1954 Mercury Monterey Hardtop
A gasser is a type of hot rod car originally used for drag racing. This style of custom car build originated in the United States in the late 1950's and continued until the early 1970s. In the days before Pro Stock, the A/Gas cars were the fastest stock-appearing racers around. Gassers are based on closed body production models from the 1930's to mid-1960's, which have been stripped of extraneous weight and jacked up using a beam axle or tubular axle to provide better weight distribution on acceleration, (beam axles are also lighter than an independent front suspension).
For consignment in the "you never know what is upcoming through the door next department", we give you one of the wildest Mercury Monterey modifications you can feast your eyes on! Yes me droogs, this car has undergone a gasser transformation, but as our consignor states, it's the look without the go real fast kinda car, and it's a good cruiser. The car has pop out plexiglass windows under its roof, some shaved door handles and a stripped down but still finished interior, all in the name of weight loss. A car with a gastric bypass, wearing a Mercury suit.....hmmmmmmm.
Exterior
Leapin' lizards the car is in the air in front...well, actually it's not it just looks the part. This is due to the front bumper being long gone, an I beam and just some leaf springs is for the front suspension. There is an aluminum bar replacing the front bumper and 15-inch Weld Draglite wheels add to the effect and these are wrapped by mini 25x7.50-15 rubber. The grille and its egg crate are now lost to time and there is however a central horizontal cascading chromed bar with a USN badge in the center, ("Oh we are...the old one!" Said the marching monkeys in the wizard of OZ.). The hood is pinned and has a "merican" flag in the center and directly behind is a hood scoop. On either side are a single bezeled circular headlight on the edge of the front quarters. As we move back, the car has its original doors and bump out rear quarters, and this is a good thing because now it's running on 15-inch American Racing Torque thrust wheels with big 295/50R15's on back. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em! Yellow traction bars are seen on the bottoms of the leaf springs. The roofline and windows are pure 1954 Merc with some black trimming weather-stripping. This presents a nice contrast to the exterior white paint which is very nice and has just a touch of rust and bubbles seen on its lowers. On to the back of the car where it's more '54 Merc with a nicely rounded trunk and rear fenders that have some angled outward vertical wrap around tail lights. A matching wrap around to the undulating fender bumper is on and has a matte finish feel. Stickers for the rear glass, and hint of this snarling side winding exhaust pipes snaking and sneaking their way behind the front tires to a low end of the front quarter exit wrap the package up nicely.
Interior
Near perfect door panels have smooth red vinyl and some lazy chevrons in shiny chrome trimming them, as well as shiny actuators, cranks and an armrest. Pure racing buckets in straight back form sit on some tube stock stilts which float upon a rubber floor. In the center is a big black metal console with a few levers, a push button and a toggle. A lock box is on the top tier of this console. The back seat has been removed and now a rubber mat covers the floors. In the center is a B&M shifter with a skull topper. The dash has the underpinnings of the original Merc dash, nicely rounded over and all steel but has been painted with red texture paint. In front of the driver there is a custom shiny polished aluminum dash front panel housing various modern black faced gauges and a REBEL etched badge in the center. A tachometer is on the dash top and a black rally steering wheel is fronting the dash. Also noted is an aftermarket AM/FM/CD radio. Above a smooth red vinyl headliner is in.
Drivetrain
Looking very snazzy in the freshly painted black engine bay, a red block and valve covered 283ci V8 now resides. It specs out as a 1964 version and on top is an Edelbrock intake and 4-barrel carb. On the back is a 2-speed automatic Powerglide automatic transmission. Headers are on, and these melt into the aforementioned straight pipe. A Ford 9 inch rear axle smokes the tires.
Undercarriage
Fully restored with a fresh coating of black paint, we note a new fuel cell, some traction bars and leaf springs for the back with drum brakes. For the lighter front end, an I beam with leaf springs is on and disc brakes live here. All is very solid and looking like new with no rust or road dirt to speak of.
Drive-Ability
I slipped in and did not know what exactly to expect, but in the end it was a hoot to drive. It really is a good cruiser and not a crusher. Out on the track it had nice acceleration but you will not lift the front end off the tarmac. The seats were comfy and I even played the radio. All very clean and all functions working right down to the good brakes.
It looks the part of a drag gasser, but is in reality an interesting cruiser. It kinda has a split personality, with the menacing pipes and gasser front end, but it has the comforts of home, paneled doors, rubber floors, radio and gauges with the skull topper and REBEL etching in the dash. A luxury, ( in the eye of the beholder), Mercury but with a wild side. There is nothing else like it! Sheesh.
54WA53685M
54-1954
WA-Wayne, MI Assy Plant
53685-Sequential Unit Number
M-Mercury Line
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
