Description
Collection-worthy rare survivor car in original condition paint and chrome (so much chrome!) and anodised gold tail fin trim - all in very good, nicely aged condition - some surface scratches visible, small superficial pitted areas on chrome. No rust on this car!! amazing atomic interior, in excellent original condition ? black Chinese broadcloth fabric panels set into red vinyl seats finished with gold piping. Totally reliable, drives smoothly through the gears, brakes work great, huge acceleration power, keeps up with modern traffic, all the electrics work, rear power window. Headliner and carpet are original to the car and are in excellent condition.
comes with a good stack of paperwork including original factory snag sheets, found under the carpet.
UK registered. This car is one of only 3 in the UK that I know of.
this particular car offers several nice comfort features, including some which were ahead of their time -
push button start and transmission (see photos of dash, left of steering wheel!)
flat-top steering wheel - mercury's idea to enhance driver's vision
power steering
power brakes
electric operation rear 'breezeway' window (works)
electric clock (working)
tachometer (working) - mercury designed this 'computer' to calculate average speed
radio
this vehicle is just a dream to own and use. I've driven 3, 000 problem-free miles since importing it to UK in 2017. reason for sale is I need to focus on maintaining my two other classic vehicles ? so one has to go and this is a difficult choice!!
the car is located in Norwich, England. Closest shipping port is Felixstowe.
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what makes the 1957 mercury turnpike cruiser so collectible?
- details above explains it very well...
?they might best be described as the jetsons meet Detroit. They are remembered for the unique styling cues and wide array of gadgets including a power rear window that could be lowered to improve ventilation, ?twin jet? air intakes at the upper corners of the front windshield, ?seat-o-matic? automatically adjusting seat, and an average speed ?computer?.... for 1957, the turnpike cruiser was the premium model range for mercury being differentiated from other Mercury models by the gold anodized trim strip in the car?s rear fin. It came standard with an automatic transmission and a 368-c. i. d. Engine producing 290 horsepower. ?
turnpike cruiser was the top end model for mercury's new design in 1957.
only 7291 of these made in 1957 ? many of these have been destroyed due to their popularity for demolition derby racing in the 70's.
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background of this vehicle ? a family promise
this car was carefully owned by 3 generations of the same family, bought new in 1957 by a man called oscar fisher from a dealership in Michigan USA.
oscar owned a gas station in Lavinia, Michigan. He would apparently go to work in the tow truck, using his mercury for weekend driving. He died in the 1980s and left the car to his son Richard, who subsequently left it to his son Robert with the stipulation that the car must never be modified.
Robert sold it to the next owner in 2002, who did some preservation work and kept it until 2017 which is when I bought it and shipped it to the UK where it is currently v5c registered in my name, all customs duties paid.
the car only had 26, 000 miles when I bought it, and apart from the odd touch-up here and there, is completely original inside and out.
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accolades since I owned it
front-cover and 8-page feature in classic American magazine, march 2019 - ?connoisseur's choice?... ?one of the most dramatic luxury coupes of the fifties?
won 'car of the day' - classic American 'stars and stripes' show, Tatton park ? 2018
won 'best harley earl class 55-59' -'rally of the giants' show, Blenheim palace ? 2018
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preservation record ? paper work available
rebuilt fuel pump, installed new fuel tube and hose 2003
replacement brake lines 2003
replacement rear spring shackle bushings (rare part, hard to find) 2003
rebuilt idler arm 2003
rebuilt carburetor 2006
replacement fuel tank 2006
replaced shocks 2006
complete overhaul of reaction type bendix treadle vac (brakes) 2010
professionally under sealed 2019
full custom stainless exhaust fitted 2019
new lifters installed 2021
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manufacturers' specification
368 cu in (6. 0 l) v8
290 hp (220 kw) @ 4600 rpm hp
405 lb?ft (549 n?m) @ 2600 rpm torque
3-speed "merc-o-matic" automatic transmission
dimensions
wheelbase - 122 in (3, 099 mm)
length - 211 in (5, 359 mm)
width - 79. 1 in (2, 009 mm)
height (56. 5 in (1, 435 mm)
The windscreen now unfortunately has a crack so I have now reduced the price to reflect this. There is a company in America that I have found that has a direct replacement with the correct blue tint at the top for $795
I can help with locating and shipping the screen.
