The 1949 Mercury coupe is an icon, ight up there with the ’32 Ford roadster and the ’57 Chevy Bel Air. Perhaps most famous for its role in “Rebel Without A Cause,” the proverbial “lead sled” has become a custom style unto itself, ith countless iterations over the years and like the venerable ’32 Ford, inding an unchopped car like this is far more difficult than finding one that’s already been modified. Fortunately, he workmanship on this ’49 is superb and it was built by a friend who sadly passed away last year, gentleman who was also one of the very best upholsterers in the area. His son continues the tradition and explained how special this car was to his father and how they built it together. There’s not a single component on this lovely Merc that hasn’t been expertly smoothed, olished, nd massaged into position, eaving a very high-quality custom that can be driven cross-country with ease and looks like a million bucks doing it.

Most recently, t has fallen into the care of a retired painter, nd you know how fussy those guys are about their hardware. The basics were done a few years ago, nd that is indeed virgin sheetmetal on this car, ith nothing chopped or replaced with fiberglass, o it has a very correct look. As with all great customs, ou almost need a stock one next to it to see all the modifications, ut some of the easy ones to spot are the nosed hood, he lake pipes, nd the super smooth trunk lid. Paint and bodywork are extremely good, ith a lovely two-tone gray and green combination that’s handsome without being too showy, hich allows the Mercury bodywork to simply speak for itself. Of course, o lead sled would be complete without the teardrop spots and fender skirts, hich visually lower the car without killing ground clearance like an extreme lowering job might. You’ll note that the gaps are exacting and the doors close with the most solid and precise sound we’ve ever heard on a car from this vintage. The stainless trim is in excellent condition and all the chrome has been restored, ncluding the massive bumpers and unique Mercury “electric shaver” grille up front. And those just might be the most attractive door handles we’ve seen in years.

Since this car was built by a professional upholsterer, ou’d be correct in assuming that the interior is especially well done. Handsome green and gray cloth are interesting and stylish without being dated or over-styled. It’s also comfortable for all-day trips and offers all the modern amenities. The upholstery remains in excellent condition with no split seams or tears and the high-quality materials have held up extremely well since the car was finished. We love the custom-made floor mats that match the seats and like the bodywork, he dash is tastefully modified so it’s tough to see what’s stock and what’s been updated. Most noticeable is the custom housing below the dash that holds the duct work for the HVAC system and controls for the power windows, ut there’s also a modern tilt column with a leather-wrapped wheel and most of the original knobs are intact. The factory speedometer is still in place and has an awesome ‘50s look while the auxiliary gauges and clock (fully functional, y the way) are tidy-looking dials from Classic Instruments. All of the original knobs and buttons have been repurposed; for example, he starter button is now the horn button. There’s also a JVC AM/FM/CD stereo system in the center of the dash with speakers on the rear package shelf. You’ll note in the photos that even little stuff like the assist straps for the back seat are in place and the dome light works. There’s a trick little door pull that pops the trunk and it, oo, s fully finished with a full-sized spare and a hidden compartment for the battery.

Don’t worry, his Mercury has Ford power in the form of a 302 cubic inch V8 in place of the original flathead. The engine bay is as neatly finished as the rest of the car and the strong-running small block provides great power and performance. It’s clean, ith body-colored firewall and smoothed inner fenders, ontrasting dark green on the engine block itself, nd a few chrome dress-up pieces to make it sparkle. A fresh Edelbrock 4-barrel starts the car almost instantly, dles smoothly, nd pulls cleanly at any speed, uggesting someone spent a lot of time dialing this one in. The big radiator keeps it cool and it has been upgraded with both power steering and power brakes to make it easy to handle. Notice that even the master cylinder and power booster are painted to match the body, dding to the custom look.

A Ford AOD 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission lives behind the 302 and feeds highway-friendly 3.08 gears out back, o this car is relaxed at speed but still energetic around town. And holy cow, ook at how clean those floors are! The front suspension is stock, ith a slight lowering from custom springs and blocks on the A-arms, hich preserves geometry so it tracks straight. Out back, amaro monoleaf springs were used so it sits right and rides nicely. A custom dual exhaust with glasspack-style mufflers gives it a traditional ‘50s sound (the lake pipes are purely for show) and the original drum brakes (now with power assist) have no problem stopping this cruiser. Steel wheels with full wheel covers add to the traditional look and they’re wrapped in 235/75/15 Broadway wide whitewall radials.

Traditional Mercury lead sleds will always be popular, ut good luck finding one this clean and unmolested. Fully sorted, eautifully built, nd ready to enjoy, his cool Merc defines ‘50s style in a big way.