1949 Mercury

Mercury Eight
1939 Mercury 8 Sedan-Coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercury (Ford)
Production	1938–1951
Assembly	Long Beach, California, United States Maywood, California (starting 1948) Dearborn, Michigan, United States Wayne, Michigan, United States St. Louis Missouri, United States Edison, New Jersey, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Successor	Mercury Monterey

First generation
1939 Mercury 8 Sport Convertible
Overview
Model years	1939–1940
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible 2-door sedan 4-door sedan 4-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	239 cu in (3.9 L) Flathead V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	116.0 in (2,946 mm)
Length	196.0 in (4,978 mm)

Second generation
1941 Mercury Eight Club Convertible
Overview
Model years	1941–1948
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door Sportsman convertible
Powertrain
Engine	239 cu in (3.9 L) Flathead V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.0 in (2,997 mm)
Length	1941-46: 201.6 in (5,121 mm) 1947-48: 201.8 in (5,126 mm)
Curb weight	3,400–3,800 lb (1,500–1,700 kg)

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1949–1951
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door Monterey coupe 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 2-door station wagon
Related	Lincoln EL-series
Powertrain
Engine	255 cu in (4.2 L) Flathead V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.0 in (2,997 mm)
Length	206.8 in (5,253 mm)
Curb weight	3,500–4,000 lb (1,600–1,800 kg)

The Mercury Eight is a full-size automobile that was the first model produced by Mercury and was produced from the 1939 through the 1951 model years. It was the only model offered by Mercury until the marque started producing multiple series in the 1952 model year, at which point it was dropped as a model designation.

The advertisements for this car declared it to be "The car that truly dares to ask 'Why?'", referring to the idea that a big car couldn't also be economical. The Mercury was priced in the thousand dollar range, several hundred dollars more than the Ford V-8, several hundred less than the Lincoln-Zephyr and about the same as the upper-range Oldsmobile and Dodges, Hudsons, and the lower-range Buicks and DeSotos, sales from all of which, it was hoped, the new Mercury would usurp. Its engine was a 95 hp version of the Ford flathead V8 engine, its styling was inspired by the Zephyr, and it had hydraulic brakes from the beginning. With a wheelbase of 116.0 in (2,946 mm) and an overall length of 196.0 in (4,978 mm), it was a good-sized car, which the Ford company advertised extensively, together with its up-to-20 mpg performance-"few cars of any size can equal such economy." Double sun visors became standard in 1940. Braking was via 12-inch drums.

Although "Eight" script would not appear on the front of the hood until the 1941 model year, sales literature prominently referred to the car as the "Mercury Eight" from the very beginning. This is no doubt because the actual series names, 99A in 1939 and 09A in 1940, were somewhat less enticing. A 1940 09A model has the words "Mercury Eight" in an emblem that runs from front to rear alongside the top hood lines on both sides. It appears as chrome wording on top of a double red bar.

By the end of 1940 Mercury could run with the headline "It's made 150,000 owners change cars!"

The 1941 Mercury Eight got all-new styling and some engineering improvements. The Mercury now shared its bodyshell with Ford, probably to lower Mercury production costs. Mercury's wheelbase was expanded by 2.0 in (51 mm) to 118.0 in (2,997 mm). There were many chassis refinements, including improved spring lengths, rates, and deflections, plus changes in shackling, shocks, and an improved stabilizer bar, but the old fashioned transverse springs were still used. The new body featured door bottoms that flared out over the running boards, allowing for wider seats and interiors. The car had 2.0 in (51 mm) more headroom, two-piece front fenders (three-piece at first), and more glass area. The front pillars were made slimmer and the windshield was widened, deepened, and angled more steeply. Parking lights were separate and set atop the fenders for greater visibility. Headlight bezels were redesigned. In all closed Mercurys the rear-quarter windows opened out. Front vent wings were now crank-operated, and in closed cars the ventilation wing support bars rolled down with the windows. The 4-door convertible, offered in 1940, was gone, but a station wagon was added. The woodie wagon's body behind the engine cowl was identical to Ford's, and produced at the company's Iron Mountain plant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The "Eight" script was moved to the rear of the hood. 90,556 Mercury Eights were sold in the 1941 model year.