Rare 1949 Mercury Eight Coupe in original partially  restored condition offered by Gas Monkey Garage showing 84,899 mile(believed to be correct but unable to confirm-mileage exempt). The first postwar Mercury was introduced in the 1949 model year. The styling of the Mercury Eight, with the Flathead V8, was successful in both ending the monotony of warmed over pre-war style and differentiating Mercury from its cousin Ford and that spelled sales success! Within its era and beyond, the Mercury Eight was popular with customizers  and in 1949 Sam Barris built the first lead sled from a '49 Merc. Sam & George Barris also used the 1949 Mercury Eight to build "the most famous custom car ever",the Hirohata Merc, for Bob Hirohata in 1953. That set the style and attitude for custom builders to this day.When we found this excellent, unmolested example available, I knew immediately that this was a very special car and acted quickly to secure it. Now this is a very clean, original, partially restored car that has endless possibilities from Museum Quality restoration to Bad Ass Hot Rod! When we got it back to the Gas Monkey Garage we installed a new battery & some fresh fuel to start the engine that had not been fired up in years and after starting it Aaron went for a brief ride to check the brakes and steering. When Aaron and I started to talk about what to do with it we couldn't agree on how it should be built(no surprise there!) so we didn't and now,with our filming schedule we can't build it the way it should be. Sol I'm offering this rare opportunity to you so you can finish it the way you want! The exterior trim was removed before painting it the original color and the paint has a nice glossy finish that shows well with a few chips and scratches.There are some spare trim pieces included along with the few trim items that have not been installed(most of it should be there but we have not confirmed if every piece is present) See all pics! The interior appears to be the original , showing years of wear and tear but all of the trim looks like its in good,usable condition and a little love would go a long way to completing this iconic cruiser. While Aaron did get it started and drove briefly, it will need complete servicing prior to driving for any period of time due to the length of storage. This awesome '49 Merc Coupe will be seen on the hit show Fast N Loud and the winning bidder may have the option of taking delivery here at the shop or we'll help with shipping logistics. Clear Title in hand! If you're looking for a very good example of the Iconic 1949 Mercury Eight Coupe for a Museum Quality restoration, Hot Rod Project or Advertising and Promotional use, you won't find a better example thats priced to sell! We sell internationally as well as locally and will end the Auction when it sells.LOW FEEDBACK BIDDERS WITH LESS THAN 5, PLEASE SEND YOUR PHONE # & EMAIL TO "ask seller a question" BEFORE YOU BID.See all pics & ask any questions. And as always, all of our T-Shirts, Hoodies, Hats and Stickers are available on our website.

We sell internationally as well as locally and we reserve the right to end the Auction if it sells. We can assist with shipping logistics. If you have less than 5 feedbacks please send your contact info by “asking seller a question” BEFORE bidding.

See all pics and email us with any questions you may have.

PayPal deposit required within 24 hours, Full payment required within 7 days.

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As always you can find all of our Hats, T Shirts, Hoodies etc... on our  Official "Gas Monkey Garage" Merchandise eBay store:

“I’ve been obsessed with cars since… I was born.”

Richard Rawlings had a car by age fourteen, and had gone through nearly twenty cars by the time he was out of high school. His father worked three jobs his whole life—two to make ends meet for the family, and one to buy toys. Neither a mechanic nor a fabricator, his father took pride in his car collection. Needless to say, this stayed with Richard.

Rawlings was always working, and always chasing pipe dreams. By twenty-one, he’d been a cop, a fireman, and a medic. But he wanted more. After a rough stint of sleeping on his sister’s couch, he got his act together and entered the world of trading sales. Here he solidified his business savvy, and went on to build an advertising and printing firm from the ground up. The company grew to become a “juggernaut” in the Dallas area. A mere four years later, the company sold, and with that money Gas Monkey Garage was born.

Aaron Kaufman worked at a shop Rawlings frequented, and loved the stuff Rawlings brought in for him. Kaufman always went above and beyond for him. When Gas Monkey opened, Rawlings called him up and asked if he wanted to work for him. The premise was simple: Rawlings wanted the fastest, most expensive, most badass hot rod shop to be found, with apparel and a show on Discovery to boot. Kaufman thought he was crazy, but signed on anyway. Eight years later, the shop is all that and more.

They owe their success to a strict business model. They don’t buy parts—only whole models without too much rust. Owing to his business background, Rawlings has a handle on the market, and knows the price he ought to pay. In ninety days or less, the job will be done, whether they start with a decent model or a carcass. Then it’s onto the next job without hesitation. If a finished car sits too long, Rawlings will sell it at a loss. He’s interested in a killer operation, not a stockpile.

Their roles within the shop are clear. Rawlings is first and foremost an entrepreneur. He wants to sell a style, push a brand, and make sure Gas Monkey Garage never stops growing. Kaufman runs the shop, armed with his mastery of mechanics, electrics, and fabrication. The dynamic is vital, the common ground being their mutual love of classic cars. Rawlings has always been an old soul when it comes to cars, and his style has brought in a steady flow of clientele who trust his no-B.S. methods. “Anyone can go out and buy a Ferrari.” Rawlings’ dream car? “A 1932 Ford Roadster—the holy grail of hot rods.”