The first postwar Mercury was introduced in 1949 and ran through 1951. They were called the Mercury Eight the first year (as a nod to their flatbed V8 engine), dropping the Eight portion of the name after that. These cars would later become popular with customizers and would sometimes find themselves chopped and channeled. This 1950 coupe, which may or may not have been the new Monterey, is said to be mostly stock, but it’s missing its engine, transmission, and anything that would have been fabric in the interior. Located in Curtis, Washington, this roller is available here on craigslist for $12,000. Thanks for the tip, Gunter Kramer.
1949-51 Mercury’s had an upside-down bathtub look and many of them were referred to as such. But that didn’t stop the public from scooping them up as they were a welcome departure from all the boxy, pre-war stuff people had become accustomed to driving. Mercury production would top 293,000 units in 1950, including the one-millionth that Mercury built to date (which was a 4-door sedan). Coupes would outsell sedans by nearly 20,000 cars. The 1950 Mercury was picked to be the official pace car at the Indianapolis 500 that year.
We don’t know a lot about the seller’s car other than it seems to have been stored indoors. We’re told that the car’s condition is good, but that may be a stretch. There’s no indication of the mileage on the car, which is probably less important since the V8 and transmission (manual?) are long gone. The paint color is said to be custom, but you really can’t tell at this point. It could be Dune Beige, Mirada Yellow, Penrod Tan, Trojan Gray, or something else altogether.
The seller has listed this car on behalf of a family member and no trades will be considered. A ’50 Mercury is worth $13,000 in Fair condition, according to Hagerty, but that likely assumes a motor or transmission is in place. The top-end can exceed $50,000, but it’s going to take some serious money to get to this level. Sad to say this car’s survival might be dependent on a customizer, but I’m hoping not.
Always been a ’49/’50 Mercury fan but for what they are asking for this car is pretty far out past reality.
I have four cars I absolutely love, 37-41 Willys coupes, 39-40 chopped Merc coupes, 49-51 chopped Merc coupes and 68 Chargers.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a “flatbed” 8… No, but seriously folks… The 3 year run of these mighty Mercs is par to the popularity of ’32/’34 Fords, ’55/’57 Chevys, etc.. The prices these days (sounds like my Grand-dad) are insane, but none the less they’re selling at those $ levels. Just like anything else that is the choice of the beholder, (art, beauty, sanity, etc.) it all depends on how badly someone needs to have a given material article. For my money, this poor thing is waaay over priced for what’s left of it, but hey… ya never know!
Hey try something novel.Put it back as stock original! Wow what a concept. Stand out in a car car show.
Amen. I was at a car show with my Citroen Traction Avant and overheard one clown say to another that he would ” take two, two and a half inches off the top.” I wanted take the same two inches off his tongue! Customizers are often master metalsmiths but designers they are not. I wish most them the same fate as I would Dr. Mengele.
love any w/the split windshield, & I claim + 1 or 2 yrs back to late ’30s as “classics”. Problem here is I can’t see enuff to judge condition.
Seen some nice modded shoe box(s) ‘n love a
chrome headed flatie in there (pretty
poor motors, look nice) so it
would B a real show…