1949 Mercury Eight

This 1949 Mercury Eight station wagon is said to have undergone a multi-year refurbishment that was completed in 2015 before being purchased by the seller later that year. The car is finished in burgundy with wood paneling over a color-matched interior, and power comes from a 255ci flathead V8 paired with a three-speed manual transmission and Touch-O-Matic overdrive. Modifications include a 12-volt electrical system and a factory radio upgraded with modern internals. A carburetor adjustment and an oil change were performed in February 2021. This Mercury wagon is now offered with refurbishment records and a clean California title in the seller’s name. The Mercury wagon featured all-new two-door bodywork for 1949 that included a full steel roof and wood panels that were crafted at Ford’s Iron Mountain plant located outside Kingsford, Michigan. Service performed during the refurbishment is said to have included a refinishing of the wood panels and a re-chroming of the grille, hood ornament, bumpers, and door handles. The glass and seals were replaced, the passenger-side rocker panel was replaced, and the car was repainted in its current burgundy. Equipment includes a split tailgate, flip-up taillights, and a replacement driver-side mirror. The 15″ steel wheels were powder-coated red during the refurbishment and are fitted with replacement Mercury chrome center caps and beauty rings. Coker whitewall radial tires measuring 205/75 were fitted in 2015, and a matching spare wheel is fitted under a body-color cover out back. The fuel tank was cleaned and re-sealed during the refurbishment, and the brake master cylinder was rebuilt. The cabin features a trio of bench seats that were reupholstered in LeBaron Bonney burgundy vinyl. The armrests, kick panels, and sun visors were also reupholstered, and chrome trim was replated. Features include a refinished woodgrain steel dashboard, a period AM radio that has been modified with modern internals, and a clock. A new black rubber floor cover and a brown linoleum rear cargo mat were fitted during the refurbishment. The white and red two-spoke steering wheel frames rebuilt instrumentation including a 110-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, amperage, and water temperature. Just over 27k miles are shown on the five-digit odometer, 1k of which were added during current ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The 255ci flathead V8 features a two-barrel Holley 885FFC carburetor and was rated at 110 horsepower when new. The engine is said to have been rebuilt during the refurbishment, and a carburetor adjustment and an oil change were performed in February 2021. A start-up video can be viewed here. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission with optional Touch-O-Matic overdrive. A video demonstrating the overdrive function is provided here. https://youtu.be/RHjbEKl5TB0 A walk-around video can be seen above, and driving footage is viewable below. https://youtu.be/IQLbs_tm8UM