So who on this forum has a Mercury Speedster? I'll start, I have body #1249 registered as a 1919 based on the chassis it was built on at some point.
Andy
I'm in the process of repairing #139. It's supposed to be a 1922, I thought. (The body) But, I don't own it.
Jarvis Erickson, the Mercury Guru book states that from 1921 to 1926 Mercury Body Co made approx. 1600 bodies. He states about 70 are know to still exist.
Don't have one, have seen one unrestored one in NC, and of course at meets you can see them displayed......Beautiful is one word to use, but just doesn't really describe these machines of art.
#1236. Titled 1924. Ready to start reassembly this winter.
I think Mike Mender in okla. has one.
If any of you Mercury owners have any good period photos and original literature
you are willing to share, I would like to put together a special feature piece on
The Old Motor covering the car and all of the Mercury special chassis
parts. It will also be shared here.
If you have anything to contribute contact me @ http://theoldmotor.com
The photo above was posted here on the forum in 2010 by Luke Dahlinger
Yes I own one #1018 right hand drive.
Ken----You really threw a wrench in my day today. I went out to the pole barn and it was still there, Mercury #139. I looked and looked with lights from all angles and just can't tell if mine is stamped #139 or #130? For years I have thought I had #139 but now am not sure, could you look at the one you are working on again and tell me if you are positive of the body number? The last digit on my stamping is poor.
If you have #139 that will be a 1921 and the first year of production. It should not have a door on the passenger side and that is unique to 1921 but some were modified later with a door. The first year no door ended around #212 or #221, not sure but Jarvis knows.
If you have corrected my mistake I am really happy as I have the original brass ID plate that has been reproduced and is not yet stamped. My original was sand blasted and I need to pull that out and look really close for numbers--the body has a stamping above the plate and that is what I have been looking at. Also there was a change in the brass plate from 4 rivet to 2 rivet.
Please let me know and I will look also, there are not 2 #139 and I want to identify mine correctly, I have seen car #140.
Tim Moore
As far as I can make out, it looks like 139. I'll examine it with a magnifying glass tomorrow. The firewall is rusty but the stamping is fairly visible. It is stamped above where the 4-rivet plate is supposed to go. (I don't have a plate.) There's no door. The sidewall step slots are about 4" above the frame plane. Except for the flare at the cowl, the lower skirting and sides are one piece.
Do you have an image of the plate? I've been looking for one of those.
I looked at my original brass plate with a 10x glass and it is #139, the cowl is not so clear in the stamping but I am sure my Mercury is #139. My original brass plate is cupped from sand blasting but a new one was made by an artist at GM by acid etching.
Send me an e-mail at mercuryspeedster@hotmail.com or mooreti@msu.edu and I will send you an image of the plate new and old. We will work it out how to get you the correct brass plate image.
I have a little relief now that I have looked at my body tag and it is #139...not sure what you have.
Tim Moore
I don't have a plate, were they only on early bodies? I very clear stamping on the firewall. A picture of my car is on my profile, I can't find my reduced size one to post here.
Andy
Jarvis called me last night about this thread. There were two ID plates, an early brass one with 4 rivets and a later aluminum with 2 rivets. There is no document saying when they changed. My car has a single hole on either side of the stamped firewall number. Posted with Jarvis' permission.
Andy
Mercury Speedsters are very desirable. Wish I owned one........... but, I have enough projects now. Have to settle with owning a front axle. Thanks for all the pics. Any more members have Mercury's out there?
Tim - We're alright. My memory must be worse than my eyesight. The number is 134 not 139. I even had it written on the firewall in chalk so I wouldn't have to try and read it again.
What I'm curious of is what was in the Model field of plate? Does yours have a model number stamped on the plate? I thought they only made one model.
One more question; Was it common to bend the clutch pedal over to clear the steering column? The column on this on lines up smack dab over the clutch pedal (high/low). There's no way it can be functional.
Another oddity - If this is a 21 and came as a kit for a 21 and below Model T, how on earth did they get a low radiator to even coming close to fitting that huge hood?
Ken,
Thanks for the # clarification. On my original plate the model is stamped "A". Again this is a Jarvis question and all I would guess is that it could also indicate a Chevy chassis body if stamped different.
Good question on the hood and radiator that I never considered. Some Mercury's had their own shell and radiator with a 4 hinge hood but I don't know how the Ford low hood and radiator fit and looked correct. I don't like that any hood would just overlap the cowl and has no shelf to sit on the body.
Don't know about the clutch problem you have, I'll have to look at mine (not restored and just sitting together). I don't have the steering column in it but motor is in it. Do you have the correct Mercury steering wedge on the inside of the cowl?
204 stamped in the fire wall
Ken, my clutch pedal is bent over to clear the problem, I don't think there is any other way unless a different gear is used.
Bob, it's kinda sad seeing 204 in that condition, do you plan to get it on the road?
Andy
All the aluminum parts are reproductions but they seem to fit in that the upper dash bracket and firewall/cowl wedge all align with the steering bracket. But the steering bracket has a wedge that lowers the angle of the column. (Don't know if this was original.)
Not that it matters to me since I'm just doing the body work but I may make a copy for myself.
I have #253B and #1070. 253B (the yellow one) is a Model B Mercury. It was a smaller less expensive Mercury body, meant to be used with standard Model T fenders, hood and radiator. The cowl is 3 inches lower, the body is 1 1/2 inches narrower, and there is no trunk.
Correction, Model B body was meant to be used with standard Model T fenders, running boards, and radiator. Hood was Mercury. Body is 1 1/2 inches narrower at the seat, cowl is standard width.
Here's mine no number. Originally for a Chevrolet chassis.
Mike, the yellow car is looking real good, I like the drop center 21" buffalos.
Tom, my car is also labeled as a chevy body but Jarvis has history going back 60 years so it is a T now. Interestingly, like yours the dash is laid out for a T ignition switch plate and speedo, the firewall also had all the holes for a T coilbox. Your body looks like mine including the fuel filler location. The fuel fillers seem to float right and left, I don't know the reason for the changes. Note on Mikes B model that the fuel filler is up really close to the seat. Lots of wasted space with no deck lid.
Andy
Was waiting to see yours added here, Mike - nice !
If memory does not fail me didn't Tim Morsher spare head the fender irons and fenders for the Mercury's a few years ago? I heard he made six sets of them, sure would be nice for some of you boy's to bug him for some more made?
Mike,
Can you share some details on your SOHC Fronty? That will be one Mean Mercury when it hits the streets.
Can one of you lucky gents post a head on and tail on photo?
Andy
If you have a closer look at my dash you may notice it was originally cut for chev, but a previous owner modified with hacksaw to fit pre 26 ignition panel.
Tom
Tail view sort of, blurry photo
FYI
Here's a Chev with fenders
Love all these merc pics. Thanks everyone !
Joe, no more fender irons. Lost my shirt on that one, but 5 of us have fender irons now, thanks to Tim Moore and Bill Lucius . The butcher guy I had before Bill is why I lost my shirt . Live and learn.
We are soon to roll the fender tins, though, so if any merc owners need a set, they can contact me. Tmorsher@icloud.com
I just want to say for all of us who were already lusting after a Mercury Speedter: this thread is not helping and you guys that already have one (or more than one!) just suck. That is all. (Just kidding, great thread, but now I want one so bad I can't stand it).
Who made the bronze castings for the front and rear fender mounts? A set came with this car but no irons. The castings are not machined or drilled though. What is the diameter of the fender irons?
They did a nice job on that dash Tom. I have fenders and irons but the fenders don't match. the fronts have a peak like this } and the rears are flatter like this ].
Andy
Probably wouldn't do Tom any good being in Australia but I'll be making some dashes. They'll be drilled for the steering bracket and the pre-26 gauge panel. That's the only one I have a pattern for at the moment.
Tom
Tail view sort of, blurry photo
Ouch !!