Sitting forlornly as it’s posed, this 1948 Mercury Club Convertible still makes a statement. This example is notable as it is a convertible, and it’s also the last of the left-over pre-war designs – 1949 would bring an entirely new game to FoMoCo.  It looks a bit rough but the seller assures us, “The body is 95% complete with all of the hard-to-find components that are unique to a convertible“. OK then, let’s see if we can determine what the missing 5% consists of. This old ragtop (actually it’s a ragless top at the moment) is located in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $12,500. There is a make-an-offer option too.

Claimed to be a genuine Pennsylvania barn find, the seller sums up the missing (5%) of the exterior parts as the door garnish moldings, top latches for the convertible header, and the top wood bows. In each instance, however, he suggests a parts supplier where the parts are available – very helpful! The seller mentions that most of these parts are unique to the convertible, and with only 7,500 assembled 74 years ago, it’s easy to see how parts sourcing could be a challenge. The elaborate grille is claimed to have no cracks or breaks, and there is little to no visual evidence of rust-through or crash damage – just a lot of faded blue paint.

Inside is a different story. There’s no upholstery, just seat frames, and the floors have become ventilated – makes me think the “barn” was the great outdoors and the lack of a top is responsible for the upholstery and floors going away. Same situation with the trunk – not a good place to move or carry something of importance. MIA are the door panels but the instrument panel appears to be complete, it’s just very dusty with illegible gauges. The steering wheel looks like it’s completely intact – wheels of this vintage are often missing chunks by this three-quarters-of-a-century point.

Under that faded hood is a 100 HP, 239 CI “flathead” V8 engine (no image included – a big no-no in my book!) and the seller adds, “The working condition of the engine is unknown“. And then he follows up by stating that he has not tried to start it. If one is considering a stock restore, this could be an issue; if hot-rodding is on one’s mind, then the flatties’ condition is probably irrelevant.

So, initial thoughts? Cool find and the Mercury branding, as opposed to a Ford, might be more enticing – the convertible body style is a definite plus. Overall interest in this vintage car? Questionable – I’m sure that there will be some but it may be constrained. Stock, hot-rod, or resto-mod? It’s hard to go wrong with a stock restore but the cost vs the ultimate value can throw a wrench in the works. The price? The make-an-offer option is more encouraging.  That’s my two cents, what’s yours?