Used 1951 Mercury Monterey for sale in Fort Worth, TX

The ultimate lead sled, the archetype, the one that everyone wants, this 1951 Mercury Monterey Lead Sled coupe defines the breed. Frenched, lowered, smoothed, bulging fender skirts, it has all the traditional custom styling cues wrapped in a custom blue paint job that ideally suits the long, low horseless carriage. Paired with the bulletproof reliability of a fuel-injected 5.0L H.O. V8 and a totally custom interior, this is a lead sled that's very easy to love.

This car could have been the prototype for every Mercury lead sled built, incorporating some of the most traditional modifications and a few tasteful touches that make it unique. The list of body mods is extensive, ranging from a nosed and decked hood, to the frenched headlights/taillights, to the shaved door handles, and to the custom grille and front bumper swapped-in from a '55 Dodge - all popular old-school modifications that still look great today. The custom light blue paint job grabs all the attention, punctuated by the custom hand-painted 'flames' that were added throughout the body, although since the clear-coat is pulling up in several spots, a re-spray would be in order if trophy hunting is in your plans. Thankfully, the bodywork was done well and the car is very straight and has consistent, symmetrical gaps, and the sugary powder blue finish still looks great when it's cruising down Main Street. Big chrome bumpers offset all that luscious paint with a big of flash, plus the stainless trim and faux side pipes make this car look long and low, and if you're trying to wrap your head around the geometry of the rear end I'll clue you in: the metal around the taillights is from a '55 Chevrolet Bel Air - flipped upside down - and the lenses are '54 Mercury units. It took some kind of fever dream for the designer to come up with that idea, but the custom set-up looks awesome and the execution was equally impressive. Fender skirts are part of the recipe, taking up quite a bit of real estate on the back of the car, and the 4 � inch chopped top gives this Merc a killer profile.

Black and blue bucket seats are the perfect complement to the high-visibility exterior, and the sculpted and sporty leather-and-cloth seats from a Lincoln mean this is a fantastic road trip car. With a swapped-in '89 Fox Body Mustang dashboard full of contemporary gauges, things feel modern inside, and because the steering wheel and center console came with the wrap-around dash, the cabin has a very complete look and feel. Power windows, a tilt column, and cold R134a A/C came with the swap, and with amenities like that this Lead Sled is ready for a long-distance Power Tour. Custom vinyl door panels, plush black carpets, and a taut headliner insulate the cabin from the elements, and out back a matching back seat was swapped-in and is all day comfortable for passengers. There's also a Sony AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit in the center stack that manages the tunes through a set of upgraded speakers, while out back the massive trunk has enough room to account for most travel plans, and also carries a spare tire and jack set.

For motivation in the streets this one uses a 5.0 liter H.O. V8 with factory fuel injection and engine management that was swapped in from an '89 Mustang Fox Body. With those modern credentials the highest praise we can offer is that it runs and drives better than anything the factory put together. Turn the key and it fires with ease thanks to a full MSD ignition, it idles smoothly no matter how hot it is, and the integration is seamless. There's a big radiator to keep it cool, modern accessories tucked in close to the block, and an upgraded intake and cone-filter set-up helps the block breathe easy. Headers feed a custom fabricated dual exhaust system with chambered mufflers, so it sounds like performance when you're cruising the fairground. The same '89 Fox Body that provided the motor was also the donor for the 4-speed AOD transmission, so it's an effortless cruiser even with somewhat punchy 8.8 rear end that came along for the build. Front A-arms, heavy-duty shocks and springs, and power rack-and-pinion steering make it feel smooth on the road, the ladder frame keeps it planted, and power front disc brakes keep it safe. Painted steelies with ornate hubcaps are the ideal period custom choice and they carry Coker wide whitewall radials, as you'd expect in any self-respecting Lead Sled.

A lot of customs look great but don't drive very well, but this Mercury truly runs as good as it looks. Priced right and turn-key, this Lead Sled won't last long. Call today!