Chassis: 53WA23672M
The 40,000,000th Car Built by Ford Motor Company
Extraordinarily Well Preserved and Showing Just 688 Miles when Catalogued
Formerly Part of the Henry Ford Museum Collection
255 CID L-Head V-8 Engine
2-Barrel Downdraft Carburetor
125 BHP at 3,800 RPM
3-Speed Ford-O-Matic Automatic Transmission
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs
Rear Live Axle with Radius Arms and Transverse Leaf Spring
In May 1927, a mere 24 years after being incorporated, Ford Motor Company built its 15,000,000th Model T, a model so significant that it heavily influenced the creation of America’s middle class. Production numbers remained strong for Ford and in 1953, despite missing volume during the years of WWII, the company built its 40,000,000th automobile – the striking Mercury Monterey offered here.
As an important milestone, this remarkable Mercury was utilized by Ford for promotional purposes, and many photos depicting the car with company executives were published by media outlets at the time. It is believed that the Monterey then spent a substantial amount of time in the Henry Ford Museum collection before being purchased by Mark Smith.
Seemingly never used for any significant road miles, this time-warp Mercury Monterey showed just 688 miles at the time of cataloguing. Additionally, service stickers from as early as January 1954 are affixed to the doorjamb, each of which is beautifully preserved. As a car of serious historical significance, both for its place in the history of Ford and as a preservation reference for the model, this amazing find deserves serious consideration by any Ford collector.
*Please note that this Lot, like all vehicles in this Auction, has been in long-term static storage and may not be currently operational. It will require mechanical attention prior to any road use.
Gooding & Company presents and conducts the Estate of Mark Smith Auction under the authority of John J. Rendemonti, Executor of the Estate of Mark J. Smith, duly appointed by the Circuit Court of the State of New Hampshire, Probate Division, Case Number 312-2022-ET-00072. The Estate has compiled available title and/or registration paperwork for the Vehicles offered in the Auction and will provide such paperwork to the Buyer if it is available. However, as set forth more fully in the Conditions of Sale, neither the Estate nor Gooding makes any representation or warranty with respect to any existing certificate of title or registration with regard to any Lot in the Auction. Any Lot may be sold on a Bill of Sale. By participating in this Auction, all bidders and buyers recognize that Estate and Gooding have expressly disclaimed all such warranties concerning the availability or sufficiency of any title or registration documentation.