3 Classic Cars That Make Us Nostalgic for Ford's Mercury Brand

During the summer of 2010, the Ford Motor Company announced the end of its Mercury division and noted that they would instead consolidate marketing and engineering efforts on their Lincoln and Ford brands. That was almost two decades ago now and, while we certainly understand the decision on a business level, our team at Customs & Hot Rods of Andice certainly misses seeing new models come out by this division. Thankfully, there are still a lot of memorable models out there on the streets and waiting in backyards and barns to be found, restored, and customized. The following is a quick look at three of our favorite classic cars made under the Ford Mercury brand, starting with the 50 Merc:

3 Classic Cars that Make Us Nostalgic for Ford's Mercury Brand

1. 1950 Mercury. The third generation of Mercurys, including our own beloved 50 Merc known as the Monster Merc, was manufactured between 1949 and 1951. Models of these three years became favorites among hot rodders for a couple of different reasons. First, their all-new wrap-around bumpers and unique coil grille set them apart for the crowd while the rest of their body lent itself to being easily chopped up and restyled for gear heads. Plus, the inclusion of Ford's flathead V-8 meant the model was quick at the starting line. But arguably one of the key things that really elevated this model to cult classic was its inclusion in a number of beloved American films, such as the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause starring James Dean.
2. 1954 Sun Valley. The 1954 Mercury Monterrey Sun Valley was an innovative vehicle that was the first to really experiment with sunroofs. But it didn't just go small with it. No, this model features a nearly full plexiglass bubble roof that filtered the light through a slight green tint. But that wasn't the only thing that set it apart. This model also boasted a gorgeous body design with attractive taillights that fared into the rear fenders, two unique color combinations of yellow and mint green, and Mercury's all-new overhead valve V-8 engine. This is certainly a model we hope to see in our Andice hot rod shop soon!
3. 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser. Another short lived classic, the Turnpike Cruiser was only produced in 1957 and 1958, with the former year being a bit more memorable. This model was sold both as a two-door coupe and convertible and a four-door hardtop. What was unique about the hardtop versions is that they were the first model to feature a roll-down rear window nicknamed the "Breezeway" -- a key addition in an era before air conditioner was a standard feature. The Turnpike Cruiser was also renowned for its unique styling and long list of electronic gadgetry. It was also one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles of its age--but in the 1950s when gas prices were only dropping, that garnered little attention.

Have a Mercury Needing Work? Bring It into CHRA!

As evidenced by the major work we've put into our '50 Merc, we love these models and always look forward to seeing them. So if you have a classic Mercury needing some work, bring it onto our classic car auto body shop!