1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser. 

My first car driven in 1966 was our family’s 1957 Turnpike Cruise, 4 door, no fender skirts, no continental exterior spare tire, red and black interior. Being a northern Minnesota car it also had rusted rocker panels under the doors and above both headlights.

My mother owned one. White convertible with a red leather interior, and a baby-blue top. Driving at 90 Miles an hour on the brand new Cross Westchester Expressway was like cruising around in your rolling living room. To this day it remains my favorite car ... and I've had a lot of cars!

I bought a engine and transmission from one out of a wrecking yard thinking it would fit my fifty nine ford fairlane two door hardtop. The C pillar in the fairlane models were narrow and I liked the look. I knew of the risk of not able to fit a standard behind that engine so went with the automatic they assured me worked flawless. The guys who pulled that combination out of the mercury cut those cables that shifted the transmission... finding out it was the only way of shifting it. I was only sixteen and this was above my paygrade in those times. I seen this car shown had vacuum wipers, my friend Denny.... his mom had bought one new so it had the electric wiper motor. Another huge feature was the oiling system.... you could grease a lot of fittings from a button on the dash that oiled the front end, and yes it had a reservoir you poured engine oil in to do this. As I got a lot older, I learned how to make engine to transmission adaptors for either automatic or standard transmissions. This engine had its own unique bolt pattern and so nothing else would bolt directly to their engines. I was all over that valve cover design and had got matching valve covers from another turnpike cruiser. I had went back to that yard where I got the engine from for all the interior pieces and parts so that special interior was in my fifty nine ford. I had that car for years after I came home from nam and did all the stainless and chrome features inside my rig. I adapted those cables finally to a floor shifter and made it work well. I had used a mercury bucket seats and console in mine as well. Life gets in the way and so sent it to a wrecking yard as I just did not want some kid killing himself in the car. It would burn rubber till the tires fell off and would do a easy hundred and forty miles an hour. I do believe you know about early suspension and it was not the best.

My high school superintendent had 3 Turnpike Cruisers I don't remember all the particulars as that was 50 plus years ago. One had a lube system that would grease the front suspension parts buy pressing a button on the dash, a lot of small tubes going to the tie rod ends. ball joints and maybe all the a arm bushings on the go. One had a wonder bar radio, you had a button or two near the dimmer switch on the floor to change radio stations up or down as well the volume. Shop class pulled the 430 motor out of one and rebuild it, the motor alone weighed 800 pounds plus! They weighed over 6000 pounds. The windshield was about 7/16 inch thick. They were all 4 door hard tops.What ever happened to them I don't know . THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES FRED!

Lovely Vehical

My dad had a 58 which had a push button transmission I believe. It did have a single chamber master cylinder and one Sunday in 59 I lost my hydrolic brakes leaving a model plane contest at Ann Arbor airport and made it back to Detroit using hand brake only.

Our Police Department purchased 4 of the '57 Police Interceptor's with the HP engine for Freeway High Speed traffic enforcement. Thy were so successful that the state purchased 120 of the'58 versions and had the same success. Great performing vehicles.

I don’t think I’ve seen any car from the 1950’s with this many tricky features. It is loaded beyond what I thought was possible for that time period. What a truly outstanding piece of automotive history. This one really surprised me.

Great video. Thanks for making it. I always liked the looks of the 57 Mercury. I think it would look even better without the back porch. Those push buttons for the transmission remind me of my Desoto.

Это самый красивый Mercury !🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Особенно вагон Commuter🚨

This is one of the most futuristic cars I've ever seen. I had never even heard of this model before now.

That's a beautiful Merc. It's always baffled me why someone would buy one new, with EVERYTHING except one or two options... Instead of going the "whole enchilada", they'd sometimes cheap out on something like power windows or air conditioning... But they'd spring for the Space Age memory seat, color television, or the mink lined glove compartment.🤣

My uncle bought an Aqua & White '57 Turnpike Cruiser used in '59. What an appropriate name for a car because it could do well over the speed limit on the E-way & would just float along with a rock solid ride. It had unique features up the wazoo. Thanks for the great memories.

I had a 1957 Mercury Monterrey Very like this but without all of the crazy details. The Turnpike Cruiser was top of the line. Designed to catch as much air as it could while moving down the road.

That's not a, "knight". It's the head of the Roman god Mercury. Those are wings on Mercury's helmet.

What a stunner! It was a different time, to be sure. By the way, the chrome badge on the trunk lid is meant to represent the Roman god Mercury, not a knight. Note the winged cap. I was born in ‘56 so I remember seeing these cars on the road as a kid. Talk about making a statement…

My aunt and uncle used to have a 4 door Turnpike Cruiser. It was quite the car.

Love this Mercury! What a Gem! Thanks for showing Scott and Mike 👍

This Car is an absolute work of Art!💕

Those two ribbed pieces in the grille are where the Mercurys with single headlights had their turn signals. I am very impressed with the restoration of this car. Even all the lights work! When I was a kid about 16, in 1974, there was one of these, also black, abandoned next to a closed store and I so wanted to buy it, but never found the owner. One of the little antennas was broken off. I knew it would be a money pit, but oh what a car!

Brings back memories....had a 57 4 door hardtop..two tone yellow and cream...could never forget that padded dash...

My parents had 2 similar of these in the early '70s. Ours didn't have the continental kit. As kids we loved that back breezeway window. Ours had the window Scott described tilting the opposite direction. So, I guess later than '50s model. I remember mom putting 1 of those bobbing head dogs on the back package shelf.

Beautiful 😊 ❤

When cars were CARS.

My Mom's best friend bought a '58 new. A little less well-equipped but huge, nonetheless. She was a petite lady... choose your own comparison. My Grandma still had her '39 Plymouth at the time, which I preferred then and now.

the 50,s were the best and best looking car,s.i love them

I am truly amazed, the beauty of such cars, from an bygone era; fantastic!

Don't know if I've ever seen this car. For sure, not one this beautiful. Thanks for showing!

My impression of the Turnpike Cruiser model was a concept car that got put into production. I could see where the designers must have been Buck Rogers fans. This Continental kit like many others has a negative impact on the car’s visual proportions. Overall, this is a great specimen of a remarkable 1950s car. Thanks.

This could be the best '57 Turnpike in America! I love "odd ball" cars of the 50s-60s. Mechanical part availability frightens me!

Back "in-the-day", my dad drove a '58 "Turnpike Cruiser" on "approval"! After one "gas" trip, THIS WAS HISTORY!

This car was my only reason for stopping my father had two in the mid late 1960's.

The roof inlets are part of the 255 air conditioning system.

I would love to have one!

Thank you so much. I owned a 58 Mercury which had been one of the police versions. As heavy as the car was, it was hot. This brought back so many memories.

This is one very interesting car. And the only '57 I have ever seen with the quad headlights. I always wondered about that rear retractable window on those cars, because of its angle. I remember my grandmother's '59 Mercury having the same kind of speedometer and angled antenna. Edit: did a Google search, and it looks like it was mostly the more expensive '57s that offered quad headlights. Cadillac Eldorado was the only GM car that offered the quad lights. Imperial, Chrysler, and DeSoto offered it at Chrysler. Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was the only Ford Mercury product that offered quads.

Thanks Scott

A true work of art. Sad that cars these days are all generic lima beans...

The rear bumper and trunk lid Design reminds me of the 64-65 T-Bird

Wow, what a survivor. Our neighbors had a 57 Mercury that I knew well and this Turnpike Cruiser is very different.

🍁🇨🇦🍁Absolutely Stunning vehicle..treated with such respect. A real car guy..🍁🇨🇦🍁

Awesome automobile, I am 74 and never heard of it before 😊😊

I was sure that quad headlights were first introduced in 1958... thank you for the education. Great video and a huge thanks to all those restoring and keeping alive these beautiful pieces of history.

I recall when this car debuted-very impressive and desirable. 🥳

I was surprised that this had push button transmission. Thanks for showing it!

This car epitomizes the 1950's. I'd take it to an old-fashioned diner with a neon sign.

Those bumpers could actually serve a useful purpose these days what with modern cars having plastic"Bumpers" if you get touched in the parking lot.

The pinnacle of American automotive audacity. Don't get any better than this!

I'm a GM guy, but I love these.

A better looking vehicle, excellent 👌

That's gorgeous!

My dad owned a '57 Merc. It looked great, but in short order began falling apart. What I remember most was the doors not latching without slamming the door shut. It sometimes took two or three slams. After 6 months, Dad got rid of it. From that point on he bought Oldsmobiles.

What a fantastic car! Why did Ford need the Edsel, when they had this amazing car?

Update the master cylinder to provide a dual brake system.

I’d take the Big M Turnpike Cruiser over the same year Lincoln. Good thing gas was cheap back in the day - but who bought this beauty for its mileage?

Gorgeous peak design

Just found this channel, subscribed Immediately. Lifelong Ford guy here, but I love ALL across the big 3 especially mid 50s thru 1979. Malaise Era would be favorite being I grew up during 70,s. I think these turnpike cruisers were only made two years 57-58 .Anyone out there any info on that please. Great work on this, please keep'em coming

I am sure this vehicle had all the handling characteristics of an aircraft carrier.

One of these cruisers came with a 427 Intercepter!

What a car.

Bliss.

Had one but was a Montclair it really had eyes

So much thinking went into these cars where options were concerned, so much ability to customize YOUR car. No longer possible unless its a Bentley.

Wow

1950 seven, turnpike cruiser 368 engines were blueprinted by Strope who headed the Mercury racing division. They made more power than the stock. 368. Three sixty ein other Mercury's

Also 1958. You could have got the marauder option. Which featured three holly two barrel carbs and the most beautiful polished aluminum air filter assem assemb

Absolutely stunning! I remember seeing the less ornate models cruising the streets when they were in production. Do you happen to know what this car sold for when new?

Seat O matic Way ahead of it time. But the chrome I have a headache now. The reflections in the sun must have been nuts

I want this car.

Amazing car. Is there some kind of baffle in those top vents to keep rain, bugs, etc. from coming in when they're open?

Allthough the convertible version was the Indianapolis races pace car of 1957, it didn't sell. Simply to garish. The sales failure of this Mercury model was a predictor of the Edsel disaster, but Ford didn't notice.

Isn't that a 1958 Mercury? My first car was a 1957 Mercury and it had single headlights. I was under the impression the dual headlights came out in 1958??

I would like to see things like the back window and the seat actually work instead of just talking about them

i believe they had problems with the retractable rear window shattering on very hot days

Was the push-buttons strickly mechanical link to the transmission, which was the case with the Chrysler cars, or was it electro-mechanical as with the Edsel?

I believe the insignia on the key covers is the Greek God Mercury not a medical knight

I belive this car is a 1959 they come out with 4 head lights untill 1958 on all cars the 1950"s were my teen years and new and old cars was hobby of mine

Where were these monsters made?

Garrish looking!

Here is the concept car precursor ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iVHcaK3ZFBo.html

What does "turn pike" mean?

The song to go with this car... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3T3MgIRUwj0.html

Didn't the words "Turnpike Cruiser" light up in one year?

What do examples sell for today

that era of cars had great paint schemes, personality. today, most cars look alike, bland, no pop.

Must have multiple leaks , thats the only reason you’d keep cardboard under it

It's not a Knight emblem, it's Mercury, the God of Speed (among other things0

He keeps calling it a "Merkary".

The "knight" is the head of Mercury the Roman god of speed. Please be accurate.

Not a car it's an automobile

That's a 1958 Mercury

Nice car but Mer cyurr eee M er kerr err

The skirts, the ugly continental kit -- this is someone with more dollars than sense.

Poor marketing by Mercury to not make power windows standard on a top model.

Alcohol and car design do not mix.

Those turds were laughable monstrosities in 1957 and age hasn't changed that one bit. The best '57 T/P Cruiser laugh I ever got was when walking out the door of a Lincoln/Mercury dealer's parts department and overhearing a salesman say to a prospective couple, "THIS . . . is an *automobile*!"

wrong ........ 57 Nash was the first with quad lights....smh

This American land yacht is the ugliest motor car ever made. I was there when they laughed at this chrome Barge,and couldn't give them away to The Public