On August 25, 2023, downtown Oshawa, Ontario witnessed the captivating spectacle of historic automobiles taking over the streets. The area was adorned with an impressive array of fully restored classics, hot rods and remarkable custom cars. Among these timeless treasures, a radically modified rat rod stood out from all the rest—a 1947 Mercury that had strayed far from its original roots.

Front of the 1947 Mercury

This 1947 Mercury Eight began its life as a humble family sedan, powered by a 239 cubic-inch flathead V8 engine. Sometime in the past sixty years, it found its way into the hands of the owner and builder of this extraordinary machine, embarking on an incredible transformation.

Rear of the 1947 Mercury

When the Mercury was discovered, it lacked its front clip and engine, and exhibited typical rust in the areas one might expect from a car that had endured over six decades in Ontario. The owner embarked on the task of repairing the body’s corrosion, while also securing a new chassis and drivetrain from a 1989 Ford F-250.

The 7.3 Navistar powering the 1947 Mercury

The Mercury underwent an aggressive roof chop, transforming its roofline into a more hot-rodded style. After all the necessary chopping and rust repair were finished, the body was carefully plucked from its original frame and placed onto the new chassis, now powered by the F-250’s original 7.3 Navistar diesel still attached to the frame. Extensive modifications were made to the frame to accommodate the 1947 Mercury body, including sectioning the centre to shorten the wheelbase, and converting to an air-ride suspension, allowing this radical rat rod to be laid to the ground.

The radical interior of the Mercury

To accommodate the wide rear wheels, the rear inner wheel wells were tubbed, and the rear fenders were widened outward, resulting in a menacing and aggressive stance for the radical machine. The weld lines from the radical chop were deliberately left visible for all to admire, and the metal patches and filler panels were left bare, further adding to the Mercury’s rugged and unrefined charm.

Another angle of the rear of the Mercury

Kars On King was graced with a stunning collection of beautiful and immaculately maintained classic automobiles. However, amidst these elegant displays, there were also wild and rugged machines like this 1947 Mercury. With its roofline dramatically chopped, unique chassis swap, and iconic patina throughout, this diesel-powered monster was a standout at the event.

The owner posted a video of the build process as seen here for all to view!

Until next time, take things up a notch and build something wild and crazy!

- Kyle Hanger of Searching for Classics