1953 Ford and Mercury: What’s the Diff?

[@TS-jp1lm]

Great stuff Steve! Keep the junkyard crawl coming! Everyone loves these videos.

[@samholdsworth420]

Agreed, love this channel!

[@danw6014]

My dad did the junk yard crawl sometime back in the early 60s. At the time he was driving a 52 Ford Custom with the flathead V8. The block cracked so he went to the junk yard to get another engine. There was another 52 on its side with an engine but no transmission. After looking the car over he decided it was in better condition than the one he drove in so he made a deal, pulled the transmission out of his car. Put it in the other one and drove it for several more years until my mother slid it into a tree and wrecked it.

[@vettekid3326]

Way back in 1974 just out of high school I was working two jobs, turning wrenches at a used car lot during the day and working 3:30 - 11:30 PM at Caterpillar Tractor Company. I got paid off for getting a 1956 Dodge dump truck back on the road with a 1953 Ford Victoria. It only had about 40 K on the clock but the midwest winters had taken it's toll on the sheet metal but the interior was great because it had dealer installed seat covers that when removed the seats were like new. 239 Flathead V8 with the Ford-o-matic transmission and optional clock, radio, heater and outside sun visor. It had been sitting on the lot for about six months so a new battery, gas and a quick tuneup I traded it for a '64 VW bus.

[@PhoenixT1953]

now the true question is.. you still got the bus?

[@haljohnson5729]

Great that those two were right next to each other. Thanks Steve

[@SteveMagnante]

As I wander junkyards I look for "targets of opportunity" just like this. Another instance was when a pair of mid-fifties Ford wagons - one a 2-door and one a 4-door - were sitting right next to each other. And also it happened when a Camaro RS and a base Camaro Sport Coupe were sitting together. These side-by-side situations eliminate the need for camera editing. Rather, we just walk from car to car to show the differences in real time. Thanks for watching and writing, Steve Magnante.

[@dwightdyess455]

I was born in the 1940,s as a child my father would only buy 2 door cars he as other families in that time frame though it was safer for children in the back seat not to have a door they could possibly open while driving. That may have been some of the reason more 2 doors were sold.

[@danbasta3677]

Quite correct. Now in days, you have electronic locks that lock all four doors, something that was never invented back in the days when these cars were being manufactured.

[@scottmoot2969]

This one hits home. I've got a 53 Customline, 239 Ford-O-Matic, unmolested. Previous owner didn't know it was a 3 speed. You have to manually shift to first, or it starts in 2nd. Also, it only starts in neutral.

[@daDurvis]

I have the same in a four door, the automatic is set up that first gear is a granny gear, back then more roads were dirt/mud and the snow was deeper year round, it gave you a better chance of getting unstuck. And yes, when you select drive, it starts in 2nd, then slides into third at about 20 mph. Their not hot rods and weren't meant to be

[@g1sokool669]

My mother's right arm was the safety mechanism in 1953. I doubt I would have survived without it.

[@terrystewart2070]

In high school I worked at a local gas station and a doctor down the street (Dr. Funkhauser but we called him Dr. Funky) had a 53 mainline 2 door post. Ugly washed out tan color. Flathead 6 with three on the tree. I drove it every now and then when we would service it. What a "Funky" old dog of a car that thing was!

[@hoss1947]

I owned a 53 Ford Mainline two door post car just like the one in your video, the only difference was that it was light tan. That 239 was a very simple engine. I nursed it along, and drove it until an intake valve seat cracked, and allowed coolant to be sucked into the third cylinder from the front on the driver's side. This video did bring back a lot of memories from a very long time ago.

[@mitchmcguire6321]

Do anything cool with it while you had it?

[@hoss1947]

@@mitchmcguire6321 Just kept it running, I drove it to school until the engine turned into a water pump.

[@FordHoard]

@@hoss1947 I replaced one water pump on my 53 Ford Customline about two years ago. Weird how they're part of the motor mounts. Haha

[@anoncd01]

As kids we rode for years in our father's two-door 53 Ford. My first car was a Comet. I enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Thank you.

[@peterdaniel66]

That mercury dash is to die for....

[@unclebob7937]

Great content. Always entertaining. Can't wait for our next auto history lesson. Professor Magnet!

[@ferdytacomaboy3628]

Good video. My mother's 1953 Ford, 4-door, had the v8 with the Ford-O-Matic, fake spare tire cover on the trunk, AM radio, no seat belts.

[@craigjones2878]

The Mainline name was used by Ford Australia for the Ute version of the Customline. The Utes used a convertible chassis for extra rigidity and a Dana 44 rear axle with 4.09 gears.

[@robertsimmons1716]

Interesting about the king pins as my ‘59 Studebaker Hawk had them still and guessing they kept them until the end in ‘64. Great video keep em comin!

[@madcratebuilder]

Swapping merc cranks to ford blocks was a very popular mod. When they went OHV ford did 292 and merc 312. Eddie Meyer, Spaulding, Harmon Collins, after market names from the 40-50's. My first engine build was a 49 ford, merc crank, eddie meyer heads, spaulding ign, harmon collins cam. 3 sp with OD, cool hot rod for a 16 year old kid.

[@americanrambler4972]

The tail lights and tail panels were different between the ford and Mercury as well. Looking at those 2 examples, the Mercury definitely gave you more and was a step up during that period. Much more so than in later years.

[@thistlelee]

Hi Steve. I'm a new subscriber and I love your junkyard crawls. PS...you were great on BJ auctions too, and you are an encyclopedia of car info. Up here in Newfoundland, Canada, we had many many old car dump sites up until the '80s. There were very few junk yard dealers and a lot of '20s, to '60's cars were simply dumped 'out in the woods'. Most of those sites were cleaned up in the late '80s and scavanging parts more or less ended. There are still a few sites that we can visit and maybe find a few pieces, but not many. Check out one of our local KZbin builders, Fitzies Fabrications, Tony does a few car dump crawls himself. Cheers !

[@frk4musl]

Steve, your knowledge is so vast. Thanks for sharing your insights and highlighting these wonderful cars.

[@marygarner5249]

Always love your videos 😁😁💟

[@dalefountain2348]

Steve I really really enjoy watching your KZbin channel it is so informative! Always look forward for the video to be posted😊👍

[@roosty6]

Very interesting comparison. One more difference between Ford and Merc is the gas tank. The Mercury has a slightly longer gas tank. I have a 52 Merc that frequently shows up in my videos.

[@Ecosse57]

that merc dash is wicked!

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve Get well soon

[@mikechurch2359]

Thank you Steve for all you do I never miss a video

[@brewsky38c]

Keep them coming Steve, love the history

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Also, the Merc used a 4-bolt carburetor, the Ford used a 3 bolt carb. Both 2 barrels.

[@ZeldaZiplock]

Not to mention the vast difference between the downdraft Holley on the Merc as opposed to the Stromberg (94?) used on the Fords.

[@ron486]

Your videos rock. I love the abundance of information in your head.

[@yuvegotmale]

Steve....I watch your vids about vehicles I don't have much interest in but because of your knowledge you make them interesting.

[@Bud88883]

Really good job love the videos. I'm 65 I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I always worked on my own cars in the 70s when you only used your eyes,ears and nose to diagnose a problem. But anyway keep up the good work.

[@gregmock8527]

As always very knowledgeable, & something about his personality makes me want to tune in to his videos . Thanks for the lesson Steve .

[@SteveMagnante]

I'm just a reporter! THANKS for watching, Steve Magnante

[@kapekodbob]

Well that was great and of special interest to me because my dad had a 53 ford that color. It was totaled while parked on middle street in Weymouth probably 54-5. He then bought a 53 Merc but a darker green color and there was a world of difference between them. My mom's first automatic. Now to top that off I bought a 41 Ford coupe with a 53 Merc 3/4 race flathead in it. All souped up. Wiend aluminum heads ,Wolverine cam,t triple deuces. Had a stock Ford tranny which limited her. That was in 67.

[@drakefallentine8351]

The "Flying Toaster" quarter panel interchange is one thing....the tail light mods are a whole 'nother story.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man those two are nice! That flat head V8 would make a great engine for a rat rod or hot rod!👌😎👍

[@JackF99]

"A locomotive charging into the future". Brilliant.

[@Ascotman]

1955 Ford, my favorite!

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

I had a friend that worked at the old Pico Rivera Ford plant back in the 70s. They built both Ford Pintos and Mercury Bobcats on the same line. He said the main difference between the two was the Mercuries got lock washers and the Fords didn't.

[@99somerville]

It is so sad how the two door coupe disappeared. Everything is a four door nowadays.

[@moyadapne968]

A few cars did that with the front fenders. English big Fords Mk 1 through 3. English Vauxhalls. Even the '64 Nissan Skyline with its 4 to 6 cyl swap.

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Moyadapne, good call on the "stretch nose" English Fords, Vauxhalls and early Skylines. You'll enjoy next week's video on the 1985 Toyota Celica GT-S I found at this yard. The video is called "Pseudo Supra" for exactly the engine-length situation you allude to with the Nissan Skyline...Please stay tuned and THANK YOU for watching and writing, Steve Magnante

[@BSGSV]

Love these stories!

[@Slimjim260]

Love the Merc O Matic Steve enjoyed

[@floydt2029]

Thanks Steve, nice video!

[@Ray56z]

Good stuff. Owned a '53 Merc for a few hours once, wish I'd of kept it.

[@jamesr2888]

You're a wealth of information. Thanks for posting.

[@coburnlowman]

I use to want a Merc crank sooooo badly. It's been well over 20 years since I sat behind a flathead V8. Still have one in a 50 sedan , an 8BA. Use to drive it regularly but parked it one day , and just never drove it again. Always wanted to put a 4 inch crank in it , just to to it. Like it was it would run over 100 MPH no problem and any time I checked the MPG it was always over 20 without the Borg Warner overdrive. I had one of those transmissions but never installed it.

[@MetalTeamster]

Totally cool vid... I noticed a " service " sticker on the inside door jamb of the Ford. Be curious to know when it was last stickered ..... If I had to guess I would think early 1970s. Just an interesting detail I look for. You are one of the best to ever talk the car talk.... great vid Steve...

[@JDWorkshop-wn9tt]

I really prefer the 1954 Mercury. Similar space age controls on the dash but those taillights! Man, wow! Just plain art at the back end of the ‘54 Merc!

[@mromatic17]

i love the videos steve you are the go to guy for auto history. i used to think i knew a lot and spounged up info but you make me look like a Tesla owner or a diesel truck driver!

[@michaeljuniper5176]

Love watching these vids , here in the UK

[@brewsky38c]

I was wondering about some of the 50’s stuff I’ve been seeing in the background

[@kc0lif]

very informative channel

[@CarpeDiamCoramDao]

my father drove a 52 ford v8 three speed overdrive! You pulled a lever under the dash to engage the overdrive... Cool stuff

[@JonathanWhoever]

Love those short one liners.

[@dodgesportsman772]

love your show! so many great memories

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Around 1968, picked up (traded for) a 41 Ford coupe that had a 53 Merc Flathead. Never knew till now why a Merc instead of a Ford engine. Engine also had an Offenhauser intake with 2 Two Barrel carbs.

[@mwyatt222]

l inherited my grandmothers 53' Customline 4 dr baby blue 239 cu in flathead 3 on the tree w/ dash pull overdrive with less than 50k on the odometer. She had serviced it at the same gas station until l got it in the 80s. lt was all original, garage kept and drove like brand new when l got it. l was installing a 'vintage air' ac package in it and it was stolen in front of their business while l was on my way to pick it up ln the 90s. Never saw it again.

[@christopherpeterson1400]

Love the videos ,, keep it going... Road trip tour???

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Life's in your hands ! Too right , even in oz i watch those '50s Ohio state hi way' safety films. Brutal stuff. Luv ya work Mr Magnante. Cheers

[@forthwithtx5852]

I’m from Ohio. Highways of Agony was my favorite.

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Gday frm Sydney, Cheers mate, will look it up directly . Ther'ye pretty gross ay. Burnt charred, bent, squashed or jus plain stuck . Sumink fo everyone. @@forthwithtx5852

[@SteveMagnante]

I'm no fan of Big Brother and all that jazz, but wearing seat belts makes most sense to the family of the guy who WAS a perfect driver and never wore his seat belts until the drunk driver killed him during a head-on. It's the UNEXPECTED stuff that compels us to buckle up. I always do and I always ask my passengers to do the same. That's because if the unthinkable happens, I don't want to be the one to tell his widow he might have lived if buckled in. But to each their own...THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante

[@jonahex69]

Keep up the good work Steve

[@thesixgunfighter288]

I will say a B-52 is a full on Heavy Bomber, still used, and still to come. But you are far more an expert on American Cars than me.

[@SteveMagnante]

I'm just a reporter1 Thanks for writing and watching, Steve Magnante

[@thesixgunfighter288]

@@SteveMagnante I’m just someone who grew up loving mopars and aircraft, anything pretty much with power. And no problem, I love yours and UTGs channels. I couldn’t do the writing/reporting thing that you guys do or have done. Keep on keeping man

[@kenttalsma7906]

Assuming this was made 4/23/22. Beautiful day for a crawl.

[@jameslabossiere9041]

Great comparison

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

My dads first car he bought in 58 was a 54 ford 4 door with a y block

[@noaht5191]

Something I’ve never been told…..”4 inches is loooong stroke”

[@randylavoy6196]

Love the FORD CONTENT.!!! KEEP THEM COMING..!!!

[@SpeedyG289]

Nice presentation.

[@ChefBogan]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Best content on the internet.

[@michaelatkins9780]

The "diff" is a colloquialism for the 3rd member, Steve. 😁

[@MikeL-vu7jo]

I wonder if there are still any of the original body panel stamping dies some where from those old 53 models

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Thnx again steve , awesome info

[@zacariasblanco9738]

just like Chevrolet and GMC some say is the same but they are not GMC always has bigger engines pickups especially great video Steve

[@jamesmooney8933]

My mother owned a '53 Ford light blue Mainline with a stick shift V8, that is the exact same car. It was radio delete. This car did not have a radio but the delete panel was knocked out. The car was scraped along the right front fender. The scrape was done in '56, but the fender never rusted out. I was curious if some how I could get a picture of the right front fender. The bazel around the right head light was bent also, but that may have replaced. Please text me back.

[@morganleblanc730]

My first car was a 1953 Ford Customline 2 door with flathead V8 3 on the tree. Powder blue

[@robj2704]

Always wondered how those Mercs appeared to be bigger. Now I know.

[@todddenio3200]

Ford first offered seatbelts as an option in 1955 and is falsely credited with being the first to offer seatbelts when in fact that honor goes to the extremely rare Tucker who installed it as standard equipment in 1948. Tucker also had 4 wheel disc brakes

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@danielcarroll5667]

Thanks Steve , am I mistaken or did the Merc flattie crankshaft have the snout on it for a hand crank like my '46 Merc coupe did ?

[@toddschmidt1256]

My dad had a ‘53 mercury he said one of the prettiest cars he ever owned

[@hotroddave7597]

I always thought mercury‘s were cheap fords Some of those early 50s mercury‘s though were super cool 😎

[@99somerville]

Nope. It was between Ford and Lincoln.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Interesting that they made more 2 doors than 4 doors. I would have thought 4 drs more practical for families back then.

[@WindowshadeCure]

It seems that back in the day 2 doors were considered "cooler" or something like that

[@consul6262]

Did cost have a factor in it, perhaps 2drs were cheaper? Also as someone else pointed out, children couldn't open the doors, so parents thought their children were safer.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

@@consul6262 Being a child from the 1960's, safety was never a factor! LOL! Price, I could see that!

[@consul6262]

@@unclemarksdiyauto True safety didn't become more of an issue until eighties, when seat belts became compulsory ( in the UK) if memory serves me right, which it doesn't far to often lol, like you I suspect price was the big factor.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

@@consul6262 Looks like seatbelts were compulsory in Canada as early as 1976 and some provinces as late as 1987. Weird it took so long.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

I've never understood why manufacturers used column shifters as standard equipment for anything. It seems to me that a floor shift would be cheaper to produce simply because it can use a direct linkage (or cable in the case of automatic transmissions) to the transmission itself rather than a more complex setup. Fewer parts to assemble=fewer workers which, in turn=lower cost to build the vehicle. I could actually see the column shift being an extra cost option.

[@rogersmith8096]

These cars were bench seat 6 passenger units (no bucket seat and console) so the floor shifts were only in the trucks.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

@@stevejohnson1321 As I said, extra cost option because it's what people wanted.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

@@rogersmith8096 Yes, I realize that. However, trucks also had bench seats and most of them, when equipped with a 3 speed manual also had a column shift back then.

[@milehighkit4725]

Good point! And a three on the tree looks so dorky. They always considered sedans a six passenger and that may be some bearing on the purpose.

[@jedk9523]

ooooouuu that bullnose f150 by that merc got hit hard in the cab damn

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@rogerwhite3644]

Fenders can interchange if your an awesome bodyman. 👌

[@johnwillia339]

53 Merc is my favorite car .

[@craigchiddo2794]

Any f250 extended cab manual 4x4 up there

[@gregkistner1955]

It's a shame Ford had to stop the Mercury brand

[@marcstlaurent3719]

Great vids Steve , I’ve liked your work as far back as the Peterson days , you say two door post coolest always , never a hardtop ?

[@dennisklett2791]

love the vids Steve....

[@deanstevenson6527]

Love me the V8 badges.

[@danbasta3677]

I, rather love Ford cars and trucks. They are great vehicles to own to.

[@pmd7771969]

We want to know chassis component interchange

[@marktheaardvark7208]

My brother-in-law once told me a Mercury is just a Ford with lock washers

[@michieldenboer5193]

HA! nice content. any video's on your altered wheelbase car?

[@randylavoy6196]

Really like that flathead engine..!!!😁👍

[@ccg1171]

Do you say your in Burlington Massachusetts?

[@frankjones4094]

My Dad told me the difference between a Ford and a Mercury was the Mercury had lock washers. Lol

[@Smarty1171]

What the deal with the exhaust pipe going forward off of the manifold

[@michaelsimpson3548]

Hello Steve. Thank you. How did Ford arrange the different wb? Just by moving the front crossmember, if they used the same frame?

[@SteveMagnante]

Hi Michael, I'm going to assume the frame and fenders are longer from the firewall forward. This isn't an uncommon way for a mass produced automaker to "add difference" between otherwise similar vehicle platforms. In the 1982-'86 period, the Toyota Supra got an extra 4-inches of wheelbase strictly ahead of the firewall so the DOHC six could fit within the Celica host platform - which used a shorter SOHC four cylinder engine. One nifty oddity in the Toyota Celica / Supra world is the 1982-1984 Celica GT-S. The GT-S uses the Supra's independent rear suspension and rear disc brakes but is based on the shorter Celica platform since it has the same 4-popper as a basic Celica (which would have a solid rear axle on coils and rear drum brakes). The Celica GT-S even has much of the Supra's interior and the Supra's beefy four-corner fiberglass fender flares to cover its larger Supra-sized wheels and tires. Watch for a video on one of these rarities next week. It's called "Pseudo Pseupra" for obvious reasons. THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante

[@michaelsimpson3548]

@@SteveMagnante Hi Steve, like the BMW E36 Series. They also had slightly longer front fenders ( between the wheel and the doors) for the 6cyl. Thank you for your videos. I like your enthusiasm and also the railroad video. Stay safe

[@mikefrech1123]

The B-52 is a heavy bomber, not a "fighter-bomber."