Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this LS1-Powered 1951 Mercury Coupe.
Back in March, I featured a 1950 Mercury that I felt fit the definition of a “lead sled.” Today’s car is another exhibit that embodies the style, equipment, and level of customization that a lead sled is all about. Very little of the car’s original look and feel has remained; in fact, the entire interior has been transplanted from a later-model 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. This hot rod is now being offered by a dealer in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and the auction ends Wednesday.
One of the themes in builds like this is that parts are often pulled from various sources. This Mercury is a definite mix-and-match creation, but it all works together pretty seamlessly. It has a Chevrolet engine, a Plymouth grille, Buick side ornamentation, a Lincoln interior, and a Pontiac rear axle.
A Seafoam Pearl paint job does a great job of accentuating the swooping lines of this two-door. Exterior enhancements include a grille bar from a 1955 Plymouth, frenched headlights, dummy spotlights, a chopped top with removed B-pillars, shaved door handles, custom taillights, and much more. This car will undoubtedly leave people wondering, “What is that?”
The interior is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the build: The dash, console, steering column, and seats were retrofitted from a 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII, so when sitting inside the car, you would almost never know you’re in a 72-year-old vehicle. Best of all, the car offers creature comforts like power steering, Vintage Air climate control, power windows, and a stereo.
Gone is the car’s original powertrain, and in its place resides a modern General Motors LS1 5.7-liter V8 mated to a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. The engine bay customization continues to the chassis, where we find four-wheel disc brakes, an independent front suspension, and a Pontiac Trans Am rear end.
One of the photos included in the listing shows a shelf full of trophies that the car has been awarded since completion. Based on the volume of hardware there, this car is a hit with the judges. Place your bid to win, and you might be the next to turn heads on the show circuit!
The auction for this LS1-Powered 1951 Mercury Coupe Custom ends Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 12:45 p.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
