Cars owned by famous people have appeared on Barn Finds before. However, fame and notoriety aren’t limited to household names. Some folks are, or were, celebrities in their little corner of the world. Dennis Carpenter is a name that every vintage Ford fan has heard before. Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts is one of the largest producers of vintage Ford parts. This 1951 Mercury convertible for sale on Craigslist in Hainsport, New Jersey, is advertised as one of the cars from Carpenter’s extensive collection. This beautiful convertible was refurbished to factory condition except for a few modern concessions to comfort. This chrome-laden, touring-ready drop-top Merc can be yours for a cool $69,000. Do you think Carpenter’s stellar reputation in the Ford community translates to an increased value for this amazing car? Thanks to Mitchell G. for bringing this car to our attention!
For those of you not in the Ford world, Dennis Carpenter’s story is a good example of how hard work and good business practices can take you far. Carpenter was a Flathead era Ford collector who needed some dash knobs for his 1940 Ford convertible. With excellent new old stock examples drying up ( literally and figuratively), he decided to try making his own in a spare room of his house with his young son supervising the work. Once he mastered the process, Carpenter began offering the knobs to collectors. One by one, he added new products, and the business grew by leaps and bounds. His reputation for quality and fair dealing brought him to the attention of the Ford Motor Company. In 1998, Ford granted Dennis Carpenter Ford Restorations the right to use original tooling to manufacture reproduction parts for many different eras of Fords.
With success came the ability to pursue his passion for Fords on a different level than before. Carpenter amassed a spectacular collection of vintage cars and Cushman motor scooters. With his extensive involvement in the hobby, Carpenter was able to add many fine examples to his collection that probably never hit the open market. His love of Ford products didn’t stop there. He was also very active in the Early Ford V-8 Club of America and lent his considerable support to many of the club’s endeavors.
One of the more popular activities at the time was participating in multi-day tours with vintage Ford products. When you look closely at this well-equipped 1951 Mercury Monterey convertible, there are clues that it was purchased by Carpenter for just such a purpose. The car is currently equipped with seat belts, power windows, and an aftermarket air conditioning system. It was also well-optioned from the factory. In addition to an abundance of chrome trim, it has a leather interior, an AM radio, a power top, and overdrive.
Under the hood of this Vassar Yellow convertible is a 255 cubic-inch Flathead V-8 with a two-barrel Holley carburetor. That power is pushed to the rear through a three-speed manual transmission with a column shifter and the previously mentioned overdrive unit. The seller tells us that the brilliant yellow paint was resprayed previously, but the leather interior is original. It is not clear if it was all original and in great condition needing only a repaint or if it is an older restoration. One curiosity about the car is that it still utilizes its factory 6-volt electrical system despite the power accessories added to it.
Regardless of its restoration status, the large number of pictures in the ad are evidence that this os a very well-kept automobile. A look underneath reveals floorplans that may still wear the factory sound deadener and show no signs of patching. The trunk also looks to be untouched relative to the rest of the car, while the engine compartment is pristine. Cruising on a multi-day tour in such a beautiful and well-sorted automobile such as this must have been very pleasurable.
It can also be a treat for the next owner. However, the $69,000 asking price may be a bit steep given the softening of the market for fifties automobiles. That price may also factor in ownership by Dennis Carpenter. While any bump in value by his association is very unlike what you would see for a nationally known celebrity, his ownership would logically enhance the desirability of the car for those who knew of him. Being owned and prepped for touring by someone in such a position in the world of Ford collectors practically guarantees that it was an excellent car to start with and that no expense was spared in its preparation for its role as a driver. It is up to the buyer to determine how much extra value his ownership imparts on this gorgeous car.
Do you think ownership by an industry liminary like Dennis Carpenter enhances the value of such a vehicle? How do you feel about modifying classic cars for touring and general enjoyment? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Personally I wouldn’t pay more just because it was once owned by a famous person I just think depending on who it was it would be kinda cool to show it off if you had pictures of them in the car otherwise it’s like saying Ted Bundy used to own my Volkswagen beetle
Ownership by someone well know in the automotive industry, especially if the type of car they specialize in matters. They often have early access or heads up if a car goes up for sale, thus gaining access to the cream of the crop. They also tend to have advanced knowledge of particular makes and models making it easier to tell if a car had a quality restoration. It’s also more likely they don’t want to be associated with cars that are subpar. I would have more interest in a car owned by someone involved in the industry than a car owned by a random celebrity. Even so, it’s up to the potential buyer to perform a thorough inspection to verify the car is what it’s advertised to be, a cars pedigree is not a substitute for due diligence.
Steve R
I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Carpenter and touring his private collection in Concord, NC a couple of years before his passing. All the cars were in beautiful condition. Not sure how this one ended up in NJ. Obviously it’s gone through at least one owner since Dennis.
Earl Shiebs car might be more affordable. This is one nice Mercury.
Beautiful, and my favorite of the `49-`51 Mercury generation! If the leather interior were original, this baby has been mothballed with TLC for many years. I love it & would like to see more of this man’s collection. GLWTA!
So fine. If you want a car for the big tours, this is it. Overdrive, A/C, mechanically common enough to keep it running, body uncommon enough to attract attention. And the top goes down! Probably electrical, otherrwise a two person top.
posting is expired
Similar one towed the “Long, Long Trailer”, in that hilarious Lucy, Desi movie.
The Mercury convertible in that movie was a yellow 1953 model. Loved it.
There is a’51 every bit as nice as this one, same color with original hydroelectric power windows, and front seat, and top., in my area Southern California. Same price range. Pix available! Drive it anywhere too!