Mercury Custom
1955 Mercury Custom 4-door sedan
Overview
ManufacturerMercury (Ford)
Model years1952 to 1956
AssemblyMain plant
Wayne, Michigan[1]
(Branch assembly)
St. Louis, Missouri
Maywood, California
Metuchen, New Jersey
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size
Body style2-door sedan
4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door hardtop
4-door hardtop
4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
RelatedLincoln Cosmopolitian
Lincoln Capri
Mercury Monterey
Ford Crestline Skyliner
Powertrain
Engine255 cu in (4.2 L) Flathead V8
256 cu in (4.2 L) Ford Y-block V8
292 cu in (4.8 L) Ford Y-block V8
312 cu in (5.1 L) Ford Y-block V8
Transmission3-speed manual
3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase118.0 in (2,997 mm)
(1952-54 all, 1955-56 wagons)
119.0 in (3,023 mm)
(1955-56 exc wagons)
Length202.2 in (5,136 mm)
Width73.5 in (1,867 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorMercury Eight
SuccessorMercury Medalist

The Mercury Custom is an automobile which was produced by Mercury for the 1952 through 1956 model years.[2][1]

The Custom was introduced as the base model series in the 1952 Mercury range, replacing the original Mercury Eight that introduced the all-new Mercury marque.[2] It was positioned below the upper trim package Monterey which was also introduced in 1952.[2] The Mercury Medalist displaced the Custom as the base model for 1956,[2] with both series discontinued for 1957 as Mercury was being repositioned as a luxury line above Edsel for 1958.[2]

For the first year, 83,475 4-door sedans were manufactured with a listed price of US$2,040 ($22,481 in 2022 dollars [3]), followed by 25,812 2-door sedans for US$1,987 ($21,897 in 2022 dollars [3]). Color choices were extensive, listing 10 single selections and 17 two-tone choices, and the standard list of equipment included broadcloth upholstery, rubber floor mats, and electric clock, luggage compartment light and chrome window surroundings. Optional equipment included a heater and windshield defroster, radio with antenna, and fog lamps. For 1953, the color choices expanded considerably to offer fifteen single choices and thirty nine two-tone selections.[1]

For 1954, production totals recorded that the Custom was losing ground to the more upscale Monterey, while being moderately more expensive, with continued lack of popularity of the Custom for 1955, as the introduction of the Montclair continued to encourage sales away from the Custom.[1] The introduction of the Mercury Medalist in 1956, which was more modestly priced to the Custom further eroded sales of the Custom which was the last year.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 513 and 516
  3. 1 2 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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