Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Pace Car Edition, 1957
Mercury Grand Marquis
Mercury Grand Marquis•
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Chassis No.: 57SL61233M
$99,000 | Sold
- Odometer: 71,961 miles
- Engine: V-8
- Transmission: Automatic
- Exterior: Sun Glitter Yellow
- Interior: Black/Yellow
- 1 of 1,265 Pace Car Editions produced
- Replica of the official Pace Car May 30, 1957 badge
- 368 CI V-8 engine
- Merc-O-Matic pushbutton automatic transmission
- Sun Glitter Yellow exterior
- Black convertible top
- Black and Yellow two-tone interior
For American cars, 1957 remains a landmark moment, and Mercury was right in the middle of it with their contender, entitled “The most advanced car you can buy at any price.” The new Turnpike Cruiser, like the convertible offered here, must have impressed people, as it was selected from among its peers to be the pace car for the 41st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 30th, 1957. This example is 1 of the 1,265 Pace Car Editions produced that year. With its official “Replica of Pace Car” badge mounted on the dash, Mercury heralded this release as its “Most dramatic expression of Dream-Car Design” in the sales brochure, touting fresh technical advances inside and out.
Impressively, the company used the 368 CI V-8 engine from the Lincoln in this model, the only Mercury to receive it. Based on Ford’s Y-block, the tall deck design, rated at 290 HP, was stated to be excellent for midrange torque and it would be upstaged only by the new MEL-based 400 HP 430 Super Marauder for 1958, making this a one-year-only model option. The factory custom valve cover callout and oversized air cleaner give the engine a uniqueness as well, and behind this is a Merc-O-Matic pushbutton automatic transmission. Power steering, power brakes and dual exhaust were standard equipment on the Turnpike Cruiser.
Outside, the body wears Sun Glitter Yellow paint with extensive trim and a black convertible top. The identification tags read Convertible Cruiser, with MERCURY spelled out on the rear fender inserts and a large M centered up front. Inside is a gorgeous black and yellow two-tone interior, with a padded pash including brushed metal facings, round tachometer, full-vision steering wheel and Keyboard Control dash buttons, all standard. Optional were the Seat-O-Matic memory power seats and pushbutton-controlled AM radio. Also on the outside are fender skirts, full-size wheel covers and wide whitewall tires. To pace the Indy 500 was an honor, especially in a year like 1957.
This first-year Turnpike Cruiser is indeed more than a contender – it’s a winner.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1105396/1957-mercury-turnpike-cruiser-pace-car-edition/
Cost
363,578 AED
