1948 Ford Mercury Convertible (RHD)

In the immediate post-war period, Mercury cars were in essence dressed-up Fords that bridged the gap between the DeLuxe and the Lincoln-Zephyr range. Many regard the 1941-1948 Mercurys as one of Ford's greatest cars, combining sleek styling, fancy interior appointments and of course, the famous flathead V8 under the shapely bonnet. Production was halted temporarily due to the war but when it resumed on the 1st of November, 1945 Lincoln and Mercury had been combined into the one division and the 1946 Mercury was a mild facelift of the 1942 model, with a ?high-style? grille and power windows as standard equipment. Few changes were made for 1947 and in 1948, the last year of the pre-war styling, just 50,268 Mercurys were made, of which 7,568 were Club Convertibles. The Mercury used a longer 118-inch wheelbase than contemporary Fords and was available in a range of body styles for 1948, including the Sedan Coupe, Town Sedan, Club Convertible and Station Wagon. Under the bonnet was the beefy L-head V8, displacing 239-cid and developing100 bhp at 3800 rpm, while a three-speed manual transmission was standard. Inside, the Mercury stood apart from the Ford in the detailing found on the dashboard and the quality of the upholstery materials, usually broadcloth or cord, and general trim levels. Period advertising trumpeted the aircraft-inspired engineering and styling and made much of the Mercurys supposed fuel efficiency. Ford Australia marketed both sedan and locally made utility versions of the second generation Mercury and they were quite successful here with buyers looking for a touch of luxury. Indeed, ?Gelignite Jack? Murray used his 1948 Ford Mercury, nicknamed the ?Grey Ghost?, to win the 1954 Redex trial.

Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.