1947 Mercury Series 79M Station Wagon

For 1947, the eight-passenger station wagon was the most expensive model in the Mercury lineup, selling for $2,207. In total, there were a mere 3,558 examples produced, as compared to 16,104 Ford wagons that year. The timber was mostly maple and ash framing with mahogany panels, all grown from Ford's forests, then harvested, dried and aged at Iron Mountain. Skill craftsmen hand-built, assembled and trimmed each woodie body, a process that was complex and expensive to build.

The original owner of this 79M Station Wagon was Ollie Hammond of Southern California. In the mid-1980s, the car was given a restoration, with the odometer registering just 21,000 miles at the time. Most of the original wood was saved. The original fenders, chrome parts and running gear with in good condition and reused. The three interior bench seats and the top were redone. A NOS flathead Ford V8 engine was purchased and installed. The Columbia 2-speed rear end was rebuilt, and many other mechanical components were in good condition and were reused.

In the late 1980s, the car was sold to its next owner. The owner has continued to maintain the car in proper condition. All of the wood has been hand-sanded and completely refinished. The Mercury now has 25,000 miles showing.

In 2008, this Mercury Model 79M Station Wagon was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $175,000. As bidding came to a close, the high bid had failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve, and the lot was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009