As sad as it is to say, interest is waning among enthusiasts when it comes to prewar cars. While a number of blue-chip collectibles are holding their value, the average prewar family car isn’t bringing much when brought to market today. So much so that full restorations are becoming an exercise in what not to do if you plan on retiring this century. However, if you look at the glass as half full, the declining values open up the opportunity to have some four-wheeled fun. Take for example this 1941 Mercury four-door sedan for sale here on eBay in scenic Logan, Utah. This four-door cruiser is in running condition. However, you need to plan your stops in advance. The brakes and a number of little things need to be repaired. With a current bid of $1,725, is the price low enough to convince you to put this Mercury back on the road? Thanks go to Ikey H. for the tip!
The bad news first this time. For one, the clear coat over the paint is failing in a number of spots. Then, you will need a few trim pieces, a headliner, a starter, a re-do of the botched exhaust job, and likely a new set of tires. Oh, the brakes will need a thorough going through unless you are good at planning your stops well in advance. Add to that list the repair of a few gauges and the rebuilding of the radio if you want AM tunes to be in your future. Finally, there is a minor mistake in the title. The title reads one number off from the frame number. The number in question is a 3 on the title and a 9 on the frame.
Despite all of these minor issues, the upside on this ride is that the body is in very good condition. There is no visible rust, and the panels are very straight. The bumpers were also recently re-chromed. Given that the body has no need for any major work, you might be able to sand the current finish down and apply a new coat of paint to make it look a whole lot better. While it is hard to be sure given only internet pictures of faded color charts, the car looks to be painted the factory color of Capri Blue. I am not sure that color goes with the car well, but it certainly provides an eye-catching look.
The front end reveals why buyers aren’t setting this auction on fire. Ford knocked it out of the park with the original 1939 and 1940 Mercury styling. With the 1941 redesign, the cars looked more modern. Unfortunately, the graceful looks were long gone. War clouds were looming by 1941, and whoever bought this car new likely drove it throughout the war. It sure would be nice to have a glimpse into this car’s past.
At any rate, the interior was refurbished a number of years ago. The seller tells us that it might be usable in its current condition. I would tend to agree as long as it didn’t smell awful. The dash, instrument panel, and steering wheel all look a bit baked and some plastic pieces are missing. The interior paint has a nice patina to it. This compliments the fairly original look the car has despite an earlier amateur restoration. What we cannot see is any sign that the car was equipped with a Columbia two speed rear axle. Having a Columbia is quite a plus, as it allows the driver to reduce the load on the engine when driven at highway speeds. If the seller knew it was there, it would be included in the condition. However, a seller might not know what they have. I’d love to see a picture of the rear end on this one.
The most glaring problem is the lack of a headliner in this Mercury. The factory insulation is still there, and could likely be glued back up in the places it is sagging. I think I might strip it out and replace it with Dynamat if I were to purchase the car. From there, a good upholstery shop should be able to handle the job of putting in a new headliner. Some cleaning of the rest of the interior and some dash pieces might make the car downright pleasant inside.
Under the hood rests the Mercury version of Ford’s famous Flathead. If this engine is original to the car, it should displace 239.4 cubic inches and put out 95 horsepower. We are told that the fuel system has been completely refurbished from the gas tank to the carburetor. The seller, who is assisting the owner in the sale, also lets us know that it starts easy. No mention is made of any smoking or noises, which we will take as a good sign.
Completely restoring this car to show condition would be a fool’s errand unless you wanted a great touring car. However, the low price leaves the new owner with a lot of room in the budget to begin methodically repairing the car’s problems. Most would be fairly inexpensive fixes. Even some of the brake parts can be had with a trip to the Rock Auto website. Once the tweaking and fixing is completed, this old Mercury would probably be a fun, reliable car to cruise down the back roads in. Elbow grease and falling values can open the door to a lot of happiness sometimes.
Looks like a decent deal I’d repaint it simply because I hate the colour. I’d go with a navy blue or maybe forest green. This shade of blue is all wrong. Nice old car lots of potential.
This is the condition of the car a kid in the sixties early seventies would kill to to buy for 350 bucks ( adjusted backwards more or less for inflation). So much to play with and fix up. As for the color I dont think that’s a factory color in 1941,or if it was it s a modern mix that is off……waay off.
All that said would be a fun place to dump a lot of extra money…and you can probably pickup a 2 speed Columbia for about 2500 plus.
I like it. The color not so much,. However it would be cool if you have the space for keeping out of the elements. Would be a cool ride to spend some time and a little money on. Seems to be a bit more unique than a lot of muscle cars. Spend just enough to get mechanically sound, then take a hobby type auto body paint class at local junior college , maybe BLACK, just thinking.
LOL @ pre-war … ww2 was 1939-1945 for most of the world 😛
I thought the same thing
I think prewar as it relates to American cars refers to before they went out of production?
This’ll drive the armchair folks nuts, but this car is a good example of “what goes around, comes around”. 40-50 years ago this would have been an old car that would likely be fodder for parting out. Back in the days before many thought of old cars as “collector items”. We’ve cycled through the fat part of the population that can relate to these cars in a somewhat romantic sense, and now they languish. There are six bidders who, in six days, have bid it all the way up to a whopping two grand. Given ebay trends of late it would be surprising if this thing hit $2500 at the end, likely not hitting reserve. But, given current market conditions, that’s probably what it’s worth.
As parts though, there’s more value. If the engine is good it would make a good replacement engine for an active old Ford enthusiast (either hot rod or stock), trans too. No sign of control components on the firewall for a Columbia, so that’s out. Those inner trim rings still have value somewhere $150-200 if advertised in a target market. And if a guy wanted to work hard enough he could move a bunch of other parts to V8 Ford/Merc club members………..but he’d have to be patient and diligent to earn it.
Some may hate the color. I think the very first comment said so. But I love it. I would buy, if I were Daddy Warbucks, and repaint it that exact color. AM radio? Fix it and hide a new and better one somewhere. Interest is not just waning in pre-war-war cars. Younger people, like my son in his 30’s, can’t understand, or care, about being able to recognize the make and model of a car from a full block away.
Uncle Bob. I agree. Good car for parts for hopping up a model A or T.
I have looked at this car and came back to look at it. This may sound odd but i feel sorry for the old girl. Who the hell painted it this color? Whom ever sprayed the paint was not a hobbyist. They should have seen what they mixed put the gun down and called the owner.
I saw a comment for black and that’s what I think to.
it is a real shame a car this old that looks like it has no rust is worth less than a mini-van with 180,000 miles and rust.
Hopefully someone will grab it and fix it up a bit. Also how does one botch an exhaust, well don’t tell me i don’t want to know.
Ouch.
That blue doesn’t look “period correct” to me, it needs some white added to make it slightly pale. Either way, I’d opt for a charcoal gray with no flake of course.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 1941 Mercury! The Fords of my birth year have never appealed to me, looking fat and stodgy next to the sleek ’40 cars, but that simple grille transforms the car for me.
Old Fords – well, RELATIVELY old, like 10 or 15 years – were a constant in our family, so although I’ve not driven one since the late ’50s I’m pretty sure I could get one moving after a minute or two. Whether I could be cool with the rickety steering might be another matter …
I’m with Neil on this. It appears to be a really good car that just needs finishing up and regular use, and it almost makes me wish that there were some Assistance League dedicated to helping people of limited means to buy, repair and use truly worthwhile cars in danger of disappearing.
Nice….but that blue Ford truck and this to trailer around to shows !
My uncle George had a 41 Merc 2 door, my Dad had a 40 Merc 4 door & my 1st car was 48 4 door!!
That’s a lot of Ford engine blue… didn’t know you could buy it in gallon cans. I run this around, just how it is…
Uncle Bob ,is correct and explained how this car fits the early Ford products and market. My problem is just like most of us I let my love of the cars take over common sense. If this car sold for $2500, about what is worth ,I would want it, because of my vision of what it could be, and it would be fun. I would leave all the mechanicals as they are just replaced or rebuilt to safety and reliability. Then I would tweak the suspension to super low with “So. Cal. Rake” 15 ” chrome Mercury wheels and 50 caps, and big and little WW’s. I would drive it like I stole and probably have more money in it than its worth. What do you think “Uncle Bob”
Hey Joe, your view is realistic too, but I’ll stick with my comments above. This car closed at $2025 at a no sale. Likely that means market is somewhere in that neighborhood right now. What will the seller do?
Back when you and I were kids this would have just been an old “cheap car” driver. Well, despite what some want to nostalgically cling to, for most of these old heaps the market is reverting. Value is in the eye of the beholder……and those who actually push pictures of Ben across the table.
Back when we were kids in the dark ages this car or a 41 ford were almost worthless. Nobody wanted the ugly years.Now they have some value just because they are old.
When I was a kid they were common as dirt and just as cheap … good thing, because that meant we could afford them. On a used-car lot any ’40s Ford was never more than $200; Dad got a very nice ’46 for $75 to replace the ’36 slant-back Fordor he’d bought from a friend for $25. A good Model A would run you maybe $150 … Of course, all of those were only 20-30 years old then, too.