UPDATE 07/08/2022: This is the second time we’ve featured this 1954 Mercury M100 Pickup, although it looks like it may have changed owners since 2019. It remains untouched since and needs another new home and an owner willing to return it to its former glory. It is a solid classic that could make a fantastic basis for a restoration or custom build. This excellent Pickup is listed for sale here on eBay in Sylmar, California. The seller set the listing to open at $7,500, but there are no bids in this No Reserve auction. I must thank Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this beauty for us.
FROM 04/11/2019: Mercury of Canada produced its own version of Ford trucks from 1946 until as late as 1968. Rural Canadian towns usually had either a Mercury or Ford dealership, and this arrangement put trucks in both showrooms. This 1954 Mercury M100 is not in running condition but shows all signs of being solid and mostly complete.
Differing principally in cosmetic trim, the Mercury trucks accept nearly all parts from their contemporary Fords. My late Father-in-law talked about restoring a pickup of this vintage, and it’s hard not to admire their honest good looks. There really aren’t too many of these Canadian-only trucks left. From ’54 to ’56, Mercury didn’t build and sell many of these, making them rather hard to come by in any condition. The excellent photos reveal a vehicle that seems rock-solid, with nothing beyond surface corrosion visible. The seller includes replacement glass, new bed slats, and other spares in the sale.
This view shows the truck’s original shade of Lakeland Blue. In those days, it would have been common to follow an exterior wash by running the hose inside the cab as well, simply avoiding the electronic components and letting the dirty water run out the doors. That’s what my Grandfather did! It will need some work inside, but it looks like a great starting point for a straightforward restoration.
Assuming it’s original, this truck’s “Flathead” V8 displaces 239 cubic inches (3.9L), producing 106 HP with a distinctive sound that suggests power and bare-knuckle toughness. If there’s structural rust on this rig, it’s well-hidden. Bid to own because this truck will sell in the No Reserve auction. What’s your high bid for this Mercury Pickup? And will you be preserving that patina, or is this one destined for a shiny new paint job?
Hah! I worked with a Cajun that at the time was driving a 2004 Ford Super Duty F250. He didn’t like that dirty interior doe he put a pressure washer in and scrubbed it out good! Amazing to me that eventually the truck started up and ran again. He never mentioned the health of any electrical components but I think that the radio checked out permanently after that.
No radiator and incomplete flat head engine, I see this nice truck probably getting the usual 350/350 treatment. But you never know perhaps the new owner will go with all Ford/Mercury running gear. That would be nice. Like to hear a follow up on this one.
one other thing up here in canada we had lincoln – mercury dealers and ford – meteor dealers the mercury dealers sold the full line of mercury trucks 1/2 tons right up to tandem dump trucks and highway tractors chrysler did the same thing dodge dealers sold dodge trucks, plymouth dealers sold fargo trucks!
Hmm, Sweetgrass again,,what a surprise, apparently, vintage truck mecca of N. America,,or so it seems. Speaking of rattle cans, I wonder how many it took to get that shiny rusty patina look? That’s ok, great find here, and it sure wouldn’t take much, and to new owner, for heavens sake, PUT A DECENT PAINT JOB ON IT, for crying out loud. What, have all the painters high tailed it to Cuba?
He may have oiled it down Howard rather than clearcoating. 10W -40 on a rag.
What’d it sell for? I’m restoring a 54 m100.. curious.
Sweetgrass is the main border crossing between Alberta and Montana, there is nothing there but customs brokers, a gas station, a few storage spots, a USDA inspection site and the famous Glocca Morra Bar. If it’s listed in Sweetgrass, it’s probably somewhere in Western Canada and that’s where they’ll export it.
Ahhh, the old Glocca Morra Bar….many memories of my youth spent there. The owner back in the eighties, used to bring his Harley in out of the winter snow, and park it in the bar, with ropes around it, as a public display. I also remember there were boxes on the back bar next to the liquor bottles, that said “Road Kill Helper”
Truck looks like a solid base for a restoration, or nice restomod. The highways or municipal road depts never used to use salt on the roads, in our area, so a lot of these old classic trucks never rusted away. Combine that with the semi arid desert climate of “Chinook Country” and the Tin Worms don’t cause a lot of havoc.
Do you also remember the UZI hanging up behind the bar? There are a number of collectors of full-auto’s in that border town. And outside of town as well…
Yes I do. And the Jack-a-Lopes mounted on the wall of the Paper Dollar bar.
The Paper Dollar, aka the Plywood Palace. Just a small tavern now. The big arena is a warehouse. The Canadians sure liked that place when it was up and running. Myself, I preferred Curly Bob’s, or down to Sunburst, to the Mint. The clamp-down on the DUI’s and then the Canadian establishments staying open on Sundays put an end to the watering holes along the border. But in their day–.
Looks like a few of us have spent some time at the Glocca Morra, being the fine establishment that it is. I had to spend a night waiting for my export paperwork to arrive so I wasted a few hours in the Glocca Morra with two regulars who obviously had barstools that had worn to the shape of their butts.
Then I wandered over to the Paper Dollar and managed to catch Pizza Night which is pretty much the highlight of the entire “town” when it happens.
The one unique aspect of Sweetgrass is the impressive military equipment collection just up the road past the post office. I think it’s owner from the Glocca Morra’s personal collection and he’s got some really cool toys including his own tank.
I’d be jealous of Danny but then again, he does have to live in Sweetgrass :)
Sweetgrass has had a colorful past. Up until the mid-80s five bars prospered. Weekends were crazy and Canadian long weekends were downright insane. The Paper Dollar actually hired buses a few times. The locals either stayed home or went somewhere else when things got crazy. The ‘Cocka-Roacha’ has been in Danny’s family for at least four generations so that is probably what keeps Danny around. And you’ve got to agree, his military equipment collection does attract attention. Need directions to the post office? Head north on Main. Turn left at the ambulance; continue west past the heavy tractor unit and the post office is on your right…
Howard, even a decent paint job on this truck would easily run $5-7,000….and then, painting in would perhaps jeopardize selling it because it’s not what some buyers would want. It may be the best thing, in some circumstances, to leave the paint as is, and keep the price lowered…better for both parties.
In SoCal, the paint is 3x’s more expensive than going to Vegas. The restrictions are horrendous. I sold my Pontiac rather than continue fighting agilainst the cost in LA.
Eons ago when I was a sprout, Motor Trend or some such mag had an article on painting your car in your driveway with spray cans. The subject car was painted black and a photo showed a litter of cans all over the yard when it was done, and by the way it looked mighty fine. Enough sanding and prep and you can pull almost anything off. I have always wanted to paint a car that way!
Around 25 years ago, I did my ’74 Ford Club Wagon with cases of spray cans! Dark blue. Painted the roof white, with rollers!. I still have a couple of those cans lying around in the garage.
Beautiful Merc, would love to have, freshen up the flatmotor, put some speed goodies on er and a single stage paint job. Good luck to the new owner
Cheers
GPC
I agree, the only American engine I haven’t gotten my grubby fingers on is a flathead ! Still want to dig into one before the big dirt nap !
I totally agree. Patina is so Lazy Bodyman. Prep it and spray on a good coat, and enjoy it. You can get decent paint mixed at your local Ace store or equivilant for less than half the price fo the fancy stuff. With reasonable care it lasts quite well. If that’s the original engine it should be the Mercury 255. That’s one thing that the Mercury dealers used to lord over the Ford dealers: they could get the larger engine.in a pickup…
Clear coat the whole thing, and lay down some wicked pin striping on the hood and sides, and flip it for 3 times what you paid at the first car show
Umm, I’m going to say that already happened
It would seem that’s already been done here.
I’m with you Howard A ever since someone coined the term patina everything Rusty gets a clear coat!! That truck would look so sweet with a dark red or black with white letters or a dark green!!
My wife and I clear out our living room every Christmas and we set up a Christmas village that takes over the entire room. The cars (and trucks) we use are mostly Hallmark Keepsakes, mostly because they’re the right size and they’re well detailed. Each year there is a new classic truck and this year it was a red 1954 Mercury. Fit in just fine with our collection.
My father bought a table top tree years ago and would fill it with car ornaments, the majority being Hallmark’s. Now that he’s gone I’m going to carry on the tradition. Some of the Hallmark’s are almost as good as a proper diecast company’s models. We’ve got the Merc and evidently it’s modeled after a truck that was in a Hallmark movie and I’ve since learned that they actually couldn’t find a Merc, so they took a Ford and covered up the emblems with wreaths, garland etc. and called it a Mercury. The movie truck sold on BAT a while back.
Great looking truck and doesn’t look like it would take much to get on the road. Go through the flathead, maybe add some speed goodies. The awful looking patina would be gone next but normally the original color would be my choice but being that shade of blue something like a dark blue would be better.
I must join with my fellow brethren and hope the ‘shiny patina’ look dies an quick death. Good lawd, paint it or leave it rusty but not this!
Still want the truck though :)
This is probably a 1953 as 1954 would have an OHV engine. Great find though !!
Canadian Fords and Mercuries kept the flathead V8 through 1954. They didn’t get the Y-block until the 1955 models.
Mercury randomly used a 255 cubic inch flathead for 1954. Rare. This truck is equipped with the 255 with the forged steel crankshaft. Its not a 239 as the article states.
I guess it depends where you are. As you may have surmised I’m a border brat, born and raised west of Sweetgrass MT. I saw a steady smattering of Canadian and American conveyances. I was 15 before I realized that Mercury trucks, excepting Big Jobs and Super Duty, were exclusively Canadian. With the closest dealer for anything being just north into Canada, a lot of Canadian vehicles migrated south along with farm equipment. Lots of Mercury trucks, especially pickups. I never saw a Mercury pickup built after ‘49 with anything but a 255 under the hood; it used to be said: If it’s a Mercury, it’s got the Mercury engine. I was very surprised to go to other regions and find Ford engines under those hoods. So I asked one of my Dad’s buddies who was a mechanic for the Mercury dealer almost since Mercury existed. He told me that from ‘50 on the Ford engine was a Delete option. Even the ‘49 models had aluminum heads with higher compression, same as the Meteor car that year….
Incorrect – flatheads were being produced outside of the US well into 54.
I took a restoration course at the Reynolds Museum a few years ago. One of the topics that came up during lunch break was about the Canadian Fords and the flathead engine. Somebody said that Ford of Canada started using the OHV V8 near the end of the production run: May or June of ‘54. The Canadian Ford and Meteor cars also switched from kingpins to ball-joints at the same time. Being born and raised on the border, I grew up with a mixture of both American and Canadian vehicles but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a CDN Ford product from ‘54 that had anything but a flathead, except for a Mercury car or a larger truck.
…not that there is anything wrong with that. :)
6200 bucks with 6 hrs to go. She’s getting a lot of attention.
Sold for 7100. Impressive.
Guess somebody doesn’t mind shiny patina :)
I bought one of these in 1971 for $125 CDN. I got about 60 miles to the quart of oil if I didn’t run it hard. Changed the oil once and chunks of broken casting fell out of the drain hole. I was going to the U of A at the time and lived in an old ruined mansion on campus and the University newspaper staff used to rent my truck from me for $10 a day and always returned it with a full tank. It was such a good machine that I decided to purchase a (rebuilt) engine for it from the same guy who sold me the truck. Sold the original engine for .50 installed the (rebuilt) went thru a quart of oil in two miles, pulled one head and there was a hole in one of the pistons. Pulled the pan and found the shells were goners so I bought new shells, a piston and tried to make it work. Nope, discouraged I sold my Merc for $40 and bought a ’59 V8 chev Apache for $125. Those were the days.
I love this the look is perfect and yes update the running gear maybe a 302 with a AOD or 5sp. Either way cool rig. I’m building a 55f100 now.
The truck did not sell, it closes Wednesday. No bids with with a $7500 opener. I’ve owned a ’55 F100 for more than 30 years and being near Reno and because of Hot August Nights everybody thinks their junk is worth tons of money. This thing is missing to many key items to be worth anything near his asking. But he must be hoping for something like the Reno folks as he is in So Cal.
Wasn’t 1953 the last year of the flatty? I put a 239 flathead 8 in my ’50 Ford coupe and was told that was the last year they were produced?
that truck isn’t worth buying I was the owner of that truck I sold it 6 years ago truck is originally from Mankota Sask the guy I sold it to is a joke he posted this truck on barn finds and it wasn’t even in a barn ever lol it sat out in my field it doesn’t have the original vin tag it has a vin from a mercury m600 grain truck unless the new owner found the right vin tag and I doubt that happened
Ho letto tutte le opinioni fatte dai vari ammiratori di questo mercury m 100 . volevo dirvi che il mercury è stato venuto in italia sono riuscito ad esportarlo in europa per poi portarlo precisamente a verona.Cerchero di fare un restauro sulla base dell originalita conservando ogni sua parte . quello che posso chiedere a tutti è di aiutarmi a trovare quei pezzi che possono farlo risplendere ,in caso se qualcuno potesse farlo ne sarei molto grato. Grazie a tutti i lettori.Sandro franceschetti