Most Ford fans know that Mercury didn't exist in 1934. But this old Ford pickup is a "what could have been" sort of exercise.
Not What It Seems
Most automotive fans undoubtedly remember Mercury, which Ford created as a sort of "entry-level luxury" brand back in 1938. Until Ford pulled the plug in 2010, many Mercury vehicles were simply mildly restyled or rebadged Ford products, including trucks. All of which made the guys at Ricky Bobby Rod Shop wonder - what if Mercury had come along a few years earlier and offered their own version of Ford's '34 pickup?
Hot Rod Clone
Well, it might just look something like this beauty we spotted over at Smoky Mountain Traders. At its heart, this little pickup is nothing more than a 1934 Ford. But the folks at Ricky Bobby did a ton of work to not only transform it into a Mercury clone, but also a pretty sweet hot rod.
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Chop and Roll
To put the "hot" in the hot rod, Ricky Bobby first chopped four inches out of the cab. To fashion the hood and side panels, they simply worked over and rolled some flat stock, using custom inserts so that the panels would fit around the engine.
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Make It a Mercury
RB then sourced a reproduction bed, shortened it, and added a custom Mercury tailgate to fit the theme. Finally, they topped off the smooth and slender body with multiple layers of Rich Navy Blue, which turned out absolutely stunning.
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Same, but Different
To cap off the old school hot rod look on this Ford/Mercury, it was critical to select the right rolling stock. And the guys at Ricky Bobby nailed it with 16x4-inch front wheels with 1940 Ford inserts and custom 18x7 Circle Racing Wheels out back sporting Mercury hubcaps. At first glance, you wouldn't even know they aren't the same thing.
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Neat and Tidy
Further helping to give this '34 the right stance is a frame that's been sectioned 2.5-inches. It's also been boxed from the firewall back to ensure that everything fits rather tidily underneath that gorgeous bodywork.
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Old School Suspension
Rounding out the suspension a SoCal 4-inch drop axle up front with 1937 Ford spindles and wishbone. Out back, you'll find a wishbone from a 1939 Mercury Zepher. And the whole undercarriage is so clean you'll find yourself dodging rain puddles on the road.
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Clean and Simple
Much like the exterior, the interior of this old Ford/Mercury is an exercise in tasteful simplicity. The bench seat and door panels are covered in tan leather, while a metal body-colored dash holds a 1940 Ford instrument panel and steering wheel.
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Make It a Merc
As old-school cool as the rest of this pickup is, installing a modern engine under the hood would have been nuts. A Ford mill would be passable, of course, but then how would we call this a Merc? So Ricky Bobby did the right thing and sourced a '51 vintage Mercury Flathead for power, then added Eddie Meyer Heads and Intake, Stromberg 97 carbs, and a 3-speed transmission.
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What If?
The result of this carefully thought out and skillfully executed build is something that's guaranteed to turn heads and prompt questions everywhere you go. Since the '34 "Mercury" was completed, it's also racked up a ton of awards, including a Good Guys Builder Choice trophy. And perhaps more importantly, it answers our original question of "what if?"
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