Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
This 1957 Mercury Turnpike Convertible Cruiser Indy 500 Pace Car with chassis number 57SL66064M is truly a unique creation. It is the only 1957 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car created, and was once owned by Indy Winner Sam Hanks.
The Turnpike Cruiser was Mercury's top-of-the-line offering in 1957 and 1958. It was a bold car that went against the public's opinion that Mercury only produced conservative cars. They came in either two or four-door hard top configuration. Matching their style was their list of standard equipment, which was virtually every power item available. The interior was filled with push buttons. Under the hood was an overhead valve V8 with Holley four-barrel carburetors. The 368 cubic-inch beast produced 290 horsepower. The Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission gently sent the power to the rear wheels. The 122-inch wheels base was delicately held in place by coil springs and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes provided the stopping power.
There were 1265 examples produced of the Turnpike Convertible Cruisers, each carrying a sticker price of $4103.
This example was the actual Pace Car for the 1957 Indy race and was awarded to the winner, Sam Hanks. It was the first pace car to complete two laps, since the parade lap was introduced in 1957. The car was kept by Hanks until the 1980's when it was sold to a collector in California. It is currently owned by its third owner. It made an appearance at the 2004 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
The Turnpike Cruiser was Mercury's top-of-the-line offering in 1957 and 1958. It was a bold car that went against the public's opinion that Mercury only produced conservative cars. They came in either two or four-door hard top configuration. Matching their style was their list of standard equipment, which was virtually every power item available. The interior was filled with push buttons. Under the hood was an overhead valve V8 with Holley four-barrel carburetors. The 368 cubic-inch beast produced 290 horsepower. The Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission gently sent the power to the rear wheels. The 122-inch wheels base was delicately held in place by coil springs and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes provided the stopping power.
There were 1265 examples produced of the Turnpike Convertible Cruisers, each carrying a sticker price of $4103.
This example was the actual Pace Car for the 1957 Indy race and was awarded to the winner, Sam Hanks. It was the first pace car to complete two laps, since the parade lap was introduced in 1957. The car was kept by Hanks until the 1980's when it was sold to a collector in California. It is currently owned by its third owner. It made an appearance at the 2004 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
2006 RM Auctions at Meadow Brook
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $70,000-USD $90,000
Sale Price :
USD $80,300
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
(Data based on Model Year 1957 sales)
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Pace Car Edition Chassis#: 57sl61233m Sold for USD$99,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER INDY PACE CAR CONVERTIBLE RE-CR Chassis#: 57SL61233M Sold for USD$36,300 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER Chassis#: 165AK57609599 Sold for USD$27,500 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Sold for USD$28,050 2021 Mecum : Glendale | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Sedan Sold for USD$7,975 2019 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Sedan Chassis#: 57WA77372M Sold for USD$7,975 2019 Auburn Spring : RM Auctions | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Chassis#: 175AK57549756 Sold for USD$29,120 2019 Bonhams : Tupelo Auction | |
1957 Mercury Turn Pike Cruiser Sold for USD$42,500 2018 Carlisle Auction : Fall Carlisle | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER Chassis#: 365AK57563559 Sold for USD$20,900 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Chassis#: 57WA43925M Sold for USD$29,150 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Four-Door Sedan Chassis#: 57LA45442M Sold for USD$25,850 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Hardtop Coupe Chassis#: 57LA34844M Sold for USD$14,300 2018 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Pace Car Sold for USD$40,000 2018 GAA : Jerry & June Smith Collection | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Hardtop Chassis#: 57WA76005M Sold for USD$50,600 2018 Mecum : Los Angeles | |
1957 Mercury Montclair Turnpike Cruiser Convertible Chassis#: 57SL41190M Sold for USD$42,900 2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale | |
1957 Mercury Montclair Turnpike Cruiser Sold for USD$58,000 2017 GAA : November | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER Chassis#: 165AK57609599 Sold for USD$36,300 2017 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER CONVERTIBLE PACE CAR Chassis#: 57SL69378M Sold for USD$110,000 2017 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale | |
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER PACE CAR Chassis#: 57SL70016M Sold for USD$40,700 2015 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Convertible Sold for USD$45,000 2015 Mecum : Seattle |
Mercury Turnpike Cruisers That Failed To Sell At Auction
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | $20,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | 57WA85133M | 2022 GAA : July 2022 | $22,000 | ||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Pace Car Tribute | 2018 GAA : November 2018 | $20,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Monterey M335 Turnpike Cruiser | 2016 GAA : October | $28,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike cruiser | 2016 Fall Carlisle Auction | $25,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Montclair Turnpike Cruiser Convertible | 2016 Amelia Island Select : Hollywood Wheels | ||||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Pace Car Edition | 57SL70016M | 2015 Mecum : Monterey | $58,000 | ||
1957 Mercury Montclair Phaeton Coupe | 2015 Auctions America Fort Lauderdale | $26,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | 1427935C29 | 2014 Mecum : Anaheim | $25,000 | ||
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER | 2014 Mecum Chicago | $30,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Convertible Indy Pace Car Replica | 2014 Mecum Kissimmee | $40,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Convertible 368/290 HP, Automatic | 2013 Mecum Dan Mecum's 26th Spring Classic | $66,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Convertible | 2013 Mecum : Indianapolis | $66,000 | |||
1957 Mercury 4-Door Hardtop 368/290 HP, Automatic | 2012 Mecum Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | |||
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER CONVERTIBLE | 2011 Auctions America Fort Lauderdale | $50,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Convertible | 2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction | $60,000 | |||
1957 Mercury Turn Pike Cruiser H.T. | 2003 Toronto International Fall Classic Car Auction | $18,000 | |||
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER CONVERTIBLE | 2002 Kruse Auction Dallas, TX | $14,000 | |||
1957 MERCURY MONTCLAIR TWO DOOR HARDTOP | 2002 Kruse Auction Scottsdale, AZ (Rawhide) | $11,000 | |||
1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER INDY PACE CAR CONVERTIBLE | 2001 Kruse Auction Tulsa, OK | $50,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $45,695 range.
1986 Ford Mustang LX Chassis#:1fabp28m3gf324404 Sold for $45,650 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1962 Porsche-Diesel Super Export 329 with Trailer Chassis#:329/3217 Sold for $45,530 2023 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz | |
1979 Porsche 911 SC Custom Coup Sold for $45,920 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
2002 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird Collector's Edition Convertible Sold for $45,920 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1953 GMC 1/2-Ton Truck Sold for $45,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1934 Ford V-8 Roadster Sold for $45,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1958 Ford Thunderbird 'Kopper Kaballero' Custom Sold for $45,760 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1965 MORRIS MINI COOPER S Chassis#:KA2S4732786 Sold for $46,118 2023 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
1960 DKW Schnellaster Kastenwagen 3=6 Chassis#:22524620 Sold for $45,920 2023 Bonhams : Quail | |
1982 FORD F-350 CUSTOM PICKUP Chassis#:1FTJF36Z6CRA03382 Sold for $45,650 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Hardtop Coupe Chassis#:5762002976 Sold for $45,920 2023 Bonhams : The Greenwich Auction | |
1974 Ford Bronco Chassis#:u15glt68857 Sold for $45,650 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1933 Packard Series 1002 Five-Passenger Coupe Chassis#:61751 Sold for $45,920 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
1966 Pontiac GTO Chassis#:242676B130620 Sold for $46,000 2023 Spring Carlisle | |
1963 Studebaker Grand Turismo Hawk Chassis#:63V-32351 Sold for $45,920 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction | |
1951 Mercury Convertible Chassis#:51SL77233M Sold for $45,920 2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1932 Ford Pickup Sold for $45,650 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Chassis#:JS23N0B149318 Sold for $45,500 2022 GAA : November 2022 | |
1959 Willys Jeep Chassis#:6156814664 Sold for $46,000 2022 GAA : November 2022 | |
1952 Morgan Plus 4 Chassis#:P2315 Sold for $45,868 2022 RM Sothebys : London |
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery