1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser

President Eisenhower signed into law the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act on June 29th,1956. This piece of legislation appropriated $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles of freeways throughout America. This new highway system inspired Mercury to create a concept car for 1956 called the XM Turnpike Cruiser, which soon led to a similar production car that appeared in the brand's all-new 1957 model line.

The production Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was powered by a new 368 cubic-inch V8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor and produced 290 horsepower at 4,600 RPM and 405 lbs.-ft of torque at 2,600 RPM. It came as a two- and four-door hardtop, a range-topping convertible, and wore Jet-Age-inspired design cues, including the first compound-curve windscreen, and streamlined and angular tailfins that were referred to as 'projectiles.' The 'Breezaway Ventilation' system was a cabin cooling innovation in which air passed through intakes at the front of the roofline and out of a rear opening left by a retractable rear glass piece, canopied by an extended roof overhang. Inside, there was a flat-topped elliptical steering wheel, 'seat-o-matic' (automatically adjusting power seat with memory), and an instrument panel dubbed the 'Monitor Control Panel' featuring an unusual speed-averaging computer clock (a 'computer' estimates your average speed using time and mileage).

Production of the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser would last for only two years as consumers began to take a greater interest in smaller, more compact vehicles being offered by other marques. Mercury produced 16,861 Turnpike Cruisers in 1957 including 1,265 convertibles. While the Turnpike Cruiser continued for 1958, no convertible was offered that year.

1957 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
1957 was a monumental year for Mercury with the launch of completely restyled cars and, for the first time in its history, bodies exclusive to the marque. The range-topping Montclair Turnpike Cruiser was advertised as 'beautifully sculptured… distinctively detailed… with clean line modern styling.' This limited-production, top-of-the-line image leader with cutting-edge styling and every factory-available item standard was selected to pace the 1957 Indy 500. This marked only the second time in its history that Mercury was selected as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500-mile race. With Francis C. 'Jack' Reith, the General Manager of Mercury behind the wheel, 1957 marked the first time the Pace Car would lead two laps (one parade and one warm-up) around the Brick Yard before the race to give the race cars additional time to warm up.

In celebration of the Indy 500 pace car duties, replica versions were offered for sale and were offered in a single yellow, Sun Glitter, exterior color and fitted with the optional Continental tire kit 'Dream Car Spare Tire Carrier.' Selling for $4,103, a total of 1,265 Pace Car convertible Cruisers were made. With 3,148 franchised dealers, Mercury only produced one for approximately every two and a half dealers.

There were four actual pace cars for the 1957 Indy 500, one of which went to the winner.

Dimensions
The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser rested on a 122-inch wheelbase platform and had an overall length of 211 inches, a width of 79.1 inches, and a height of 56.5 inches. This was the same body-on-frame chassis used by the Montclair and Monterey. The suspension was independent at the front with a ball-joint and coil springs, while the rear relied on a live axle with leaf springs. 11-inch drum brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

The standard 368 cubic-inch V8 engine powering the 1957 Turnpike Cruiser was optional across the rest of the Mercury line. A plaque on the right rocker arm cover identified it as 'Turnpike Cruiser Engine.' The following year witnessed the arrival of two new 'Marauder' engines with a 383 and 430 cubic-inch displacement size. The 383 CID V8 with a four-barrel carburetor offered 330 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 425 lbs.-ft of torque at 3,0000 RPM, and could also be found in the Montclair and the Colony Park. The larger 430 cubic-inch unit with 360 horsepower at 4,600 RPM, 480 lbs.-ft of torque at 3,000 RPM, and was shared with the Park Lane. The optional 'Super Marauder' version of the 430 CID V8 had triple-two barrel carburetors and produced 400 horsepower at 5200 RPM and 480 lbs.-ft of torque at 3,200 RPM, earning it the distinction of being the first factory-produced engine with a 400 hp output.

Regardless of the engine, the Turnpike Cruiser used a 3-speed 'Merc-O-Matic' automatic, and the 1957 Mercury could be ordered with optional pushbutton controls. There were five buttons called 'Keyboard Control,' with a long button on top labeled 'Drive' and four smaller buttons below labeled 'Brake', 'Neutral Start', which allowed the engine to start with the ignition key, 'Hill Control', and 'Reverse'. In 1958, Mercury relabeled it as the 'Multi-Drive' and separated the 'Drive' button to 'Performance' and 'Cruising.' The 'Park' button now had a separate push/pull lever underneath, and would lock out the control buttons until the Park button was pulled to release it. The keyboard control was discontinued in 1959 and replaced with a standard steering column gear selector lever.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019