Mercury Eight
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The Mercury Eight was the first Post War Mercury Design, which shared the Flathead V8 and running gear with its "Shoebox" Ford Siblings. The styling differed by having a dip in the front doors flowing into the front wings, grille and trim. This gave the effect of breaking up the otherwise slab sided body.
From the time that it first rolled off the assembly line (in 1949), it was immediately leapt on by customisers such as George Barris, Gene Winfield and many others. It became the definitive Leadsled, much like the Ford Model B becoming the definitive hot rod. They were the first post war cars to have an aftermarket OHV engine swap, mostly using Oldsmobile Rocket and Cadillac engines.
In 1949, George Barris built the first lead sled from a 1949 Mercury Eight.
[edit] See also
- Hot rod
- Leadsled
- Custom Car
- Low rider
- Kustom Kulture
- Sam Barris
