Saving The 1939 Mercury Coupe From The Rust Lagoon

A few months back we extracted a three cars from a local junkyards private stash, and in that video Matt mentioned he purchased 5 vehicles. After lots and lots of rain, the ground is hopefully firm enough to rip the 1939 Mercury from its current home in the swamp. They tried to remove it earlier in the summer and the large front end loader sunk into the mud and almost couldn't get out! Let us know what you think Matt should do with the 1939 Merc. Turn it into another traditional hot rod, tail dragging custom, or selling it and focus on other projects.
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[@rogergreen1787]

That forklift driver did more damage in half an hour than the car sat their for 60yrs waaaah great footage by the way 🚜👍😃🇬🇧

[@ryankukkuk2913]

It's a disgrace leaving a car to rot like that... No matter how much money you have... The people that spent hundreds of hour of there lives building it and being away from there family's to build it for a little bit of money... There hard work just thrown away like scrap... I'm glad you are saving it and preserving there legacy...

[@sherrypatrick2658]

I love seeing mechanics find golden treasures and fixing them up. We have alot here in Missouri and I know everywhere else. I love classic vehicles. Great job guys. Love your work. Shout out from Missouri.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks so much for watching Sherry!

[@tomdavidson7988]

I grew up outside of Pittsburgh. Now I live south of Tucson , Az. I'll never move back to Pa. I love the old cars too much. Please consider selling out and moving on down. You'll never regret it and you'll never look back. There's a guy here with about 200 classic cars he's selling. About 10 miles outside of Sierra Vista Az.

[@IronTrapGarage]

I enjoy where I'm at, but do understand the want to move to warmer weather in the winters!

[@tomdavidson7988]

@@IronTrapGarage That's why God invented snowbirds.

[@Frottussle]

This was amazing to watch seeing that old car move for the first time in 60 years. It was also spooky to see the steering wheel turning as the car was dragged out of the weeds. Almost like some ghost was driving.

[@ralphreuben1386]

i like your thinking matt.we only ever get one oppurtunity to save this stuff,its only metal,and you have the skills and equipment.you also are young,in 20 yrs time this save will be priceless.Ralph.

[@IronTrapGarage]

39 Mercury’s are the same to custom guys as to 32 Fords for hot rodders. Worth the effort to save most any original metal cars. 🤘

[@davidcruz8227]

Thanks for saving these classics,whether u restore them,hotrod them or take the parts its better then sitting in a field and rotting

[@hotrodbob.]

I'm just glad to see that some of this stuff is still around and that it hasn't all been crushed EPA sucks

[@jerryhablitzel3333]

I think that merc has an extraordinary amount of gravitational pull. It’s a pile but you just don’t find one every day so any car like that has potential. Hope it finds itself risen from the grave.

[@xevi2889]

I cant imagine how much work that car needs... But man... Its fuck*ng awesome to save a car in that condition!!

[@sweetmatthew662]

''It's already got the stance" LOL!!

[@leeakers4525]

If nothing else, it has a lot of glass and chrome trim. Looks like the instrument panel is good. Not being there, it's hard to tell what the lower body looks like. Thin rust being held together by more thin rust? The hood, maybe the trunk lit, and the upper body are salvageable for other projects. If there is an engine, there are parts. I think you'll do OK by parting it out. Congratulations on a grear find.

[@jonathanw4942]

Don't really matter how you build it as long as you save it or at the very least use all the parts from it.

[@LongBowMan89]

Damn Rigth!

[@willefixit]

agree another one saved!

[@willefixit]

i agree another one saved!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Co-signed.

[@madelineolson9848]

Save that Merc and build it it's too nice to just part out

[@craigpalmer5693]

This vehicle sitting there for many years now getting out of the mud yard take it to the shop restore whole body style windows seats everything awesome thanks job friend bless you

[@drscrib99]

Would love seeing this one brought back from the dead. Restored to original looking street rod is my choice.

[@trickyricky12147]

It can be done with blood, sweat and tears!

[@terrygli]

@@trickyricky12147 Yes sir it can be done but you forgot one more thing it will take which is about a ton of $100.00 bills.

[@1953beetle]

@@terrygli Is it worth it?Could be.

[@christopherrodmell1694]

I would be surprised if it did end up getting restored

[@crickmalcolm3763]

Doesn't want that forklift wrecking it even more

[@douglasnicholls1366]

Grow moss on the roof, plant flowers elsewhere. Matt, you are a brave dude to take this one on. But it was pretty once and I hope you keep it just to show anything is possible.

[@53chevsled]

The 39 Merc coupes are such awesome looking cars it would make a really nice mild custom or even a full on custom, jealous that you guys have such great looking project tin still available, over here in Australia we didn’t get the good looking versions you did and what we have is a lot lower production numbers of the versions we got but we try and make the most of it, cheers from down under Tasmania/Australia and I can’t wait to see what you do with it, Matt and Mike keep up the great work and keep those videos coming 😎👍👍🇦🇺

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching Adam!

[@dodgebob1]

Long live old cars...can't wait to see this thing....umm restored... Rodded...something other than forgotten.

[@andrewwilson8317]

You need Johnathan W and one of his trucks to help you. He is the master of pulling out and saving old cars without wrecking them. Need to handle them like eggs!

[@stevecarlson4539]

I really think it would look cool in red oxide primer, black steel wheels, stanced just like it sits. Not a rat or a mega dollar shower, just a nice driveable classic hot rod. Maybe some lake pipes. Option 2 could be gasser style. Nose up, again black steel on the rear, pie crust slicks, early aluminum/magnesiun up front and some zoomies exhausting a nice FE motor- the kind of zoomies hat will blow your hat off. Yeah!

[@amartinez9390]

Face it young man, you are addicted. You have the knowledge and experience to do what's best for this beauty.

[@russellsantangelo1]

Back in the 50's, you could buy one of these in 100% road worth condition for $25.00. It was just an old car then. My dad had a 36 Ford that he just drove to a field and walked away from. This was about 1955 or so. Times sure have changed.

[@adamsaramcmichael4579]

As a professional heavy equipment driver who spends most of my time in a 20,000-60,000 lbs forklifts all day.... This is hard to watch. Such poor techniques in getting this car out... It hurts my brain

[@florinvaleanu3954]

Don't worry about it

[@adamsaramcmichael4579]

Respectfully, i dont know if you would be saying that if it was a car you had purchased and it was getting torn up.

[@penelopepurr]

@@adamsaramcmichael4579 I agree. They show no skill and a complete lack of respect for these historical cars.

[@ronalddaub5049]

You may be a professional and good at your job but this guy is on a forklift in a junkyard dealing with a uncertain load that he does not know how it will act he did what he did my God you people lay off of this operator I love and appreciate this car as much as anybody and I think it should be saved and fixed restored yeah he got a little rough with it one time but the rear end was falling out look at the end result he didn't hurt it

[@ramcnei0611]

This extraction made me cringe big time.

[@markgriffin4888]

Forget the Forgotten Tudor, the Merc Coupe is WAAAAAY COOLER !!!!!!!!! You haven't built a custom yet so thats my suggestion. Every panel that is damaged is replaceable or repairable , so ,as we say DOWN UNDER pull your finger out and start building!!!! Great purchase Matt. I should practice what I preach, I have a '39 standard ute that is missing about 8" from the bottom of the body. Project in the works 😃😃😃

[@roberttaylor5999]

It's sad to think, but that was probably a pretty nice car when it was parked there nearly 60 years ago.

[@killaz123456789100]

Yup, dont understand why they would park this in a marsh mud pit to rot but.

[@robj2704]

Often, junkyards begin in otherwise unusable areas, not suited for anything else. Sometimes it's in swampy land. As many times as that Merc has been in water, doubtful there's anything worth using.

[@killaz123456789100]

@@robj2704 a junkyard letting there profit rot away makes no sense

[@hcombs0104]

Depressing to watch. And I love old cars. But...who knows?

[@bagelking5551]

What a cracking car, at least you rescued it from the swamp. Hope at least some of it can be saved

[@slowshop]

Dear forklift driver, show some respect. Please. Great find Matt! 👌

[@ronalddaub5049]

The frame was rusted in half there's not much else he could have done but he did keep it in one piece that car was rotted out from the bottom

[@fredsilfen2962]

How to stop car squealing in reverse gear when backing out?

[@johnjenkins8782]

That's Chaz's I'm 20 minutes from there! I do remember those oldies way in the back!!

[@jimsullivan2729]

Your neighbors must love you Matt! LOL

[@digilyd]

What a lot of times that car got put down without something to keep it off of the ground to make it easy to pick it up again. There is no obligation to make it difficult for oneself nor to needlessly add damage to whatever is transported.

[@sandygrimes7196]

Wow I wonder what the story was behind that car, love watching these videos and restoration of these classic beauties..❤️

[@marcelgrech2734]

Bring it back to life ☺️

[@kimkiriniki9433]

Crown Vic chassis/frame and drivetrain..please!..Would be such a great build to follow. Well done for saving this great looking car.

[@kimkiriniki9433]

Seems that I am not alone..

[@ms90sbabyy]

This thing is pretty far gone friends

[@meltondaniels2825]

It’ll take some time , but car is worth restoring 👍

[@joell439]

I agree - this is the purest form of madness......

[@rongray8416]

Since that frame is probably garbage you could go a lot of directions, traditional custom, tail dragger, stock, (I might get some hate for this) fully front and rear bagged custom wide whites name it Créature rouillée

[@paulspangler2088]

That was stressful to watch, I need to dye my hair now from changing to grey 😲

[@Andrey_Nika]

strong frame and good design

[@ronaldmiller6520]

you got screwed, i was taught to never buy a car from a swamp land. its a shame

[@americanrambler4972]

That is a very good looking and stylish car! (Or was at one time). But it is beyond my skill set, budget and patience to do anything with. Do whatever with the mechanicals, but I suggest you attempt to retain the original body lines as much as feasible. No one ever does one of these anymore without slicing and dicing, and the result is usually only good looking for the current season, then looks out of style fast, where original styling stands the test of time. The original guys who drew this up created something unique and special.

[@radracer2033]

That Mercury would be awesome with an early Hemi and a 4 speed

[@dannydeeds6619]

Cccccccccffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffggfffgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg u

[@mattwiedenman3268]

I agree! Absolutely!

[@plumbingstuffinoregon2471]

Ya know I was thinking that would be a good fix er upper, but after seeing the car basically split in half, I'm thinking it probably should've just been left there in it's grave. But at least it has a few good parts, and you could stick the body on a different frame and make something really cool.

[@Mercmad]

I think even the guys at cold war motors in Canada would be hard pressed to use that coupe for anything.

[@roadmaster720]

i've watched their videos bringing dead clunkers back to life. i'd say they would be hard pressed to use that merc for something.

[@kimkiriniki9433]

Scott and his agents would have that rusty old thing up and running in several years, every day of which would be a treat to watch.

[@allenschmitz9644]

@@kimkiriniki9433 I THINK SOME OF THE RUST THAT FELL OFF MIGHT BE UNOBTAINEUM stream line mojo looks.

[@STAY-GOLD-VINYL]

@@allenschmitz9644 haha Lazar!!

[@tailsdollblack9340]

hope hes nearby. everyone seems to be in Ontario minus a few one ive met personally ^^

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Saving it as a complete car will be a job that will be quite some feat. Looks like the frame is rusted away. Incredible.

[@billm929]

I'm not sure what did more damage, Sitting the mud for 30 years, or you guys beating t he hell out of it trying to move it. that was hard to watch

[@philipglenn7995]

Watching that guy on the forklift was giving me anxiety,

[@TheCharliemike11]

Thats gotta be the worst recovery I've ever seen with a fork lift.. it was being murderd

[@Itsonlymeee1]

That was great... buy them all and rescue them

[@MrHBSoftware]

forklift dude is wearing sunglasses so he can't see the damage he is doing...smart

[@ct9827]

That 39 is a gem stay original beautiful car money pit yes but a keeper and a split window getting impossible to find these original outside with a little kick. good job!

[@billgraham9799]

Matt It would be nice to follow a build that included you doing a custom frame built from scratch...39 Merc "Swamp Monster" or "Merc-e-Waters". I appreciate your skills, and love the channel! Keep doing what your doing, and I would not be surprised if someone from Motortrend offers you a TV show?

[@about2mount]

Advice,,,,,,build yourselves some palletized skids to place down as a road to drive on to get to targets as this.

[@CortinasAndClassics]

And the forklift destroys it. KEEP IT ORIGINAL.

[@danvanlandingham3854]

If it were my brother,he'd drop a Chevy 350 in it in a heartbeat.I'd use another 59 AB.I wouldn't channel it by any means.

[@etubens124]

I think if it can be restored, motor upgrade and suspension upgrade with moderate body design and interior.

[@thomasyarwood716]

Asa Brit you should customise this car there can not be many of these left in the states so to keep its style would make it last !!

[@misplacedhillbilly7594]

Save the WILLYS!!!! I'm a jeep guy, I can spot a flattie in the woods at a 1000 yards lol, to bad I dont have the funds to save any😖

[@jackiepierce9281]

Did you just see how they get those cars out of the swamp of hell

[@donjones8193]

Hot rod!!!! w/supercharged flaty!

[@OcotilloTom]

I think your about 50 years too late ole buddy.

[@simonstovebolt]

The right set of tires on the machine would make a world of difference

[@typicalendurorider8016]

Was it just me or was that forklift driver was not carful at all with the 39

[@Stumpfollj]

There is nothing left of it! Can't be careful with it, it's falling apart

[@paulgrimm7842]

He didn’t have much to work with

[@andrewlevine8816]

Build it as a taildragger custom. Its better than a 39 ford coupe ute I pulled out of the Australian bush last year. It broke in half. Parted it out.

[@IronTrapGarage]

That’s the plan!

[@AircooledMisfits]

"IF" you keep it, make it a tail dragger...though it looks pretty rough, maybe put the body on a modern chassis?? Yes its rusty but I cringed everytime the fork lift driver tore into it.

[@Ecosse57]

same here.

[@falunyip]

I agree!

[@marykutchera2941]

Love it make it a custom

[@peanutbutterandjammy]

Believe it or not my 1967 Fairlane 500XL was in even worse shape when I got it. It was so rotten it broke in half at the front of the rockers below the door hinges. I still restored it and saved the original 390 FE. Only change i made was a built T-5 to replace the original 4 speed that had been missing for decades. I theorize the missing transmission is the reason the car was parked. I made a custom chassis out of 1-1/16" diameter 7/16" wall tubing that was on clearance at the local steel yard. The original frame was rotted apart in six places.

[@BuildNStuff86]

It's amazing how Ford got the roof line so right on a 39 Ford and so wrong on the 39 Merc.

[@markk3652]

Agreed! This is just a goofy looking car from every angle.

[@danielwilson6401]

I couldn't disagree more. With the proper treatment, I think this car will look better than a Ford. The roof lines are just different enough to make it stand out. Seen from the rear quarter, 95% will never have a clue as to what it is. perfect basis for clean custom....or would that be Kleen Kustom? In any case, just think about the 50-60 years of welding experience Matt can put on his resume after this one...lol

[@BuildNStuff86]

It will be an awesome looking car once it's chopped and the roofline is changed

[@alangallop8782]

Rough.. that's an understatement

[@beatglauser9444]

This impatient forkliftdriver was a guy without respect for old iron. If course you cannot get a car like that out of its swampgrave without further damage. But with a bit more care and patience he could have done it less than half the damage.

[@robertironside3166]

Fix it and bag it so you can muck around with the stance on whatever day you feel like changing it to sit this way or that. The trip for all the windows is still there! lol Like the shifter [noice]. Grill is still there.... split front and rear windows. My old man had a 48 Merc with Aluminum heads [he'd get teary eyed talking about it] lol Pretty sure he wrecked it drunk driving after WW2 one late night wiht nobody on the road between Toronto and Niagara lol This is a COOL car. Rod it!! Bag it though.

[@nickellis8062]

cant even watch the guy driving the equipment doesnt know what he is doing

[@talonbell1586]

Nick Ellis he made me sick to my Stomach watching this

[@Jacob_6420]

Same here, total idiot

[@brandonlink6568]

Nice driveshaft, exhaust system, and rockers, be a shame if someone crushed them all with a forklift

[@thilokass3966]

It hurts to see equipment operators having no idea how to be gentle with very old and irreplacable items

[@davidcooper3337]

If he didn't bury the forks into the ground he would not have gotten stuck, complete idiot .

[@MyDatrsPrsnlATM]

Pop a chalk line from under the bottom door hinge all the way around the car and cut alllllll that stuff off. Repair the suspension and frame, lower the body mounts and put the body back on.

[@IronTrapGarage]

We're on the same wave length! That's exactly what I'd do. -Matt/ITG

[@kruleworld]

I'm amazed the skid-steer driver didn't rip that thing in half the way he was pulling on it!

[@NomadOfNorad]

Watching the wear and tear of getting the coupe extracted was definitely painful to watch, though.

[@alanhardman2447]

Evil Ash - I thought he DID rip it in two...

[@MoneyCollector]

so much history behind those vintage cars,

[@CaptainRon1913]

A good quality weed whacker might have helped. At least the grill and headlights are still good

[@kickit59]

Man if you would of come along maybe 25 years earlier you would of had a better shot at bringing this one back! Maybe Jonathan W is the only one who could make something out of the old Merc now! He can make something cool out of almost nothing! I will have to keep an eye on your channel & see what you do with the old Merc! Surprised the old girl didn't break in two when the bobcat was pulling her out!

[@anastyb]

Why bother? A soda can is more sturdy. Reverse oxmosis ain't gonna work You really need to stop drinking! This is proof you need help.

[@Nightcrawler666]

I was getting more pissed off the longer I watched those guys not give a shit. Wow 👏 well done you really know how to use the wrong equipment & then just go from bad to worst. They just as well of used a grab & just crushed everything they touched. I think I would of lost my mind if I were there watching those tools get the cars out for you. Im sorry for your loss guys. Hope you manage to salvage something.

[@Martin750hp]

A real car man will take on just about any car dead or barely alive hope you can revive it to a drive able machine just like it's glory day's or at least close to it( MAN) just build it............. two thumb's up!!!!!!

[@jspilly82]

if you havent seen this resto go have a look at how they saved this car. they actually remade the whole car piece at a time kzbin.info/www/bejne/nITMpKKIj9SKY6s

[@ronalddaub5049]

The guy that said bucket of rust needs to go to the sewing section of the women's section of KZbin LOL

[@petepage8771]

just build it i have seen a lot worse when started and when they were finished they were great rides,REMEMBER YOU SAVED IT,thats all that really matters the CRUSHER DID NOT GET IT, that really matters more ,good luck and have fun!

[@wishbone20t]

I was hoping you didn't go too fast while it was on the trailer, it might just start to blow away piece by piece!

[@johnjenkins6547]

Hot Rod! Tail dragger - YUK! Then again I am an old hot rodder from the 60's and 70's and never could see any beauty in low riders or tail draggers. Just not my thing. But rock on! What ever tickles you. That's what it is all about.

[@itsChris65]

Build that tail dragging custom, and save yourselves all the work

[@Jddvs]

Saving that old girl is going to be more than a challenge. However, with your metal fabrication skill, I’m sure that you could make any body panel needed to do the job. That would make great content! Hope you go for it.

[@robis40]

That forklift driver needs to learn how to drive it. He really sucked. Also go back and get that COE truck.

[@hightower3111]

robis40 it was so infuriating!! But so was getting it off the trailer 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mrnemo1480]

Completely wrong type of tyres for that ground

[@boboshop55]

Things learned: Stance is everything, Matt's full of it.

[@IronTrapGarage]

It makes even a crappy car look cool! Haha

[@jhonistein5347]

Ok man I think it's a good candidate for a rat road .Love the videos keep them coming 👍

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

I WANNA SEE THIS MERC SAVED!! ...KEEP US POSTED!! ...THE GUYS AT THE YARD ALMOST DESTROYED IT PULLING IT OUT!! ....YIKES!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

We'll be starting on this car in the spring/summer. We'll show the full process!

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

@@IronTrapGarage AWESOME!! I LOVE IT!! YOUR CHANNEL ROCKS!! I LOVE SEEING THESE ROUGH CARS SAVED!! THANKS!

[@TheJurassicJunkie]

All that crunching was hard to listen to. Hopefully it can be salvaged.

[@McBuggs.]

Crunching with a little bit of... Snap Crackle Pop! : (

[@hawkdsl]

What a great story you will have if you restore this old girl back to glory. Sure, 60-80% will have to be replaced.. put it was pulled out of the swamp! I can see it at the show with a poster picture of that Bob Cat yanking it out next to a gleaming work of finished art.

[@Jeddco66]

that would make a great sleeper with all new frame and drive train

[@oldschool6345]

Doesn't matter what you do with it. Anything done with it saves it some way. It's a serious rust rebuild, showing how itcould be done could be interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@davidrayburn2260]

Do the rite thing and just put it back in its resting place !!

[@rickey5353]

Rust in Peace.

[@johna1160]

12:52 Thanks for the chuckle, Mike. You funny guy!

[@markconley996]

I'm cringing, everytime they pull it and set it down. Looks like several broken dreams... good luck on saving it as u go ahead.

[@kiritvara257]

Save the car. Show the world it's not impossible to bring back to what she was 60 years ago. You boys can do it.

[@davelowell3008]

Looks like it needs a new frame, decide when further inspection is completed. Thanks for taking us old farts seriously.

[@Podcast_Bekasi]

nice...👍👍👍

[@DeepseaSteve]

Watching the bloke drive the end loader proved he has no idea how to drive

[@ronalddaub5049]

You need to remember the car has broken spring hangers rusted off the frame, the dude had to grab it from the other direction to keep it in one piece

[@_Peremalfait]

If you do a build, go traditional hot rod. Really, the smart thing would be part it out, but we know how that goes. Good luck. I'm glad you have the 41 Ford. That was my pick from your Field of Rusty Dreams video.

[@Nicks66Service]

Don't feel too bad about the extraction- the real damage was done while it lived in Minnesota.

[@doublethreat07]

I live in central Washington State and it's more of a desert area, I can find cars from the 20s and up in much better shape, complete, may have rust but it's mostly surface rust even after sitting for 40 years. My goal in life is to further my education in electrical & welding where I can more than enough money so I can fund my hobby of saving and restoring classic cars and trucks!

[@theone2be33]

I would've laughed if when he was unloading it from the trailer it turned into a pile of rust

[@ralphmarshall2215]

Please bring it back to life. it may be in bad shape, but with a lot of love and determination, it can be sweet again!!!!

[@corvettefan91]

Needs a full house "255 Merc flathead under the hood.

[@danielwilson6401]

Matt, I could see this car with a restomod front wheel drive (think Toronado) perimeter frame, slammed. Chopped? Maybe....expecting a shortage of welding supplies in the PA area soon.... From the firewall back, the shape is very Cord-like. Look at the '36-'37 Model 810 and 812 for inspiration. How many projects does a man have to have? One more than he has now...