Back To the Fifties

rusty6 · Dec 17, 2017

It was like a time warp back to the 1950s in my yard this afternoon. Colder weather coming and possibly snow tonight so I wanted to get the "new" 53 Merc into the shop to work on. Had to move the 52 so of course lined them up for a picture or two.

Janicholson · Dec 17, 2017

So nice. It is the first grandpa car I remember. I loved the thruster controls for the heater. Jim

pete 23 · Dec 17, 2017

The '53 had to be the best as that is the year I graduated from high school.

Ande · Dec 17, 2017

Classy cars, the car companies could take notes

Jim in Sask · Dec 17, 2017

Old Mercs are like potato chips - can't have just one! :lol:

jeffcat · Dec 17, 2017

The green one is the "newer" one to you? I agree, it is in better
looking shape. What a slick looking set of wheels that would be after
a full blow restoration. Wow only a few thou to do. He he. No pleas3
keep both of them. What a nice set of babies they will be. So many
fine looking cars and trucks were customized, rat rod, stock
car,chopped, demolition derby, AND dukes of hazzard. They destroyed so
many cars for that dingy show you just want to cry. What you really
want to cry about is what the comedy movies of the 20s through the
30s. Many of those would be worth a mint today just driven off an old
time used car lot. I can remember some of the stuff I wish that I
could have rescued thirty or fourty years ago from junk yards. Many I
saw were being driven in through the front gate just because it was an
older car. Not a single thing wrong, just over ten years old. There
was one of those mint green tempests that was a grandpa car. Absolutey
beautiful but was about fifteen years old. It really looked one or two
years old. Cry!

2x4 · Dec 17, 2017

My grandpaw bought one new that year. Went on many hunting trips in it.

rusty6 · Dec 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:31:00 12/17/17) The '53 had to be the best as that is the year I graduated from high school.

Wow Pete! 53 was also the last year for the flathead V8 in the Mercury. In 54 they got the new "Y block" V8. 53 is also also the year I was born.
Jim its almost an addiction with me now. Anytime I see one for sale now I'm thinking , "parts car"!

47fivewindow · Dec 17, 2017

And the year I was born! yea 1953

Philip d · Dec 17, 2017

Looks great Rusty!

rusty6 · Dec 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:48:28 12/17/17) The green one is the "newer" one to you? I agree, it is in better
looking shape.

Yes, the white top 53 is new to me this week. I don't have any restoration plans for it. Just a major cleanup and try to get the engine running and the car drivable. Costs big money to rebuild a flathead these days but I know a guy.

pete 23 · Dec 17, 2017

Yup, remember the Ford going overhead valve in '54. Chev and Plymouth were next year. Bought a '55 Plymouth in fall of '57 when I got back from overseas. Wad really something going from a '48 Chev I had up in Newfoundland. My first car was a '37 Ford Coupe with the big 85 in her.

casecollectorsc · Dec 17, 2017

Nice looking cars! What's next to the 53 in the barn??

rusty6 · Dec 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:23:06 12/17/17) Yup, remember the Ford going overhead valve in '54. .

Canadian built Fords kept the flathead through 1954. Only the Merc (and Monarch) got the OHV in 54.

rusty6 · Dec 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:10:58 12/17/17) Nice looking cars! What's next to the 53 in the barn??

Its the 39 Ford, my parents wedding car.

Ian Beale · Dec 18, 2017

We've got a 1954 flathead Ford truck which was their last year in Oz. So that probably came from Canada?

Richard G. · Dec 18, 2017

Pete, are you saying Chevy went to overhead valves in 55?
I saw a 1917 Chevy V8 with overhead valves and had a 1925 with them.
They were overhead all through the 30's and 40's also.
Richard in NW SC

rusty6 · Dec 18, 2017

(quoted from post at 05:39:40 12/18/17) Pete, are you saying Chevy went to overhead valves in 55?
I saw a 1917 Chevy V8 with overhead valves and had a 1925 with them.
They were overhead all through the 30's and 40's also.
Richard in NW SC

Chevy was all ohv six and four cylinder until 55 when they introduced the legendary small block 265 ohv V8. Although I've read about the early "teens" V8 too.

pete 23 · Dec 18, 2017

I miss spoke. I meant chev came with a v 8 as did plymouth.

GordoSD · Dec 18, 2017

My Dad bought a new 54 Ford Customline. V8, three on the tree with overdrive.The car I learned to drive in. I discovered it would do 90 mph in 2nd/over.

GVSII · Dec 18, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:48:35 12/17/17)

(quoted from post at 20:23:06 12/17/17) Yup, remember the Ford going overhead valve in '54. .

Click to expand...

Canadian built Fords kept the flathead through 1954. Only the Merc (and Monarch) got the OHV in 54.

Was just going to ask you weather the Canadian mercs/monarchs got OHV in '54.Knew the Canadian fords hung on to the flatheads through '54.

GVSII · Dec 18, 2017

(quoted from post at 05:39:40 12/18/17) Pete, are you saying Chevy went to overhead valves in 55?
I saw a 1917 Chevy V8 with overhead valves and had a 1925 with them.
They were overhead all through the 30's and 40's also.
Richard in NW SC

I don't think chev. went into car production with anything but valve in head.Ever.

Back To the Fifties

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