SOLD on Jun 15, 2026

Elite Dealer

1939 Mercury Eight

Michigan

$9,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Mercury

Model

Eight

Year

1939

Mileage

250,000 miles

VIN

CBL01368

Body Type

Sedan

Transmission

Manual

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

Flathead V8

Description

1939 Mercury – All Original Flathead V8, Running Driver Classic 1939 Mercury Eight in solid, original condition with a strong-running drivetrain. Drivetrain: Flathead V8 engine Runs well Condition: All original car Good overall running condition Just needs headliner Summary: A clean, mostly original prewar Mercury that runs and drives as-is, needing only minor interior finishing work. A great survivor with classic flathead character and strong vintage appeal.

Mercury Eight Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Jim Vasquez

Hot Rods

1939–1951

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Mercury Eight was born to be hot-rodded — a factory hot rod from the moment it left Dearborn. With a flathead V8 that out-displaced and out-styled everything Ford offered, the Mercury became the foundation of California custom culture.

This guide covers

✓ 9-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Eight Buyer's Guide

Mercury Eight Market Overview

Based on 24 Mercury Eight listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$46,416

Avg. Asking Price

1940–1951

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $9,995

Low: $9,095 High: $134,900

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 38%

Manual 50% ◄

Condition Distribution

Excellent 8%

Good 13%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 24 listings →

Mercury Eight Buyer's Guide

Jim Vasquez here, and I want to be honest about my bias: the Mercury Eight is my people's car. When guys like Harry Westergard and the Ayala brothers were shaping what custom culture would become, they kept coming back to the same starting point — the Mercury Eight. The proportions were right, the mechanicals were willing, and that flathead V8 just begged to be modified.

The Mercury Eight ran from 1939 through 1951, and every single year produced something special. The pre-war cars (1939–1942) established the template. The postwar cars (1946–1951) refined it, culminating in the 1949–1951 fastback body styles that James Dean made immortal. If you want to understand where hot rodding and custom culture came from, you need to start here.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Lower Quarter Rust — Inspect lower rear quarter panels and trunk floor area — probe with a pick tool, not just visual inspection.

✓

Floor Pan Condition — Check floor pans from underneath for rust perforation, especially at the sill welds.

✓

Flathead Cooling System — Warm the engine to operating temperature and monitor for overheating — note coolant color and condition.

✓

Head Gasket Condition — Look for white exhaust smoke on warm startup and check oil for coolant contamination (milky appearance).

✓

Body Alignment — Check door gaps and hood alignment — uneven gaps indicate prior collision damage or poor restoration.

✓

Glass & Trim — Inspect all glass for cracks or delamination, and trim pieces for completeness — reproduction quality varies widely.

✓

Brakes — Test hydraulic brakes thoroughly — original systems are cable or early hydraulic, both require careful inspection.

✓

Numbers Matching — Record and verify the engine number against the title — important for concours or insurance valuation.

✓

Drivetrain — Test the 3-speed manual or available overdrive transmission for smooth shifting and no grinding.

Common Issues

Lower rear quarter and trunk floor rust, often severe on unrestored examples. Flathead V8 cooling system failures from corroded water passages in the block. Head gasket failures (modern replacement gaskets are superior to originals). Babbitt main bearing wear on high-mileage engines. Cracked or warped cylinder heads from overheating. Body panel availability issues for pre-1946 models. Correct trim and glass reproduction quality varies by year.

What to Look For

Inspect the lower rear quarters and trunk floor for rust — these are the most expensive areas to repair on a Mercury Eight. Check floor pans and rocker panels from underneath. Verify the flathead V8 runs without overheating — cooling system issues are common and the fix involves pulling the engine in severe cases. Look for cracked cylinder heads from overheating events (look at the top of the block between cylinders). Check body alignment and panel gaps, which reveal previous accident damage or poor restoration work. Confirm authenticity of any claimed numbers-matching drivetrain.

Price Guide

1939–1942 coupes in driver condition: $18,000–$35,000. Concours 1939–1942 cars: $45,000–$75,000+. 1946–1948 cars: $12,000–$28,000 for drivers, $35,000–$55,000 restored. 1949–1951 fastback coupes (the classic custom body): $20,000–$45,000 unmodified drivers, $50,000–$100,000+ for show-quality restorations. Custom-built show cars can exceed $200,000. Convertibles command a 25–40% premium across all years.

Did You Know?

The 1940 Mercury was so well-styled that it reportedly influenced European designers including those at Ferrari. The flathead V8 in Mercury trim was used extensively in early Indianapolis 500 racing — several midget and sprint car racers were flathead-based. James Dean's association with the Mercury Eight through "Rebel Without a Cause" was so powerful that Mercury dealers reportedly saw a sales spike after the film's release, even though Dean drives a Merc in only a few scenes. The 1949 Mercury is one of the most-chopped cars in American custom history — literally hundreds of examples exist with their rooflines lowered 3–5 inches.

Elite Dealer

$9,995