1950 Mercury Sport Sedan

There's no accounting for taste. That's the reason that the 1950 Mercury remains a wallflower among any number of car collectors, including those who get all wobbly over curvaceous post-war Mercurys. They all want the 1949 or 1950 models--a phenomenon that can be satisfied by this consignment.

With dauntingly small numbers of these cars surviving, let alone being restored, this is a hen's tooth of a consignment. A 2-barrel Holley feeding a 255ci displacement flathead V8 gives us our sport designation, and at the turn of the new decade it's the best it gets as to the design. Aerodynamics were a second thought in the day; however this car has the design of a sleek rocket ship, albeit in Buck Rogers heavy form, but still sleek and swept. Big chrome adds to the look, and weight, which nearly eclipses 2 tons! The beneficiary of an older restoration, still holding and presenting nicely inside and out, and mechanically sound. Grab this baby and start crowing about it.

Exterior
Picture an elongated bubble all round and shiny that starts out with a tastefully large grille with a tastefully large bumper below. Add on 2 rectangular parking/signal lights with tastefully large bezels, a big badge above and the beginnings of a bulbous hood topped with a stylized rocket/bird hood ornament leading the way. Single headlights on fenders that tastefully bulge away from the hood and run to the back dying into a straight panel on the second set of doors. A few more bump outs for the rear quarters, a trunk lid that bulges slightly upward from those quarters and wrap around taillights framed below by another tastefully large rear bumper and dual pipes protruding from underneath. A rounded roofline with rounded windows, chrome surrounds and dual antenna along with some sexy rear skirts, and we have the Buck Rogers Rocket look. Lest we forget the side spear and dish wheel covers with their wide white wrappings for finishing off the bottom end. All this rocket like menagerie is bathed in deep green, showing some inclusions, slight bumps and a few faults throughout.

Interior
Swinging all 4 doors open from their common “B” pillar we note nicely pinched green broadcloth mixed with a lighter sage fine canvas if you will, and a lower panel of dark green vinyl. This beautiful combo plays out on the seats too with green and white striped cloth seats and lower backs in broadcloth, gray half back coverings, and green bolsters, also in felt broadcloth. Throw on some piping for the different fabric delineations and make a back seat bench just like the front only add some big arms, and we have room for 6. Gray carpet floods the floors, and up front above this carpet floats the dash with its dark green dash top, and mostly chrome ribbed dash front and instrument surrounds. These are all clean and looking great and are fronted by the original steering wheel, fashioned out of bakelite with a round chrome horn rim just inside the bakelite. A light warm gray headliner also in the ubiquitous felt is above.

Drivetrain
Taking a peek under the hood, and we see a nicely restored engine block painted green presenting as a 255ci V8 with a single 2-barrel carburetor atop and a 3-speed manual transmission on back with a 3.90 rear axle configuration. The overall engine bay has held up nicely and is very clean.

Undercarriage
Underneath a newer gas tank, and a rust-free X frame with no rust body hangers, floorpans and wheel wells. Some invasive rust has done some damage just behind the mufflers on the rockers, but it does not invade very far. Independent coil springs for front and leaf springs for the rear along with 4-wheel drum brakes to provide the woah.

Drive-Ability
Slipping inside this earlier restoration it retains its sparkle and je ne sais quoi. It fired right up and idled without a wiggle. Smooth take off and decent stopping, as well as tight steering with some body roll, but its a 2 ton car so it will not carve a curve like those of less stature and similar structure. The radio was inoperable, and the temp gauge would not read, although the car did not overheat.

Holding its own very nicely, a few faults in the exterior paint, and the interior is just fab. A nice engine and bay, and structurally sound with some rocker body rust outside the frame near the hangers. It's a rarely seen car, and even rarer to be seen in this condition. Fluff your feathers, and strut proudly to the next car show where you can grab one of those elusive ribbons for your mantle. Cock a doodle doo!

VIN DECODE
50DA76246M
50-1950
DA-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
76246-Sequential Unit Number
M-Mercury

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.