239ci L-Head V8
Single Downdraft Carburetor
95bhp at 3,600rpm
3-Speed Colum-Shifted Manual Transmission
Solid Front and Live Rear Axle with Semi-Elliptic Transverse Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Top-of-the-line Mercury Woody Wagon
*Restored to a high level in 2000
*The perfect family hauler
*Finished in its original color scheme

THE MERCURY STATION WAGON

When the Ford Motor Company entered the station wagon market, it quickly became the nation's acknowledged wagon-master. It was natural then that when the upscale Mercury line was introduced for 1939, a Mercury wagon would follow – this came to fruition in 1941. Although the basic wagon bodies were the same, the Mercury used higher grade finishes, color-coordinated top fabric and all-leather interiors, and of course it had the larger Mercury engine. Accordingly, it sold at a higher price, $125 above the Super Deluxe Ford.

Wood for the station wagons came from Henry Ford's forests in northern Michigan. By 1940, Ford operations at Iron Mountain oversaw all body operations. It was there at Iron Mountain that the wood was cut, shaped, and assembled into the iconic bodies.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

From the first year of production for the Woody Wagon, the top-of-the-line Mercury featured here is understood to have been delivered new to Oklahoma for use by a private school there. The vendor, whose family owned a similar Mercury Wagon during WWII, was searching for a bit of his youth when he came across this example in October of 1999. Painted black at the time, upon removal of a pair of incorrect parking lamps it was revealed to in fact originally have been painted Lochaven Green— one of the more desirable liveries as well as the same color as the Mercury from his childhood!

In February of 2000, an extensive restoration was started. Taken down to bare metal, the car was carefully restored with an eye toward correctness and maintaining as much of the original wood as possible. Aftermarket items installed on the car over the course of its life were removed and replaced with correct-type units. The dashboard was newly wood grained and the steering wheel was restored. The original Iron Mountain wood was largely salvageable with only one segment needing replacing.

Showing beautifully today nearly twenty years after its restoration, this rare Woody is sure to bring smiles to the whole family!