Customs Barn (Garage) Find '52 Merc.

Discs, lower, my 02$

 

Now a days it is rare to find an original car in that nice condition. Totally opposite of what was the “ norm” a few years ago. I’d just rather modify or cut up a rusty car is all. No need to get mean about it. Just my 2 cents.

 

No one is getting mean, so you’d rather spend a few years fixing rust than just modifying a vehicle which you be modifying anyways?

 

That'll make a nice '50's cruiser! Lower it, duals, full length lakes pipes and whitewalls. Hit the street and cruise for chicks!

 

Nice car its gonna look great lowered, That wagon is cool too ! Keep us posted on your project.

 

Spent the day tuning up the Merc. Oil & filter change, drained fuel tank, cleaned and kitted the carb., brake fluid flush, and some glove box treasures.

I've got some real treats from the trunk that I will share soon. I appreciate the comments.

 

Nice Merc! I don't think I'd do more than a wheel /cap and tire change, it looks good like it sits. Polish the paint and chrome and put some miles on it!

 

Very cool Merc! Congrats!

 

I really envy you, that is a really nice car, the same thing I drove to school in the 11th grade. I would love to have one again, it was a nice luxury car to me. I know you will have fun and enjoyment out of it.

 

Because it's his car?

 

Just an opinion, spend the time going thru it and getting it running and driving reliably again before tearing down or swapping parts.

27 years sitting, needs some maintenance, then short trips, then longer trips to really hash out all the little BS.

Really a great looking car, I don't think I'd do much to change it personally. Al***ude adjustment would help it out.

Any backstory on why it sat for so long?

 

Nice car.
I like your plans..enjoy!

 

Front discs and a dual master made a big difference with my '59. I had to made a couple of very hard stops with it and it saved me from one possibly big accident, someone blew a red light in front of me.

 

Interior, and engine pics, please.
Very cool, congrats!

 

Congrats - Cool ride - good to see that you are properly good through the basics to help make things work and look right right - a '52 was my first car, before I had a driver's license - it had a overdrive 3 speed, which was a real benefit, especially to do burn outs in reverse, Ha!

 

The backstory:
First of all, I have been wanting to own a '52-'53 Merc. for about 20 years, but not actively looking. I also own/operator a Volvo specialty shop with a portion of the business focused on vintage Volvo maintenance, repair, and restorations.
Several weeks ago, I was contacted by a client who wanted to see if I was interested or knew of anyone that would be interested in a very original and solid 1970 Volvo 142 as well as other vintage parts. He also says he has other older Volvo cars like a 444, 544, 122 that he needs to sell. But then he tells me that he is keeping one and that it has been sitting for 30 years and needs somebody to get it back in working order. At this point, I am taking notes, but not all that interested in anything for myself....too many irons in the fire.
But the one Volvo that he is keeping is a 1957 P1900. WTF? In 1956 into early '57, Volvo built 68 of these before killing the production. The P1900 was designed and the first few built by Glaspar in California.
So now I am interested. I have never seen a P1900 in person. So I make the arrangements to meet the guy. Bonus, this is only a few hours drive away from me. Long story short....we meet, the P1900 is genuine, and was restored and stored in mint condition. There is nothing wrong with this P1900 other than what sitting for 30 years will do to fluids and rubber. Here is where the Merc. comes in.
I spend time also looking at the other Volvo goodies in addition to other old Honda motorcycles. This guy has cool stuff and none of it is garbage! As I am poking around and talking with the guy I see a bigger than Volvo car covered with blankets, boxes, dust, etc. It sits right by a back door of this storage building, so it seems like the car is a catch all for everything. I ask about what is under the covers and he tells me its his deceased wife's, mother's car. At this point I respectfully don't ask anything more about it. We talk more about the P1900, the Honda bikes, other Volvo stuff. We hit it off and some of the reasons of why all this stuff is gotta move comes out. Basically, its his age and lifestyle. Also, his wife became ill some years ago and all his attentions went into her health care. The conversation turns to the covered car and I now learn its a '52 Merc. I don't want to be a hyena, but my hair raises. I let the guy know that a '52-'53 Merc. is on my "bucket" list and ask if I could see it. From here, you can imagine my inner excitement and then how that excitement ski rocketed once the Merc. is uncovered and its a 2 door Custom! From there I almost would have turned into a pool if it was a Monterey, but no. From there, more talking and drooling, and then I feel comfortable asking if the Merc. is also for sale. I don't think it was on his radar and he had no set plans yet about it. I told him to think about it and told him I could not respectfully make an offer because of what the car means to him.
We moved back to the details of the P1900 and I gave him a ball park idea of what it would cost and involve to get the Volvo up and running and on the road. We agreed that I would take on the P1900. While making the arrangements, the guy makes me an offer! Trade my work on the P1900 for the Merc! You know what I did. The Mercury came home with me that day. The P1900 is coming to the shop this week....using an insured transporter for that one.

 

Carb. going on today after some clean-up of the intake and plumbing. Here is the I.D. plate.

 

Thanks! The wagon in the background is a '59 two door ranch. Desert car its whole life so pretty solid. Its been a very long project. Its running a fuel injected 460/C6. Painless wiring, disc brakes up front, 4-link rear end and bagged all around. Just now working on door seals and gl*** mounting and fuzzies.

 

Cool story, I had to Google the P1900 - never heard of them. Sounds like the deal is a win - win for both of you!

 

Very cool story. I always wonder how cars that were either restored or in very good original condition end up sitting for extended periods of time.
P1900, post up some pics very interesting car. I missed a buy on a P1800 a few years ago. I was in a warehouse buying pallet rack from a company that was being shut down and sold off by the family. 1 of the back loading bays had a few cars parked in it. Green P1800, 55 chevy, and several mid 70's thru 80's luxury cars. Approached that family about buying the 55 and P1800, they wanted to sell them all at once. By the time I arranged enough truck and trailer and storage solutions, they were gone.

 

First of all, congratulations on acquiring this cool Mercury !

Second, I had to look up the Volvo P-1900, amazing what can be learned everyday on this website.

I have to agree with others here, update to disc brakes, the Aerostar springs and lowering blocks and its good to go.

I am not a purist, in the sense of the dictates, of the H.A.M.B. parameters, I am sure a lot of us members understand that.

But if it were my car, I would put a new set of black wall tires on it, and use some flitz on the red rims to bring the red back a bit brighter than it is right now. It appears that the wheel covers are original and will polish up nicely. It appears that all of the chrome trim, will equally appreciate a good going over with flitz to brighten up the chrome and stainless steel trim.

I am sure that the black paint, will buff up to a nice gleam as well.

After going over all of the systems, that have been sitting all of those years, and making sure its all safe to drive, I would drive it as is, till the original power train starts to indicate, that you might want to replace it with something like what has been introduced, to the cool ranch wagon project you have going on.

That Mercury, as it sits right now, when the above suggestions and the other suggestions from the more learned members here, have suggested, are taken into consideration, that Mercury when driven to any function or just a Sunday cruise, to some cool drive in for a burger, NOBODY is going to give you any guff for the way it looks!

That Mercury is one kick *** ride for sure !
That is just my 8 cents worth.

 

Great score there and I also learned what a Volvo P1900 is. Never even knew that.

Back to your 52 Merc, just make it look like Squablow's and you are set. Clean it up, get it running good and safe. Then have fun with it.

 

What a sweet Merc!! Love the '59 too!!

 

The F-ing stars aligned for you that day….nice

 

Yes. I feel so lucky.

 

Some really good points...thank you. Initially, I was thinking whitewalls. But now after yours and a few others, I agree. The blackwalls work and will be going in that direction. What is the consensus on whitewalls vs. blackwalls now? Just curious about opinions, but I think I get it. Great idea of wheel treatment.

 

Some treats from the trunk. plates from late 70's/early 80's, replacement engine bearings, gl*** tail lenses (bluedots), fender skirts (not repops). Lots more, Ford tools, ignition tune-up parts, oil filters, a N.O.S. fuel pump, jacks, blankets, extra oil, headlamps, replacement radio tubes...on and on. Sorry if I am boring anyone. This is a time capsule!

 

Or…..you could go in this direction……

 

Its a runner! Got the rebuilt carb installed only to find the kit base gasket was wrong and had a m***ive vacuum leak....can't believe I missed that. Luckily got a roll of gasket material and punched out a replica of the original. A few minor fuel leaks resolved with more home brewed engineering. For $65, the "Holley" kit was pretty lame. Next time, I will make my own gaskets and source the accel. pump and idle mixture screws. Gotta say, the Holley 1901 is a really cool carb.
All the fluids are changed and no leaks. Drove it up and down my street 5 or 6 times. Adjusted the carb a few times and then headed out. The Mercury drives like a new car almost. The steering is light during low speed 3 point turns, the shifting on the column is crisp. The braking is really good and it brakes straight. I have not even looked at the suspension or steering components...its tight. I could only do about 40mph due to the flat spots on the old bias tires, but even that was improving. Lights work, signals work, all the gauges work. For an old flathead with the cross over exhaust and single exhaust pipe, it sounds tough. The engine purrs like a kitten. This Merc runs like you would expect it should driving it off the dealer lot new, and at idle you wouldn't know it was running while sitting in it.

Our first excursion out and we already got a few thumbs up and also saw a yellow & white '56 CrowVic crusing in the other direction.
A good day! Thanks all for your valuable opinions and advise. On the search for tires now.