Older pickups remain hot property in the classic market, and this is particularly true if the pickup in question is original and is also something a bit different. That’s where this 1949 Mercury M68 fits into the equation. This Canadian-built classic has been a farm truck for its whole life and has only just been unearthed in a Manitoba barn. It has been returned to a running state, and it now needs the right person to take it to the next level. If you think you are up for the challenge, you will find the Mercury located in Headingley, Manitoba, Canada, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has only reached $2,275 in what is a No Reserve auction. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring this wonderful old pickup to us.

The Berwick Green Mercury is a bit of a surprise packet. It has spent its life as a farm truck, and a life of hard labor is evident when you examine the body. It has its share of dings and dents, all of which attest to the fact that this is no trailer queen. However, that is only part of the story. The big worry with these old pickups is rust. They aren’t generally struck down with structural issues, but the cab and bed can dissolve pretty readily in the right environment. This is not one of those vehicles because the body is pretty remarkable. Even the extremely prone lower cab corners look sound, with no signs of problems that the buyer will need to address. The floors and frame have a healthy coating of surface corrosion, but once again, there is no evidence of penetrating rust. The bed’s timber has long rotted away, but it looks like there is replacement timber included in the sale. It also appears that all of the external trim is present, and I think it could be restored successfully. The buyer will need to splash some cash on the glass because the windshield is cracked and the rear window is missing.

At the risk of repeating myself from past articles, these older pickups’ interiors can be a source of considerable satisfaction for owners. This one is complete, but it will require restoration. Dismantling these is quite a straightforward process, making them perfect for an owner with some basic preparation and painting skills to undertake the restoration work themselves. The cover on the seat looks great, and it is hard to tell whether this is original or a faithful reproduction. The floors and painted surfaces will need stripping, and there is some good and bad news for the buyer to consider. On the positive side of the ledger is the fact that the radio blanking plate is present. These have a habit of vanishing, so finding an intact original is a bonus. The news is less favorable when it comes to the steering wheel. A patient person could fix the cracks and general deterioration in a home workshop, but the center is missing, which could be an issue. Like the blanking plate, these are renowned for vanishing, and finding a replacement could be difficult. However, patient scouring of sites like eBay could produce positive results. One of the standard features in this pickup is a heater. That is more than a luxury in locations where the temperature can plummet dramatically. It might not be much, but I’d rather live with it than without it any day!

While Ford offered their F-Series pickups of this era with a 6-cylinder engine, Mercury didn’t. What we find hiding under the hood of this M68 is a 239ci V8 that would be producing a neat 100hp. Bolted to the back of this is a 4-speed manual transmission. The power figure was pretty respectable, but the 180 ft/lbs of torque made the M68 an accomplished workhorse. This one is an interesting find because it has been on the same farm since new. While the owner has a title for it, he has confirmed that the Pickup has never been registered. That means that it is feasible that the 18,000 miles showing on its odometer could be genuine because it won’t have seen any time out on the road. The Mercury runs and drives, but it will need some brake work and odd tinkering to get it to a roadworthy state. This will include an exhaust because, as you will hear from the video that I have included at the bottom of this article, that mighty flathead V8 is loud!

There are a few aspects of this 1949 Mercury M68 Pickup that I find surprising. This includes the fact that it has spent its life on the same farm, along with the fact that it has never been registered. The lack of rust is a pleasant surprise, but the biggest surprise is the subdued bidding. These classic pickups usually attract significant attention, but there have only been 12 bids submitted to this point. There may be many potential buyers who are sitting back waiting to submit a last-minute bid. It is also possible that it has managed to slip under the radar of most enthusiasts. If the latter scenario is the case, then there is the possibility that someone could score themselves a classic at a bargain price. If you are on the hunt for a pickup project, this listing could be worth watching closely.