Lead Sled: 1950 Mercury Custom

Update 5/17/16 – The owner just mentioned in the comments that they will throw in a flathead V8 if someone buys the car soon!

From 5/9/16 – This one takes me back! When I was a kid, a ’50 Merc was the car to have if you wanted to build a custom cruiser. In fact, there were a few in my small hometown that looked exactly like this one. Sure, the paint color may have been different, but the shaved trim, louvered hood, and 350 V8 were all the same. It makes sense though because the owner of this one claims that it was built in the ’80s. They have owned the car since 1997 and it needs some refreshing, but looks pretty good in the photos. Guess it should though since they are asking $30k here on craigslist. That may seem high, but I doubt you could replicate it for less.



Custom “Dice Man” valve covers and lots of chrome really dress up the engine. The A/C system would be a welcome feature to have during those hot summer car shows and cruise-ins. It’s funny how tastes change over time. This thing may not be “in style” today, but it was killer when it was built. The Moon hubcaps and turned down spotlights are period prefect. It just needs some lake pipes and furry dice to complete the look.


Oh wait, there’s the furry dice! This puppy even a custom dice shifter and bus driver handle. I’m not sure why, but people born during a certain period really like those silly dice. My own father loved them so much that he bought a pair for my ’50 Chevy when I was in high school. They went on the rear-view mirror for about a day until I realized that they just made it harder to see out of the already low windshield. There must be some good drive-in memories attached to those furry things?


Ah, and my favorite part! What happens when you wire up a spark plug to the tailpipe? Flamethrower baby! This is a sight I have not seen for a long time. I always wanted to rig my car up to do this, but I was afraid that the rich running carb would cause the whole car to catch fire. I wanted to add one of those bars that would scrap and throw sparks when I dropped the rear air suspension. Oh, the indiscretions of youth! This car proves that the fun doesn’t have the end just because you are getting older. It does prove that your bank account had better keep up though.

Source: barnfinds.com