1947 Mercury Coupe

Description

For those of you who like your rods traditional but a little different, perhaps this 1947 Mercury coupe will light a fire. Basic black over that familiar shape always looks great, and with a bulletproof drivetrain, it's ready to cruise cross-country.

Mercury was hitting on all eight cylinders following the war, offering a combination of handsome good looks and Ford's most powerful V8 engine. The body lines might look familiar to Ford fans, but you'll note that the Merc is just a little bigger in every way and offers more brightwork to accent its higher position on the corporate ladder. Dressed in black, it cuts an elegant profile and you'll note that none of the factory sheetmetal has been altered, so it presents in all its fat-fendered glory. The finish is good enough to win it appreciative glances everywhere it goes, but quite honestly, the shiny black paint is overshadowed by all the brightwork that still lives on the curvaceous bodywork. And just for some flair, there's a red stripe running along the sides of both front and rear fenders, creating a subtle contrast that really works. Add in some teardrop spots, some hand-laid pinstripes, and a sizable investment at the chrome shop, and you have a rod that looks like it should cost twice as much as it does.

The simple interior is part of why the Mercury's appeal has lasted generations. Plenty of room for six in the club coupe means it's an ideal road trip candidate, and during the build, they kept all the stuff that was great about the design. Modern gray seat covers make it comfortable without looking dated, and there's a wood steering wheel in place of the oversized original, and it's mounted on a tilt column. The original instrument panel offers factory styling with VDO gauges cleverly hidden behind it, and while the center stack houses the factory radio, there's an AM/FM/CD unit underneath. Vintage Air A/C has been added using some discreet vents, and Lokar supplied one of their vintage-looking shifter assemblies for the 700R4 4-speed automatic. It shows a few signs of use, but that only means that this rod is fully sorted and has already been driven and enjoyed, so you can head out on the road without worries. Even the trunk is neatly finished with a rubber mat, full-sized spare, and a few clever accessories that'll make onlookers smile.

Power from a reliable 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 ensures that this Merc doesn't miss a beat on the street. Neatly stuffed into the pointed engine bay, it has been engineered for performance, but service access is quite good and there's just enough flash to make it interesting when you pop the hood. Hedman headers feed a set of Smitty mufflers with cut-outs, so you can go mellow or full-tilt, and the front suspension was upgraded to a Mustang II style setup with rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes. A GM 10-bolt rear hangs out back, and that lowered stance gives this Merc plenty of attitude. Classic wide whites on steelies with baby moon hubcaps accurately capture a '50s vibe and still look great today.

Mercurys have always held a special place in the motoring kingdom, and this well-execute coupe delivers on the vintage performance look. Call today!