 1961 Mercury Styleside
by: James Mays
Ford-Monarch dealers offered Ford trucks to consumers throughout the Dominion of Canada. Across town
Lincoln-Mercury dealers were delighted when the head office in Windsor decided to add Mercury trucks to their inventory in the fall of 1945.
Although the 1946 truck line was clearly
badge-engineered from Ford, styling cues were such as to make it immediately distinguishable from its lesser kin. The newcomer brought extra sales to those
low-volume dealers who sold the mid-range and luxury divisions of Ford's products.
In 1961 the blue oval truck line was all new. The
M-100 series now rode 114 and 122-inch wheelbases. Front ends were squared up for massive look. The look was longer, lower and wider. The windshield no longer wrapped around to the sides. Boxes were fared into the cab's lines on the Styleside models which gave a more
car-like appearance. The boys in advertising dubbed the look as "Unitized." Oddly enough, there was enough buyer resistance to the new look that the more traditional Flareside model was continued.
A stronger frame was introduced in 1961. Springs were
shot-peened and on four-wheel drive models, lengthened by three inches. Worm and lever steering was replaced by an
up-to-date recirculating ball type system. The manual transmission was strengthened and the hydraulic clutch linkage was replaced by one of mechanical design.
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