Those fellows from Canada have done it again.  For those of you who are not familiar, there is a seller on eBay that specializes in finding old pickups in Canada, mainly Mercury badged Fords, and offering them to buyers in the United States.  The appeal is that Mercury trucks were only offered in Canada, and they are quite the novelty here.  The latest is this 1949 Mercury M68 pickup being offered for sale on eBay out of their stateside location in Pembina, North Dakota.  While heavily used on the farm, this F-3 equivalent (3/4 ton) Mercury is remarkably free of rust through and is fairly complete.  At a current bid of $1,500, is this the right economical project truck for you?  Thanks go to Ikey H. for the cool find!

To give you a quick rundown on the Mercury truck story, Canadian Mercury and Lincoln dealers were clamoring for the ability to sell trucks at their dealerships.  Ford granted their wish, and gave them the opportunity to sell Mercury badged trucks that were nearly identical to the equivalent Ford truck with a few styling differences.  A lion’s share of these trucks went to work on the farm and lived less than pampered lives.  The interesting part of this story is that most of the trucks the seller has offered to date may have copious amounts of surface rust, the relatively dry climate they come from makes areas where rust has eaten completely through the metal unusual.  These haulers are usually quite solid.

This truck is a good example of that phenomenon.  You can see that this truck was not a pampered garage queen.  There are various dents, dings, and scratches all over its panels.  Where a rear bumper should have been, we see that the lower panel has been bent and battered by hard work and the likely back until you bump habits of hired help.  The bed wood has all but disappeared, and a heavy chain and bent bed runners hint that the truck’s last job involved heavy hauling.  Still, there is nary a spot where rust has eaten through the metal.

With the tailgate up, we can see that the Mercury stamping is intact and that the tailgate is in good condition.  This should enhance the value of the truck considering that some trucks somehow lose their tailgates after retirement.  Tailgates are even turning up as the backs of benches these days.  Combined with the distinctive Mercury only trim pieces that are still present, there is added incentive for someone to restore this truck properly.

Inside, it is a bit of a surprise to find a white interior.  While most of the paint has long since eroded off this hauler, it did look like green was the color it left the factory with.  At any rate, the interior parts and pieces seem all there and in restorable condition.  What is not evident is a heater.  It may just be hiding in the shadows.  Not having a heater, which was an option for many vehicles of this time period, just doesn’t seem right on a Canadian truck.

Under the hood is a venerable Ford Flathead V-8 with a very unique fixture.  Look carefully on the cylinder head and you will see an electrical plug.  Chances are that is for a block heater of some sort.  When was the last time you saw a Flathead with a block heater?  A closer look at the provided pictures makes one think that there was a problem and repairs were started and abandoned.  The cylinder head on the passenger side looks to have been removed at some time.  The only clue is the statement that the truck hasn’t run in many years.  Parts for Flatheads are plentiful, and a never ending stream of used engines are provided by hot rodders performing engine transplants.

Overall, this is a solid truck that will likely sell for a reasonable price.  The seller’s vehicles have been profiled many times on the site, and they have all generated plenty of interest and sold at prices that make you want to start counting your loose change.  With easy shipping, plentiful parts, and a distinctive look, these trucks are a great project for the price.

What are you waiting for?  Are you going to bid on this Mercury?