 1961
Mercury Styleside - Continued
by: James Mays
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This pickup truck unit was built in the fourth week of June 1961. VIN 67174A56610221 indicates it was unit number 171,754 in the production year. Built in Oakville, Ontario, production ran from October 21, 1960 and ended on July 12, 1961. Mercury trucks were not broken out from the Ford line, but a total of 19,564 Ford and Mercury trucks were recorded for the model year run.
This unique M-100 appears to have been a 1962 prototype. Trucks built in the third week of June had the MERCURY name floating in
mid-grille but this unit has the name on the valance like the upcoming 1962 models. The 1962 letters did not fit the existing pattern and a complete valance change was required. When the vehicle was disassembled
hand-stamped numbers were discovered and the valance was hand-bent, not punched. Grilles on other trucks built during that week bear the code TRK 62 but are completely different from this one. When it rolled off the line, the
122-inch wheelbased worker was shipped to Brandon, Manitoba where it spent the next thirty years of its life.
Some ten years ago the mighty Merc migrated east to Ontario. It was in good shape and sported very little rust. Today it is owned by Brian and Linda Guttormson of Keswick, Ontario. In the spring of 1999 it was given a complete repaint with acrylic enamels and polished off with clearcoat. The box is finished in 3/4"
tongue-and-groove white oak glued to ½" marine plywood. The wood is protected by seven coats of Flecto clear urethane, each coat hand sanded before application of the next. A white tonneau cover further protects the wood from any inclement weather. Bodywork was completed by Herb's Pug'M and Plug'M Emporium courtesy of Bob (Herb Tarlick) and Ron (Older than dirt).
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