Reserve Removed: 1951 Mercury Eight Custom Coupe

This 1951 Mercury Eight is a customized two-door coupe that underwent a 2018 restoration by a Louisiana-based hot rod specialty facility and was professionally refinished in Shamrock Green Metallic. The body was modified to incorporate shaved door handles, rounded hood corners, and a custom belly pan, while the interior was similarly overhauled with two-tone green and white leather upholstery applied to modern bucket seats. Power for this coupe comes from a drivetrain that has only covered 800 miles since refurbishment, consisting of a rebuilt 281ci V8 paired with a console-shifted automatic transmission. This third-generation Eight coupe is now offered with a clear Louisiana title in the seller’s name.

The Mercury Eight model aged into its third generation beginning in 1949 and developed “ponton” styling that was shared with its Ford siblings. This 1951 coupe was subject to a custom restoration by a hot rod shop in Louisiana that was completed in 2018. Capped off by a professional respray in Shamrock Green Metallic, the build incorporated shaved door handles, rounded hood corners, and a custom belly pan as well as a host of other chassis and drivetrain enhancements. Custom pinstriping was added to exterior panels and brightwork was retained for the front and rear bumpers, dual spotlights, and sideview mirrors. The chromed lake pipes mounted underneath each side of the vehicle are described as cosmetic-only, as the functional dual exhaust system has rear exits.

Aftermarket 18” billet aluminum wheels are mounted to whitewall tires, rolling this coupe with the help of an independent front suspension with stabilizer bars.

Customization for this Eight continues to the interior, where late-model bucket seats were reportedly upholstered in green and white using true leather materials, with matching door panels and dark green carpeting rounding out the cabin. The dash is color-matched to the exterior in Shamrock Green Metallic and houses a push-button radio at the center. A custom console incorporates the shift lever and a storage compartment, and the trunk is finished off in vinyl and carpeting.

Vehicle information is conveyed via a series of chrome-rimmed gauges, including a 110-mph speedometer as well as readouts for fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage. Although a five-digit mechanical odometer is in place, true mileage on the chassis is unknown.

The replacement 281ci V8 has reportedly seen just 800 miles of road use since the completion of the build in 2018. The flathead V8 is equipped with a dual carburetor setup, while the engine bay has been modified with custom fabricated inner fenders and radiator cover.  Power is directed to the rear wheels via a console-shifted automatic transmission.