I'm looking for info on a 55 crown Vic that had merc sheet metal on it it was in custom car I believe in 57 58 or 59 I need pictures of it cause I want to make a clone and info and pics will help thanks Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
According to specs I found, '55/'56 Fords have 115.5" wheelbase and '55/'56 Mercs have 119" wheelbase. I believe that difference is ahead of the firewall. If that is the case, a simple front end swap is not feasible......unless.....you put it all on a Merc frame...... Looking at photos of Ford and Merc two door sedans, the roof line, windshields, front doors etc, appear identical. The rear quarters are very different. However, the most telling thing is that the space between the front wheel and leading edge of the door appears longer on the Merc. Just reread your OP. I remember reading an article very recently about a custom conversion of a Merc hardtop into a 'Crown Victoria" by using the Ford roof/door components. Are you sure you didn't see Merc with a Ford roof, as opposed to a Ford with Merc sheetmetal? '55/'56 Merc wagon taillights fit '55/'56 Ford pass car quarters because Merc wagons used Ford bodies with no bulges in the rear fenders. Ray
Seriously Ray...??? That's about two feet longer than my '55 Cadillac...surely you must mean 115.5 inches...??? R-
Here is the car I want to clone Im looking for more pictures of it so if anybody has any more pictures please let me know I have a 55 Victoria and I'm gonna end up putting on a crown Vic roof on it cause I can't afford a crown vic to start with Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Tough to see from your pic but perhaps that is just a 55 ford with meteor front sheet metal. The Meteor of course is a Canadian version of the Ford with some minor badging and trim differences. I have a '56 Rideau Victoria and I belive that the Merc grill would probably fit with little or no changes needed. I also believe that the '53 Merc woodie use a Ford body with Merc grill which could strengthen my idea bout the '55.
The pic of the Merc with the Crown Vic roof is a 53/54. Since that car didn't come with a wrap around windshield, I wonder how much of a pain puttin that top on there was.
Mystery solved.......the pic of the custom explains a lot! The front "clip" appears to be all stock Ford sheetmetal EXCEPT for the bumper/grille assembly. Merc front fenders have a different contour at the leading edge corners as does the chrome trim that outlines it. So, no big deal here. Just remove the stock Ford front bumper, grille and gravel shield and bolt up a Merc bumper assembly. No fender length or wheelbase issues involved. As for the rear, as I mentioned my first post, those are Merc station wagon taillights which are also a bolt on item. Ray
Matt, pm me if you want to meet up. My merc fenders and bumper are off the car right now you could use them to see what you gotta do
I remember what the Custom Shops in the Southern California area were doing to both the '55 and '56 Fords using the Mercury tail laamps and parts off the Mercury '56 front body. They did look very good to me. Another big thing too was using the '54 Pontiac Middle Grille cross bar in the GM cars of various vintages. Another favorite was the cross bar from the '55 and '56 De Soto's too. Normbc9
Actually guys the 52-56 front clips will interchange, the extra wheelbase length is in the back seat area for more legroom,selling point in old Merc dealer brochures.
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