The signing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 led to the creation of today’s interstate highway system. As a nod to the future that lay ahead, Mercury launched the Turnpike Cruiser, built in 1957 and 1958 as a top-of-the-line product. This ’58 edition was found by the seller inside a shipping container and is thought to be complete, though somewhat disassembled. This ambitious project (or parts car) is available in Coggon, Iowa, and here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,950 (we don’t think that includes the container). Another tip brought to us by Gunter Kramer!
The Turnpike Cruiser was only available as a hardtop with either two or four doors (a convertible was briefly offered). The car came with the retractable “Breezeway” rear window that would pop up on other Mercury products in the 1960s. So as not to be outdone by the new Edsel, the car had an automatic transmission with a push-button shifter (though not in the center of the steering wheel like the Edsel). The base engine in the 1958 edition was a 383 cubic-inch “Marauder” V8 engine that produced 330 hp with a 4-barrel carburetor. So, these cars were built to “cruise”!
Sales of the Turnpike Cruiser were not brisk with just 6,400 produced in 1958, of which less than half were the two-door variety. So, finding a Turnpike Cruiser today is not an easy task, especially one like this which is in parts and pieces (must have been a challenge getting it in and out of the container, especially with the flattened-out rear end). We’re told this Mercury spent most of its time in the South, which doesn’t always mean a solid body like this one is said to have. The seller bought the car as you see it and doesn’t have the time to put it back together.
The motor is apart and presumably all there, and the transmission supposedly has already been rebuilt. Apparently, the front clip just hangs on the car as you see it installed inside the container but off the auto when out in the open. The seller includes a photo of what this car might look like reassembled and restored, so the buyer will need to have a lot of vision to get there.
I think the 383 made about 350 HP and the 430 made 400HP.
No, the Merc 383 was factory rated at 330HP (how accurate their figure is can be debatable) The Lincoln 430 block was rated at 350HP. “ONLY” when the 430 was equipped with the Marauder tri-power intake & carb. setup was it rated at 400HP–making it the highest HP rating of any US car in `58. That option is extremely rare to non-existent today. (word is someone is reproducing the intake/air cleaners for it now)
Making 47hp than the cubic inches has to be rare?
Well, you know the floors are good with the engine block on the drivers floor and the transmission on the passengers
No way did that 383 make 430 horses – more like 330 or so (even the 430 only made 400hp)
Sorry. Slip of the digit. Should be 330 hp. Corrected.
Actually I had a1958 with a 460 cu in turnpike cruiser engine with a pushbutton auto trans. very powerful but hard on transmissions.
Not very good on gas though. Wished I still had it.
Worth restoring but going to take time and money.
In late 1960’s, I had a nice 1957 rag top. Had the 368 cu.in. y-block. It cruised! I was in military, Had no $ to fix ,maintain, and store. Sold for peanuts. Wish I still had it.
Unfortunately, in the condition it is in today, with the amount of work to put it back together fix the interior and new paint it is not worth the asking price. This would be a $500.00 parts car.
My brother bought a 57 four door for his first car for 85.00 it was in pristine shape. The local Rambler dealer had it and I still remember the push button auto shifter. That car would really cruise on the highway but was a real pig on gas.
Bad Chad
One thing I’ve learned over the years ( not much more) is don’t take anything apart until you’re ready to put it back together. Things happen, things get lost and so on. These were nice cars in their day, and could be a really nice car again under the proper restoration leadership. I bought my first mother in law a 57 Mercury 2 door hardtop back in around 1970. It had a 312 engine and push button automatic, She loved the car, but the transmission went out and she junked it. Hope this one gets to the right home.
God Bless America
I’ll stay satisfied with two large framed advertising prints that hung in my dad’s MEL dealership of the day – a 58 Montclair Turnpike Cruiser and a 58 Park Lane (I believe the midyear successor to the Turnpike Cruiser). They’re nice to look at, easy to maintain, require no restoration and cost me absolutely nothing.
I once came across a pink and white four door ’57 Turnpike Cruiser abondoned in the woods, but it was too far gone. The car had no floors and the had no structure, you could move the whole side of the car just by trying to open the door. It has also been robbed of a lot of parts like the headlights, rearbumper, steering wheel, and even the ignition. Not to mention the engine and transmisson was pulled.