Hi guys

I've been pondering for the last few weeks which truck I should restore. I have a 1965 Ford stepside and a 1965 Mercury Custom Cab longbox. They are both in similar shape but if you had to choose between a Mercury and Ford, stepside or longbox what would you pick. I really need some opinions cause i'm stuck. So what do you think the stepside Ford or the longbox Mercury. Also what truck is rarer and worth more restored?

 

Well, I've never seen a Merc truck in person, so I'd do that one.

 

Do em both man.

John

 

Did they make Merc stepsides? never seen one of them, only seen the fleetsides. Maybe you could make a hybrid merc step.

What do you plan on doing with the truck? The longbox is more utilitarian and can hold more, but the stepside shorty is a very nice sportier pickup. I love my short fleetside, but mine is mainly just a fun truck, not a workhorse. My dads 65 f-250 does the dirty work!

 

They made Merc stepsides. There is a nice black 65 Merc shortbox step by my house, and I have a 66 M250 long box stepside. I have always wanted a shortbox stepside, but I'd get them both driving and see which needs more work and decide later.

 

This is a no-brainer. Merc all the way. Worth more and much rarer. Canadian too eh?
Besides, step sides, to me, look like the have the wrong box on them, just like the 61-63 non-unis with the Refrigerator box on them.

They made lots of Merc stepsides, the Gas company used to have blue ones here in Alberta in the sixties. Use the Ford as a parts truck.

 

Ouch! JC that hurts. . .

I'm with John Do 'em both man! But do them the way youwant 'em & they're worth the most.

Do your ME as a short box FLARESIDE b'cause that's what they were called. Take your cue from above, somebody didn't know they even made Mercury in a SWB Flareside. Thus SWB Mercury Flareside is a premium move for my $.02. Also, you'd have no trouble offing a LWB Styleside Ford Of course, it will not be worth what a SWB Flareside Mercury is worth. For that matter I doubt a LWB Mercury Styleside is worth what a SWB Flareside Merd is. Especially if ye do it with a Custom Cab or Ranger Gut Option. . . .

All you'd need to locate is a Genuine Flareside Tailgate or cut the script off your LWB Styleside and "splice script" to your FORD Flareside Gate ye already have. FORD Tailgates for a Styleside are not all that rare. They are 64 thru 67, plus a 68 & 69 fit & work in a pinch.

If ye put a Stepside Box on your truck I'd have to agree with Ringo.

Plus Ringo'd be right on! It'd would not only look like it was wrong, Stepside would be wrong, seeing how it's made by the GM Body trolls, eh?

FBp

 

The Mercury is far more rare, and even being a long bed would be worth more (especially in the US). Flaresides, frankly, are nothing really special, since the beds are repro'd in full and only cost money to get. The suggestion to put the flareside box on the Merc doesn't really work since it's a shorter box, for one thing. The other is the tailgate for the flareside Merc is unique and will be next to impossible to find. The lettering on the smooth side box is completely different than the Merc lettering on the flareside gate...cutting and welding ti won't work, as the lettering is too large.
There was exactly ONE Mercury at the SuperNats last weekend, a decent driver quality truck painted yellow and white (probably not factory, but looked good) in Custom Cab trim, generated quite a bit of interest.

 

If one were to park a Merc next to a Ford what would be the discernable differences (other than badging)?

 

Pete and Dwight have valid points.
You could use the short Ford frame to build a Merc FLARESIDE, you can pick and choose among your best parts to assemble it. The Frame VIN is not what they'll use to register it in Alberta, unless you tell them that's the VIN, they will be just as happy if you tell them it's the number on the door tag.
No one in Motor vehicles comes out to check, they register it by the VIN you tell them. One thing to consider, if either truck came from out-of-province you will have to fork out 80-100 bucks for an out-of province inspection when you are done if you use that vehicles' VIN.

Flareside Mercury tailgates have letters about 2" tall on the tailgate that says M E R C U R Y, they are not that hard to find in rural Alberta, but very hard to find not all beat to hell. There was/is a company in northern Michigan or Minnesota repopping Merc flareside tailgates, the rumour goes, from the original dies... Northern somethingarather.. sorry don't quite remember the name. They don't give them away, expect to pay 4-600 dollars US for a new one when you find them. Dwight is also right about the box, because it is essentially a fat-fender box you can buy the whole thing, brand new. Now you are talking big money tho, you'll have US $1500 + just into the box, without fenders.

One more suggestion, since you have a merc tailgate already, would be to find a short/wide box (good luck) or cut your long one down, to fit the short wheelbase. Short/wide styleside Mercs as rare as hen's teeth, I've have seen exactly one '65 my whole life.

RaleighDad66, the differences in '65 are this.
1) Ford of Canada VIN
2) Mercury badging on the fenders. (Hard to find those BTW, 2 years only for '65/66)
3) Mercury tailgate
4)Horn ring is a gear and lightning bolt instead of "Ford"
5) MERCURY hood letters/panel above the grille

 

Found those tailgates. $425 US, Northern Classic trucks.
Don't want anyone upset by putting a link to there, so shoot me an email if you need more info
RF

 

None Steve, They are both the same truck. Ford had to make em in Canada for a while becasue of guvment issues, and the one across the border was a Merc.

There are several on the slick site photo albums. I remember seeing the Mercury across the tail gate on a 65 or 66 back in the early 70s. I had to step back.

John

 

John has it right, before the Auto pact kicked in there were some government rules that caused many Canadian Brand names on this side of the 49th parallel that you guys never saw. Dodge had Fargo trucks, Chev trucks were Maple Leafs for a while,Falcons were Frontenacs, Novas were Cansos and Acadians, Chevelles were Beaumonts, etc. etc. Pontiacs were mostly rebadged Chebbys.

But we also continued to have the other US names, too. Ford Dealerships sold Ford brand trucks in Canada, Mercury dealers sold Mercurys (until 1968 when they were discontinued due to rule changes in the Auto manufacturing agreement between Canada and the US)
So that waters down the pool of Mercurys even more, half the Slicks (at least) in Canada were badged as Fords, too. That's why they are getting rare, even in Canada, and even here the Merc is the more desirable of the two to have.

One of the odd things about this was that Ford and Mercury cars and trucks NEVER had a six in Canada until the 1956 model, and they never really caught on at all here, until the Slick trucks. This is why I always view a six as a Chebby thing, just like a wood box floor in a Fleetside

Funny how this stuff goes full circle, we dont have Mercurys here at all now. All the dealerships were switched to Ford dealerships about 5 or 6 years ago, ..........I've never seen a Mountaineer for example.

 

Thanks Guys

Since i've already tore into the mercury quite a bit I will continue with that project first.I have power discs in it and am going to be dropping a 1972 302 with the high compression. Next addition will be power sterring cause I have most of the parts. Since this Merc isn't original how much depreciation have I done by modding. This truck is a loaded custom cab because it has ALL the options.

 

Guess I have to go against the grain.
Do the stepside, overall more sales appeal, more eye appeal.

The Mercs might be rare-er (maybe), but they are around, I'd think even more so up North.