It’s hard to say just how many 1949 and 1950 Mercury Coupes have been chopped, channeled and customized, but so many have been modified that it’s become a bit of a challenge to find untouched examples. It’s easy to see why so many people want a custom Mercury, they can look absolutely fantastic with the right modifications. Heck, they look good in factory original condition too! This 1950 was recently found in a barn with several other classic Fords. The seller doesn’t give much information or history but states that they purchased it from a Ford Dealership where it has been stored since ’68. Word’s can’t describe how much we would love to hear this story! You can find this Mercury here on eBay in Watsonville, California with a BIN of $20k.
While it would be a bit sad to see this car customized, we wouldn’t really blame the next owner. It might not have been modified, but it’s in pretty rough shape. The body looks solid, but the interior is going to need to be completely restored and the seller admits that the flathead V8 is stuck. Restoring the interior isn’t all that difficult, but it’s not going to be cheap. Going the custom route here could save the next owner a decent chunk of change.
The V8 engine was a major selling point for these cars and continue to be popular with the hot rodding crowd, so we would probably keep the engine if possible. The seller already put oil in the cylinders but was unable to get it to turn with the heads on. They aren’t exactly clear, but it sounds like there were able to get it moving once they removed the heads. While that means a rebuild is in order, at least the engine isn’t a rusty boat anchor (well at least we assume it isn’t).
There’s no doubt that whether the next owner restores it or customizes it, this Mercury is going to be a big project. It looks to be fairly complete, is still wearing it’s California black plates and hasn’t been chopped up, so it might just be worth all the work! We will leave it up to you to decide though. So do you think it should be restored to pristine original condition, hot rodded and simply built into a slightly ratty but decent driver?
I think that it would look fabulous in a deep shine Metallic Apple Green, highly polished chrome.
All standard, maybe a few ‘tweeks’ here and there.
But I love that LAAAZY look that it’s got !
Believe that Sylvester Stallone drove a similar car in the movie, Cobra. The car was heavily modified and then demolished half way through the movie.
That was one of the worst movies ever. I feel sorry for anyone with a 1949/1950 Mercury, they will be forever linked to it.
Steve R
The first 3 minutes of the movie, right up until Marion Cobretti aka “The Cobra” shows up, were great. After that, the movie went downhill FAST!
They wrecked, I believe, a dozen or so cars to produce the film. Scandalous.
Four were built ( by Eddy Paul ) and , all but one was destroyed if memory serves .
This car is in Mexico with a pretty cheap price tag.
I will post three pictures of it.
Tell me what you guys think.
The original flathead is still there.
And it looks like the seats have just been redone.
I think James Dean drove a ‘49 in Rebel Without a Cause. One of my favorite movies as a kid. He died 6 years before I was born. Love the car.
SteveR, COBRA movie was awful!!!
I have never really been into these cars and don’t know anything about flatheads, but it might be a good car for somebody in the US. I know how these suicide door cars are almost non-existent there anymore.
Here is a picture of the grille. Not bad for 67 years.
These were a natural to make into a lead sled. Unfortunately, it’s become like the saga of the ’32 Ford: hardly any of them left to appreciate for originality. A car like this needs to be restored and appreciated for what the designers put into it. I might add that they look pretty good stock. I wouldn’t frown if someone decided to put three deuces on the engine and warm it over a bit; there was close to two tons of steel to move. A flathead dresses out pretty nice, and is functional too.
I agree! No doubt the interior will need plenty of work , as a last resort to ” modernize” it we don’t know how good the paint is, at least attempt to buff it out, but, if not a glossy black .. try like hell to get the flathead up and running but if not, a small 8 ( not a powerhouse) chromies, and lake pipes good to go!
Look at the other ’50 Merc he has for sale. It is clean and a four door but he wants a ton less money.
Are the suicide door cars worth that much less in better condition?
Yes. The market speaks with its wallet.
Steve R
I have always been for total originality in maintaining the same design as it left the factory. But I think its OK to improve the engine performance, especially on this flathead V8. Dual pipes of course!
I don’t know why these were so popular with customisers, when you could buy a step down Hudson that looked chopped and chanelled from the factory, and even went a lot faster, and looked much better.
Price was probably the concern there.
Wayne, I have a Hudson and all the time I keep hearing how many people really like my Merc. News Flash folks… Hudson cam out with that style in 1948. Mercury came out with it in 1949.
Hey lets chop the top ,put a big honklin 454 in it, slam it, give it a wild paint job and make it look really unique…..
Ha ha ha ha I LOVE your sense of humor…..Keep it up!!
Definite nostalgia here. In 51, I managed to buy a used 49. 100K on the clock, but with a rebuilt engine. Black, and very well maintained. The mileage scared off most and brought the price down to my range. I traded in my quite nice 47 Ford tudor on it, I did savor a Hudson. Too many $’s. Three on the tree and OD. It was quite lively in second over….
Many adventures and a couple of mishaps. Called to active duty and sent to Germany. As a brand new Second Lt. I could take it with me. Off to NY. Got it back in Bremerhaven. Drove it a lot in Germany. then sold it, New MG TD beckoned.
Great story Carl, I too was stationed in Kitzingen,in 79.
Readers are probably too old to remember “Rebel without a cause”, with James Dean. He had a fabulous 49 Mercury coupe!
“Too old”??? to remember. I think you might mean too young. I’d like to do an age check to find the mean age of readers. Anyway, I’d do as much restoration as possible with many safety upgrades made in order to DRIVE IT!!!!
Nice car.. flipper seller needs to invest in a better trailer.. flat tires on that thing from that hefty Mercury!! About $13000 too much asking.,
it was that James Dean movie Rebel Without a Cause mentioned above that made these car so popular. This according to one of my friends who grew up during the 50s. he said that not long 8after the movie came out the 49 to 51 Mercury Coupe went from being just a used car to one that was highly coveted by hot rodders
Stay with the flathead with vintage performance parts, needs to be black, or dark blue or green. To cut cost using the stock seats I would either go a non-stock fabric, naugahyde or some sort of good quality imitation leather.
Burgundy would be pretty classy too, with a saddle tan interior.
Not only does it have black California license plates, but the letters spell EAT – how cool is that?
Boy that car is like a beautiful blank canvas! I am very much into restoring all my trucks virtually 100% back to stock and I always have, and I have NO right to but I look a little down on people who bob dueces etc., its their truck they can do what ever they want!
As far as this car goes, I would have a very hard time restoring it back to stock, I dont mean to piss anybody off but seriously that would be tough for me!
Restored to original condition in a deep burgundy color is the way that I would do it. The body is a great shape as built.
another flipper, they probably paid $500 for it, clearing a huge profit.
An acquaintance of mine from church owns this one: