The 1948 model year does not bring a single improvement to the ageing Mercury before, in April 1948, production is switched to a brand new model, introduced as an early 1949 model. Close to the posh Lincolns, the new Mercury Eight is a long and low automobile that will later become an iconic model among hot rod and custom aficionados. Just have a look at the pictures below to measure Mercury's leap forward!
Mercury's 1948 range includes a single line: Mercury Eight, which is renewed during the year by a new car bearing the same name.
Mercury Eight
Nothing helps distinguish this year’s Mercurys from those built in 1947. Ford didn’t bother updating its cars, as they retire before the model year is finished to make space for a totally new generation of automobiles. The range is simplified, two models - the business coupe and the two-door sedan - being discontinued.
● Introduction: Late 1940. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.9-litre, 100 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Suspension: rigid axles at the front and the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 513 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan-coupe, four-door town sedan, two-door club convertible, four-door station wagon.
Mercury Eight
Prepared in secrecy since 1943, the first new postwar automobiles from the Ford corporation appear during spring 1948, as 1949 models. Originally though, the car that bears the Mercury shouldn’t have even been a Mercury, but a new Lincoln Zephyr. The latter has been dropped, and the project transferred to Mercury. This justifies strong connections between the new car and the larger Lincolns. Actually, the new Mercury not only adopts the “inverted bathtub” styling, it shares body panels with the smallest Lincoln. Though built on the same chassis as before, the car appears lower, wider and longer… and heavier too, which requires a bigger V-8 with enlarged stroke. Even more important perhaps is the fact that all Mercurys now receive a modern suspension system, with independent wheels at the front (at last!) and longitudinal leaf springs replacing Ford’s traditional transversal unit. A “Touch-O-Matic” automatic overdrive is also available for the first time as an option. Note that the previous four-door station wagon is replaced by a new one fitted with only two doors, yet still seating eight - its body, in which wood’s structural role is reduced, is borrowed from Ford.
● Introduction: April 1948. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 110 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, solid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 525 cm (all models except wagon), 542 cm (station wagon). Top speed: 160 kph. Range: two-door coupe, four-door sport sedan, two-door convertible, two-door station wagon.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1941 – 1942 – 1946 – 1947 – 1948
Or click here for the new generation of Mercury Eight: 1948 – 1949 – 1950 – 1951
Click here to return to a list of all Mercury vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
Mercury's 1948 range includes a single line: Mercury Eight, which is renewed during the year by a new car bearing the same name.
Mercury Eight
Nothing helps distinguish this year’s Mercurys from those built in 1947. Ford didn’t bother updating its cars, as they retire before the model year is finished to make space for a totally new generation of automobiles. The range is simplified, two models - the business coupe and the two-door sedan - being discontinued.
● Introduction: Late 1940. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.9-litre, 100 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Suspension: rigid axles at the front and the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 513 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan-coupe, four-door town sedan, two-door club convertible, four-door station wagon.
Mercury Eight
Prepared in secrecy since 1943, the first new postwar automobiles from the Ford corporation appear during spring 1948, as 1949 models. Originally though, the car that bears the Mercury shouldn’t have even been a Mercury, but a new Lincoln Zephyr. The latter has been dropped, and the project transferred to Mercury. This justifies strong connections between the new car and the larger Lincolns. Actually, the new Mercury not only adopts the “inverted bathtub” styling, it shares body panels with the smallest Lincoln. Though built on the same chassis as before, the car appears lower, wider and longer… and heavier too, which requires a bigger V-8 with enlarged stroke. Even more important perhaps is the fact that all Mercurys now receive a modern suspension system, with independent wheels at the front (at last!) and longitudinal leaf springs replacing Ford’s traditional transversal unit. A “Touch-O-Matic” automatic overdrive is also available for the first time as an option. Note that the previous four-door station wagon is replaced by a new one fitted with only two doors, yet still seating eight - its body, in which wood’s structural role is reduced, is borrowed from Ford.
● Introduction: April 1948. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 110 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, solid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 525 cm (all models except wagon), 542 cm (station wagon). Top speed: 160 kph. Range: two-door coupe, four-door sport sedan, two-door convertible, two-door station wagon.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1941 – 1942 – 1946 – 1947 – 1948
Or click here for the new generation of Mercury Eight: 1948 – 1949 – 1950 – 1951
Click here to return to a list of all Mercury vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
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