1949 Mercury - $79,500 - Orange Village, OH - The 1949 Mercury was originally intended to be a Ford. Designed in Ford's in-house studio by E.T. "Bob" Gregorie, it was to be the entry-level model of a trio, the senior members of which were Mercury and Lincoln. However, before the plans were finalized, a competing Ford proposal from George Walker was chosen by management and Gregorie's Ford was "promoted" to a Mercury. His other two models became Lincoln and Lincoln Cosmopolitan, respectively. A smaller version of the Mercury went into production at Ford France as the Vedette.
1949 was a unique year for the design of Mercury wagons. Although it is a much larger looking car than the new Ford wagon, the 1949 Mercury wagon actually preserved its former 118 inch wheelbase. A stepped sculpture line ran from the front fenders, across the doors, back along the rear quarter, and dipped down to the bumper. This model is much more rare than it's Woodie competitors of the era and is highly sought after by collectors.
The vehicle is fully restored and beautifully finished. The body has the correct mahogany with laminated birch. The woodworking is done to perfection and represents the immense attention to detail given to this automobile. The paint is spectacular, all chrome and trim pieces have been redone and look like new. The interior is gorgeous with plush leather, well complimented by the lovely wood trim around the dash and windows. Dash gauges are stunning and they all work properly.
It comes equipped with a 225 110 HP inline 8 cylinder engine, and a smooth shifting 3 speed transmission with overdrive. Optioned with a radio and clock, this car is simply amazing. It is in very good driving condition and needs nothing to speak of. It will be exciting to own and drive for many years to come!