1948 Mercury Custom Station Wagon

This custom 1948 Mercury station wagon is powered by a 255ci Flathead V-8 engine mated to a replacement floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh and a dual-range transfer case that sends power to the rear or all four wheels. The engine features 24-stud heads with 59A-B casting marks, a Ford-branded downdraft carburetor and an oil-bath air cleaner. The vehicle is equipped with a 12-volt electrical system and is one of two 1948 examples stated to have received the factory-sanctioned Marmon-Herrington four-wheel-drive conversion. Service performed in 2026 included removal and inspection of the engine, transmission and transfer case, along with repairs to the left rear axle. The suspension incorporates two sets of leaf springs at each front wheel and a transverse leaf spring at the rear. The hydraulically assisted four-wheel drum brakes were turned in 2026, when replacement front wheel cylinders, shims and hoses were installed. Finished in beige, the exterior features refinished wood bodyside panels, a black vinyl roof covering, chrome bumpers with overriders, a vertical-bar grille with “Mercury Eight” lettering, a hood ornament, Marmon-Herrington hood badges, a two-piece windshield, rubber gravel guards and a clamshell tailgate with flip-up taillights. Body-color 15-inch steel wheels feature chrome trim rings and Mercury-branded hubcaps and are mounted with 235/75 Dayton Timberline L/T radial tires. A full-size spare in a body-color cover is affixed to the tailgate. The cabin features three rows of bench seating trimmed in brown leather upholstery with wooden roof, pillar and door trim panels, rubber floor coverings over the front floors and rear cargo area, and brown rear cabin carpets. Lap belts, replacement seat bolts, a replacement shift knob, a dashboard-mounted dimmer switch and a cigar lighter were installed in 2026. The modified factory radio features solid-state electronics with AM/FM/Bluetooth capability, an auxiliary input and a microphone, while the analog clock is fitted with an electric quartz movement. A tan steering wheel with a chrome horn ring frames a 110-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, amperage and coolant temperature. The vehicle underwent a refurbishment and previously resided in the Richard Adams and Boyd Collections.