1950 Mercury OCM Custom

The Mercury marque was founded on November 4th, 1938, and over 65,800 examples were sold that first year. Its 'Eight' was an upscale model that was closely in line with that of its sibling marque, Lincoln, the Model K. Like many others, Ford created Mercury to fill the price gap that existed between the entry-level Ford and the prestigious Lincoln. The mid-priced Mercury was youthful, sporty, and modern.

The third generation of the Eight was introduced in 1949, and its dramatic and elegant styling would become a favorite for customers and Hot Rodders. Its low, sloping roofline was complemented by its sculpted body and was a perfect canvas to accept the creative designs that emerged in the immediate post-World War II era.

Among the most famous was the custom-chopped Mercury that played a starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone in the 1986 movie, 'Cobra.' The producers of the movie commissioned Eddie Paul from El Segundo, California, to build four cars for the film. Of those, one was totaled, and three exist.

Like the 1932 Ford (Duece), the Mercurys of the late 1940s and early 1950s were among the most popular for customization.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023