1950 Custom Mercury Eight
Starting as a 4-door sedan, the builder went big by removing the roof and sealing shut one of the rear doors, we now have a one of a kind 3 door Merc convertible. With big chrome teeth for the grille, a killer side spear, a continental kit, and chrome trimmings aplenty, we give you a rolling work of art. Chrome rounded headlights complete with wide bezels in chrome and even more chrome with the MERCURY lettering embossed within the lead off the hood. A lower belt line trim spear works its way from front to rear and includes more block Mercury script. We have full-time open-air motoring with a clean split windshield framing the interior trimmings, clean white tonneau cover and beautiful door handles with some extra embellishments in the form of dual spotlights on the A-pillars. More smooth red runs to the rear of the car, on a rounded rear quarter with their removable skirts. Even the gas filler door is trimmed for extra effect. On the back is more chrome in the form of the cat eye taillight bezels, some big chrome in the form of a bumper that wraps around the rear quarters and the obligatory Continental kit. Interior: Here we see custom white vinyl with chrome trim, handles and cranks and surrounding trimmings. Fresh covered benches, the seats are all white vinyl tuck and roll lowers and a split tuck and roll smooth upper sections. Much like the original design the metal dash is showing in exterior matching red is all shiny mirror-like art deco inspired chrome ribbing. This is fronted by a whiter than white steering wheel atop a factory column with a tachometer attached. Within the chrome dash are a bevy of gauges, knobs and pulls for various functions and just below in the center are a pair of aftermarket gauges. The original AM radio is still in place. Clean red carpet floods the floors, and any sharp edges left from the conversion have been covered by white vinyl padding.
Drivetrain smooth, clean and to the point and this engine bay is spot on for all those terms. 350ci V8 topped by an Edelbrock 4bbl carburetor and a TH350 on back in 3-speed automatic configuration. The newly installed 5/2025 is a 3.08 geared rear axle. A shout out to the bay, which is covered in black paint and provides a nice backdrop to show off the orangish red mill. Undercarriage is very original, has a nice patina, NO rust and plenty of new add-ons. A stock independent coil, sprung front suspension is on and in back the car utilizes leaf springs with air shocks and factory drum brakes are on both fore and aft. A solid X frame supports all this menagerie and a dual exhaust system with glass pack mufflers works its way to the rear of the car where the exhaust gases exit from horizontal flared tips. Drive-ability sitting inside such an amazing vehicle, one cannot help but put a smile on their face. She fires right up, idles with a low rumble and takes off like a rocket.