The beautiful “bathtub” Mercury coupes of 1949-51 represent the cornerstone of custom car culture, so it’s always nice to see one that has been left largely as the factory built it, and aside from a set of exhaust cutouts exiting behind the front tire (they aren’t really long enough to call them “Lake(s) pipes”), this one is stock. Our man T.J. found it on Marketplace in Milford, Massachusetts. It’s been owned by the same person for 25 years, it has a purported 91,000 miles on the odometer, and it has “tons of documents.” The price? $22,500.
Aside from a 1970s paint job that still “looks decent,” this car is being presented as a never-restored driver. The firewall shows that there was a color change when the paint job was done, but that wasn’t terribly uncommon before paint jobs started costing about as much as a new Corolla. The engine is Mercury’s 112-horsepower 255-cubic-inch Flathead, which is certainly the owner’s primary motivation in installing the exhaust cutouts. Flatheads sound terrific, like nothing else on the road. The seller mentions that the Mercury has “always [been] maintained” and, as I mentioned, there are documents to prove it.
The interior has been restored with “original style fabrics in great condition.” The pattern doesn’t quite match the materials and examples I’ve found online, but there were a lot of upholstery options back then, and they weren’t always shown in sales materials. The seller’s pictures show that regardless of whether it’s exactly original or not, the work has been done well.
The knob below the dashboard tells us (as did the seller) that this car has the factory overdrive option attached to the three-speed manual, which gave the Mercury buyer a 4.27:1 rear axle ratio. A new clutch and master cylinder were installed 3,000 miles ago, which is nice, but if I were interested in this Mercury, I’d be asking about the temperature gauge. It’s pegged on “H” in this photo. Does it work? Has the engine been heat soaking for 20 minutes? It’s very possible that the temperature will come back to normal when the engine’s started, but it’s worth an ask.
The ’51 Mercury got a little extra styling “flair” compared to its ’49 and ’50 counterparts, but the general vibe is still there, and it’s one of those cars that have been popular so long that it’s hard to put a price on it, especially considering that it’s stock. Is the Mercury, like so many of its ’50s counterparts, on the downward slope or is there hope yet? Is the price reasonable? Feel free to talk it out in the comments.
Good to see one still alive and by all appearances 95% unmolested. Don’t get me wrong, the chopped/channeled/Frenched Mercs of the day were pretty cool to see, and more than a few old school rodders could make that flathead sing ever so sweet to its own best and unique vocal range.
But I’ll bet that if you park this one next to the those good looking rods of the same ilk at a day on the green it’ll get as many and maybe more stares of appreciation.
Neat old car-great find.
I couldn’t agree with what you said more Nevadahalfrack. The Hirohata Merc is one of my absolute favorite Customs of all time. Color and all. But I love seeing them stock and preserved as well. I also like the 4 door just as much as the 2 door. My Dads uncle had one and it was certainly a classy car, always loved the reverse hinged rear doors ( hey look at me!!! I didn’t call them “suicide ” doors!!!!….. Ooops, just did lol) This color change looks great, but that original green looks nice too. Great write up Aaron and another terrific find to the eagle eyed T.J. as well. Thanks
These Merc coupes have an element of “cool” that other cars of this era just cannot match. And you’re right, Aaron, these flathead V8’s have a great sound – and with the exhaust cutouts you will be the coolest cat in town!
In my opinion, it should stay unmolested because those are very rare, and certainly refreshing to see. I’ve always wanted to buy one just to preserve it. I have the same opinion about ’69 Chargers and ’68 Mustang Fastbacks – I’m tired of the General Lee clones and Bullitt clones.
Am I not seeing something? At that price it should be long gone. If I were younger (88) it would have been mine already.
I agree. I looked at one a few years ago, it was not running and had rust issues, they were asking 38K.
I liked the rear of the 49-50 better, otherwise this still has the classic body. You rarely see these stock, since so many were cut down into customs. I would want to know the condition of the engine though. Flathead Fords get wheezy in the valves after not too many miles.
I’m with you on the early short-fender models. That extended “fin” just screams, “Gimme a Continental spare!”
They were called lakes plugs. As you know, lakes pipes ran down the side of the car.
I think with many earlt to mid-fifties Ford products, the temperature gauge sat of, “H,” when the engine was shut off.
Years ago I remember reading somewhere that older Ford products had temp gauges that would “peg Hot” when the ignition was turned Off. Plus I recall seeing that situation on many of those vehicles at car shows or in salvage yards.
Good to know, guys! Interesting choice by the engineers, but every old car has its quirks.
Love this body style. But on my 48 Packard it seemed like too much of a good thing.
I remember some Packards and Hudsons having the term “bathtub” describing their styling, but never these Mercurys. Am I behind the times?
I’ve seen Packards and Hudsons styling described as “bathtub” like, but never these year Mercurys. Am I behind the times?
On smaller cars it looks good. Never heard a 356 Porsche described as a bathtub.
I remember automotive magazines of the Sixties and Seventies referring to Porsche 356 Speedsters as bathtubs, although, without exception, they loved Porsche Speedsters, so I’m not sure it was a pejorative. They certainly looked beautiful to me when I was a kid.
Nice looking coupe.
You don’t see these so original very often. Seeing this one it’s readily apparent why they became such customized icons.
Not something I’d want to do with this one. Would love this as a daily driver. I’m thinking upgrading the driveline & suspension, with more modern 60’s hardware would be a plus, without hacking it up if at all possible. In other words modifying it in a way with factory parts that would allow it to be returned to original down road.
Maybe?
Cool coupe.
I’m a GM guy but I’d take an unchopped Merc every day of the week!
Makes me think of the Merc George Kennedy drove in “Thunderbolt & Lightfoot”.
I looked at these, new, in the show-room, and I utterly LOVED the changes for 1951 — particularly those extended rear fenders out beyond the trunk. I never was fond of the ’49 Mercury’s looks (which was only a little changed for 1950); but the 1951 was much improved in both the front and rear treatments. I am grateful that no-one chopped this one up, and that it has factory overdrive. If I could buy it, I would put back in the original-style exhaust pipes (cars are not meant to “sound”; they are intended for motoring transportation from place to place). The less “sporty” one is, the better I like it! I think that the 1953 is my favourite 1950s Mercury; however, the 1951 would be a close second. As Ford made them from the factory, if you please.
The ’51 Studies weren’t so bad either!!!!!
The 1950 Studekaer was better-lpoking rhan the ’51, but only for those who looked closely; however, the ’51 came with a number of improvements over the ’50. I never quite understood why Studebaker toned-down the “bullet/propeller” nose thing for 1951. I would have either left it as it was, or made it a bit MORE flamboyant. Or left the nose exactly as it was and re-worked the tail-lights and trunk emblem. That 1950 nose was a look you either liked, or you hated — same as the Edsel “horse-collar” centre-grille — at least it took attention away from that dumpy “seated rabbit” look of the 1947 body. The problem Studebaker had with “First By Far With A Post War Car” was, they misread what America wanted and took their brand down to something of a quasi-compact, but not at a low price. So their cars were both awkward and a bit unpopular. They finally got their chosen concept right in 1953; but by then it was too late for them to recover. How GOOD that 1953 new design was, shows in the fact that it STILL looked good as a new car in 1964! — this, at a time when “last year’s design” looked so very LAST YEAR. The Gran Turismo Hawk, on the other hand, looked timeless. Studebaker’s mistake, was in putting FINS on that body, from 1956 through 1961; glad they REMOVED them for ’62! The NOSE of the Hawk was great, even “inspired” (but not the “Packard” version with that “catfish” mouth!).
Gotta love ’em…..
Wow Al, you are really showing off today! Nice fleet!
Souldn’t last long – there are alot of cool cars and people up in Milford Pa….