1941 Mercury Sedanca deVille

Coachwork: Coachcraft

This car was built in 1940 for Peter Stengel by Coachcraft, at a cost of about $6,000. It took four months to build. The chassis is a 1941 Mercury, and the body has special fenders extending into the doors. The top is a three-way which can be positioned all the way open, open only over the front seat, or completely closed. Built-in no-draft ventilation is used. The power plant is a 1941 Mercury flathead V8, with Eddie Meyer heads, dual carburetors and a dual exhaust system.

 

Source: Internet

1940 Mercury Eight Series

1940 Mercury Eight Series 09A

Convertible Sedan Chassis Num: 210570

Sold for $52,800 at 2007 Worldwide Auctioneers.

This 1940 Mercury Eight Convertible Sedan was offered for sale at the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $50,000 - $100,000. It was offered without reserve.

The Mercury nameplate was the result of Edsel Ford who envisioned the it as a brand that would fall below the luxury brand of Lincoln but above the entry-level Fords. As much needed convincing to father, Henry, and other family members, the project was given the green light. By the close of the 1930's, cars were being assembled and producing with Mercury badges.

From the start, the Mercury brand was successful. It competed against General Motors products of Pontiac and Oldsmobile and it took a few years to assemble similar sales figures as these household names.

During the early 1940's, Mercury averaged around 80,000 units per year which put it in twelfth or thirteenth in the industry.

The name 'Mercury' is from the winged messenger god in Greek mythology. In keeping true to its name, the Mercury had performance and style. They sat on a wheelbase four-inches longer than the Ford, measuring 116 inches. Styling featured curved fenders, rounded body lines, and a crisp and pointy front end.

When production began, the Mercury was available in either two- or four-door 'beetleback' sedans, a notchback sedan coupe, and a convertible coupe. Prices ranged from around $915 to just over $1,000. In 1940, a convertible sedan was added to the line-up. Around 1,150 of this bodystyle were created as it was a one-year option and carried a hefty price tag.

This Convertible Sedan is finished in the rare and original color of Albacore Blue. The interior of this car is burgundy with a matching tan top. It has many factory options such as AM radio and factory heater that includes a defroster. Unusual for the era was the locking steering wheel, which helped in theft prevention. This technology would not become widely used throughout the market until the late 1960's.

On auction day this car was sold for $52,800, falling with the low end of the estimated value. It is a brilliant and rare automobile that is one of hte few remaining survivors of this bodystyle in modern times.'
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2007

 

Source: Internet

1939 Mercury Sport Convertible

Edsel Ford introduced the Mercy model in 1939. This Sport Convertible was mounted on a 116 inch wheelbase, weighs 2,995 pounds and sold for $1,018. It was powered by a 239.4 cubic inch V-8 engine that developed 95 horsepower.

The original engine in this model was redone in 2001 to three-quarter race specifications. The Isky cam, Eddie Meyer hi-rise dual intake manifold, high compression heads and Fenton headers have increased the performance to 140 horsepower.

The original restoration now has 19,000 miles as it is driven from Michigan to Florida, where it is housed in winter, and returns home to Michigan in spring.
 

Convertible

The origins of Mercury are fraught with drama. If it had been up to Henry Ford, there would never have been a Mercury or Lincoln, only the Ford.

From its very inception in 1937, Henry Ford denied that the Mercury even existed. His only contribution to the marque was in finally allowing Edsel to go ahead with it. The reason for the car was obvious enough: To put something into the gnawing $500 gap between the Ford DeLuxe and the Lincoln Zephyr.

The original 1939 Mercury debuted on November 5, 1938, and shared Ford's antiquated transverse-spring suspension. However, the first Mercury frame wasn't quite the same as a Ford's because it was made more rigid and carried a four-inch longer wheelbase.

The engine was pure Ford flathead V-8, bored out from 221 cubic-inches to 239.4 to develop an additional 10 horsepower. However, the body was unique, sharing no panels with Ford, although design-wise the two were clearly related. Also unique to Mercury was the narrow B-pillared Club Coupe, arguably the forerunner of the hardtop body style.

Source: Internet

1997 Mercury L'Attitude Concept

Based on the Mercury Sable station wagon for the 1998 model year, the L'Attitude was a combination of a station wagon and an SUV. The innovative tailgate design was one of the L'Attitude's more prominent features. A molded spare tire well built into the center of the tailgate freed interior cargo space. The tailgate and rear window opened as a single unit from the side. Exposed step wells built into both sides of the lower rear bumper provided access to the roof for storing large items. Rear passengers could stand upward with the removal of the roof panel for photography or fresh air enjoyment. High-intensity discharge taillights, marker lamps, and reartaillights increased night visibility. For off-road use, additional projector beams, directing the high-beams long distances, were located below the headlights. Sweeping neon tum signals consisted of two horizontal neon tubes in the rear and a U-shaped neon tube in the quarter pane. Power came from a custom-tuned 3.4-liter V8 SHO engine. The custom-cut Goodyear tires with 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels improved off-road capabilities. Inside was an Apple Newton global positioning system for navigational aid.

"Mercury takes on a new L'Attitude - The Mercury L'Attitude, a concept car that combines the practical spaciousness and refinement of a family wagon with the robust off-road capability and fun-to-drive aspects of a sport utility, makes its world debut at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.

Mercury L'Attitude is a new breed of vehicle intended to suit the needs of today's dynamic lifestyles.

"The Mercury L'Attitude is a fresh interpretation of a family adventure vehicle," said Jim O'Connor, Ford Motor Company vice president in charge of Mercury. "It takes some of the best features of the current Mercury Sable wagon, such as design flair, precision driving dynamics, plus excellent interior comfort and space, yet stretches the envelope by giving the vehicle a definitive off-road look and feel."

The innovative tailgate design is one of the vehicle's most prominent features. A molded spare tire well has been designed into the center of the tailgate, which frees up cargo space inside the vehicle. The tailgate and window open as a single unit from the side, providing drivers easier access to the spare, which stores about waist high.

The round outline of the spare storage compartment and the tailgate's integrated bumper contribute to the rugged look of a sport utility vehicle. The compartment's lower half drops below the load floor, and with the tailgate open, a circular depression is created in the bumper.

Three step pads along the depression allow easy access to the roof. The roof also can be reached from two exposed step wells built into either side of the lower bumper, which allow access without opening the tailgate.

The theme of versatility and flexibility is carried over into the roof system. The roof consists of a three-panel glass sunroof system from Rockwell International. The front and middle panels operate as dual sunroofs that can be raised for venting or slid back to an open position. A roof rack system extends the length of the roof and uses two sliding crossbars that stack in the back when not in use.

In keeping with the L'Attitude's adventure theme, rear seat passengers can stand with the middle panel open for photography or getting a better view of the great outdoors. Camera mounts equipped with Nikon cameras have been added to enhance the vehicle's versatility.

High-intensity discharge headlamps, marker lamps and rear taillamps increase visibility at night. Projector beams located below the headlamps direct high-beam light long distances for off-road use. Sweeping neon turn signals, consisting of two horizontal neon tubes in the rear and a u-shaped neon tube in the quarter panel, illuminate more quickly and with more intense color than conventional bulbs. This allows the turns signals to stand out from the brake lights making them more visible to the other motorists. A chrome-plated grille boldly accentuates the vehicle's Mercury heritage.

L'Attitude's off-road ability is improved by the 17-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in custom-cut Goodyear tires. The large wheels and tires help to give the concept wagon its purposeful stance and are housed beneath accentuated wheel flares.

Olive-pearl metallic paint gives the L'Attitude a sophisticated air. The 3.4-liter, V-8 SHO engine provides refined power to cope with performance demands on the street or off-road.

Interior flexibility is a main theme of L'Attitude. The backs of the taupe leather rear bucket seats fold forward to further extend the rear cargo space, and the bottoms lift and lock in an upward position to expose a flat observation platform. Passengers can stand comfortably on this floor space with the middle roof panel fully open.

To keep up with the active lifestyles of Mercury drivers, L'Attitude is equipped with a portable Apple Newton global positioning system navigational unit housed in the front console. It offers a map display, directional guidance, a telephone dialing device and mobile office capabilities.

Side air bags join the list of safety items on the L'Attitude, which include slow-speed impact-resistant bumpers, dual air bags and side door beams."

Ford Press Release

1991 Mercury Mystique Concept

Mercury’s show vehicle for 1991 was the Mystique minivan that merged the practicality of a station wagon with a multipurpose luxury vehicle. The sleek-looking Mercury featured "T-drive," whereby the transversely mounted engine mated with the transmission in a way to send power to any or all wheels. Interior featured six-bucket seats and individually controlled TVs and VCRs mounted in the front seat backs. The Mystique concept bore no resemblance to the sedan of that name that would debut for 1995.

The Mystique was Mercury's first mini-van, with a name used on the 1995 compact production car. Wall-to-wall headlights and fiber-optic taillights were integrated into the smooth-flowing aluminum-frame body. The Mystique concept was powered by Ford's prototype T-Drive V8 engine connected to an centrally-mounted transmission. Flexibility of front-wheel, rear-wheel, or four-wheel drive was obtained with the T-Drive. The glass roof incorporated liquid-crystal technology which automatically darkened the roof in bright sunlight. The passenger seat backs were fitted with individual television screens and VCRs for rear passenger entertainment.
Source: Internet

1996 Mercury Fusion

Developed and constructed at Ford's California Concept Center, the Fusion was based on a small front wheel drive platform and was conceived to meet the needs and aspirations of two widely different markets: young people and active retirees. The Fusion was designed to blend the toughness of a mini sport utility with the attributes of a passenger car. The design concept was unique in that the rear window and quarter glass were both removable and the rear portion of the roof incorporated a folding fabric sunroof. When the Fusion sunroof opened the entire rear was open to the air, though pillars remained in place. The exterior was primarily finished in matte gray plastic cladding for ruggedness and easy maintenance. The body's upper area and roof were finished in sparkling metallic dark blue paint which carried over to the interior's exposed tubing seat frames. "Tubing" is the interior's motif, with the seats, instrument panel, and center console all built around tube framing.

Source: Internet

1991 Mercury Mystique

Mercury’s show vehicle for 1991 was the Mystique minivan that merged the practicality of a station wagon with a multipurpose luxury vehicle. The sleek-looking Mercury featured "T-drive," whereby the transversely mounted engine mated with the transmission in a way to send power to any or all wheels. Interior featured six-bucket seats and individually controlled TVs and VCRs mounted in the front seat backs. The Mystique concept bore no resemblance to the sedan of that name that would debut for 1995.

The Mystique was Mercury's first mini-van, with a name used on the 1995 compact production car. Wall-to-wall headlights and fiber-optic taillights were integrated into the smooth-flowing aluminum-frame body. The Mystique concept was powered by Ford's prototype T-Drive V8 engine connected to an centrally-mounted transmission. Flexibility of front-wheel, rear-wheel, or four-wheel drive was obtained with the T-Drive. The glass roof incorporated liquid-crystal technology which automatically darkened the roof in bright sunlight. The passenger seat backs were fitted with individual television screens and VCRs for rear passenger entertainment.

Source: Internet