Established in 1938, Mercury served as Ford’s medium-price brand, positioned below Lincoln. The brand was phased out in 2011 due to poor sales, leaving behind some iconic nameplates such as the Cougar, Marauder, Montclair, and Grand Marquis. While Mercury is widely known for its upscale passenger cars, it also ventured into building pickup trucks, a lesser-known aspect of its history.
Mercury was not a significant player in the commercial vehicle market, unlike Ford. The company’s foray into the pickup truck segment was brief and relatively understated. From 1946 to 1968, Mercury offered small trucks, with the majority being sold in Canada.
The genesis of Mercury’s involvement in trucks dates back to Ford of Canada’s decision to split its divisions into separate sales networks, creating the Monarch and Meteor sub-brands. The Mercury truck emerged as a solution for rural communities lacking access to both Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. In these areas, Mercury emblems were affixed to trucks, minimizing model overlap.
Mercury pickups were fundamentally based on Ford products. In 1946, when Mercury began offering trucks, Ford still used its full-size cars as platforms. However, in 1948, with the launch of the first-generation F-Series, Mercury adopted the M-Series name, maintaining the GVWR-based designation used by its parent company.
While closely resembling Ford trucks, Mercury pickups featured brand-specific grilles and subtle differences in trim both inside and out. The M-Series spanned five generations of the F-Series, with production extending until 1968. Additionally, Mercury produced medium-duty trucks, a bus chassis, and a tilt-cab version of the Ford C-Series, the latter remaining in production until 1972.
Mercury trucks from this era are scarce in the United States, partly due to their popularity in Canada and low sales numbers. For example, in 1947, while Ford sold nearly 100,000 pickups, Mercury only delivered 8,100. The M-Series is considered one of the rarest American pickups from the 1950s and 1960s.
Locating these vintage haulers today is challenging, and finding a well-preserved example is even more so. The lack of attention these trucks receive contributes to their rarity. A fully restored Mercury truck, like the 1958 M-100 showcased below, is a testament to the dedication required to bring these vehicles back to their original glory.
# FAQs
## FAQ 1: Were Mercury trucks distinct from Ford trucks?
Yes, while Mercury trucks were based on Ford products, they had brand-specific grilles and unique trim, differentiating them from their Ford counterparts.
## FAQ 2: Why are Mercury trucks rare in the United States?
Mercury trucks are scarce in the U.S., partly because many were sold in Canada and also due to their lower sales numbers compared to Ford trucks.
## FAQ 3: What is the significance of the showcased 1958 M-100?
The 1958 M-100 is a fully restored example, representing one of the finest Mercury M-Series haulers in existence. It features a distinctive blue-and-white livery, matching interior, and meticulous wood-trimmed bed.
## FAQ 4: What is the engine specification of the showcased 1958 M-100?
While specific details about the engine’s originality are not provided, the truck likely features a period-correct six-cylinder engine, possibly the base Mileage Maker with 139 horsepower.
