '50s car, but the Mercury's smooth grille, wonderfully ornate bumpers, and intricate taillights are some of the period's best. There's a reason these parts end up on so many custom cars.

The black and white interior is stylish, clean, and in excellent condition. Again, the car emphasizes details over big shows of style, and the clean, simple upholstery doesn't distract you from the things that really matter. Check out the lower dashboard that mirrors the front grille and the neatly arrayed instruments that put everything right in front of the driver. The steering wheel uses a delicate chrome horn ring and this Merc features power windows which were still a novelty in 1951. There's also an AM radio in the dash, although it's not currently functional, and a column shifter for the Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission, which is fully functional. The trunk is finished with a correct rubber mat and matching spare wheel and tire assembly and overhead there's a tan convertible top that looks great up or down.

Mercurys received a slightly larger version of Ford's venerable flathead, with this one displacing 255 cubic inches. That turquoise engine enamel is correct for 1951 and the little details, including hose clamps and air cleaner, all help with the accurate look. It runs beautifully, idling so smoothly that it's almost imperceptible and there's a great flathead soundtrack at speed. There's no sign of flathead fever thanks to a giant radiator and it still uses a generator to make the electricity. The 2-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission shifts well and it cruises easily at modern highway speeds without seeming to work very hard. It's so stock that it even has a brand new single exhaust system with just the right sound. The underside is largely unrestored but you can see how clean this car really is and recent tube shocks add to the smooth ride for which Mercurys were famous. Steel wheels with hubcaps and a set of 215/75/15 wide whitewall radials provide a period look with updated handling.

Rare as well as beautiful, this 1951 Mercury convertible is an incredible find that runs every bit as great as it looks. Call today!