1951 Mercury Coupe

There's no accounting for taste. That's the reason as to why the 1951 Mercury remains a wallflower among many car collectors including those who get weak in the knees over the curvaceous postwar Mercury's. Pop culture is probably to blame; images of the models preceding the 1951 release are much more prevalent, and we know how much of an impression the boob tube makes. Generationally, though, we may be finally escaping the celluloid nostalgia that's done so much for the 1949 and 1950 models - James Dean driving a 1949 in Rebel Without A Cause to Sylvester Stallone and the chopped top 1950 in Cobra. Perhaps those landmarks of dreck forced car guys to belatedly give the 1951 Mercury a serious look. As the advertisement said "New 1951 Mercury, There's Nothing Like It on The Road. Nothing Like It for Staying Power!"

With hauntingly small numbers of these cars surviving, let alone being restored, this is a hen's tooth of a consignment. An all-steel body and a 255ci displacement flathead V8 gives us the Eight 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 a restoration in the past, presenting nicely inside and out, a multiple time show winner, and mechanically sound. Grab this baby and start crowing about it.

Exterior
Arriving in our first zip code is the massive 3 tier Merc grille that is polished to the nines and has teeth aplenty to grind up the competition. Flanking this big chrome is more…well chrome with rounded headlights complete with wide bezels in chrome, and chromed visors and for the center badge, a representation of the god of merchants, transporters of goods, thieves and tricksters. This fronts a bulbous hood that has a stylized jet streaking in front along with some Von Dutch style pinstriping and leading the way for the wonderfully large hood bathed in a pearl tan. Rounded integrated fenders with more curves than Brigitte Bardot are bathed in more pearl tan which makes their way back to the large door and lower belt line trim spear works its way from front to rear. In the next zip code is the passenger compartment roof with its Fulton sun visor and chromed spotlights, (everyone was a policeman in 1951? …or a “necker checker”), window surround trimmings and beautiful door handles with some extra pinstriping embellishments just for s**#s and giggles. More of the beautifully applied pearl tan runs to the rear of the car, on a rounded rear quarter, shades of Marilyn Monroe. Only a few minor chips and cracks are noted throughout the curvaceous body. On the back is more pinstriping a la Von Dutch to highlight the tail lamps, another portrait badge ode to our god and some big chrome in the form of a bumper that wraps around the rear quarters. Rear fender skirts and wide whites all around shown off by polished smooth caps make this iconic skate even more bada$$!

Interior
Swinging open the long sleek door and we are met with a multi tan hue and material covered door panel that has a mix of smooth broadcloth on top, a central perforated broadcloth area and darker tan vinyl lowers. These panels have color and material delineated but a thin chrome strip and the panels are peppered with shiny chrome cranks and handles. This beautiful cloth and vinyl plays out on the seats with clean perforated tuck and roll lower cushions, also covering the half of the upper cushion before transitioning to a smooth light beige broadcloth and lowers all wrapped nicely around the bolsters with smooth tan vinyl. A back seat bench just like the front only adds some vinyl armrest to the ends, and we have room for 6. Clean tan carpet floods the floors, and up front above this carpet floats the dash with its tan steel dash top, and mostly chrome ribbed dash front and instrument surrounds. These are all clean, looking great and are fronted by the original steering wheel, fashioned out of black bakelite with a leather wrapped rim. A tan cloth headliner in sewn ribbed format is above.

Drivetrain
A pull of the interior release and doing our best Olympic weightlifter impression we open the massive steel hood and feast our eyes upon a blue painted engine of the 255ci flathead V8 variety. Producing 112 horsepower and topped with a 2-barrel carburetor all is well here. Backed by a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive and putting power to the ground via a 3.91 geared rear axle this sled should be able to move nicely. We note that the electrical system has been converted to negative ground and more Von Dutch pinstriping in red decorates the bay.

Undercarriage
Very original nice patina with surface rust but no invasive rust is seen. A stock independent coil sprung front suspension is on, and in back the car utilizes leaf springs. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners and a solid X frame supports all this menagerie. Dual exhaust with Smithy's muffler works its way to the rear of the car where exhaust gases exit from bright chrome tips with static strips hanging below.

Drive-Ability
Sitting inside such an amazing vehicle one cannot help but put a smile on his face. She fired right up, idled with a low rumble, and took off like a rocket. All functions worked great save for the radio, good brakes, nice easy steering, and a beautiful cruiser that turned more heads on our test drive than if I would have walked naked down main street...but I digress... I could not keep my hands off the headliner either!

Every now and again amidst all the classics that show themselves at our front door, one becomes a standout for its design, construction, awesome power, or just plain old uniqueness. This one covers all those bases and then some and is a most beautiful 1951 Mercury example with all its restoration receipts, a copy of the original bill of sale and a slew of extra parts. All waiting for you in our Hallowed Halls of the Classic Auto Mall.

VIN DECODE
51SL44144M
51-1951
SL-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
44144-Sequential Unit Number
M-Mercury

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.