Had checked out a Mercury early cargo van today...

Well, I found one ad that one shop owner wants to sell off an van project sitting in back of his shop. So i took a drive to check this van out. I took many pictures which as soon my computer's hooked up with interent the coming Sunday next weekend. I'll post up thar here.

The crazy thing ... to my shock this van was under my nose the whole time for how long I've no idea... it was only THREE blocks from my work!! How did I miss that all the time? The van was hidden quite well, I tell ya guys.

hey merc is that the one on kijji 1961 merc if it is did you get some pics how was it like to know thanks

Yep, that's the one ... the 1961 Merc van. What the guy is asking for this price ... let's say it's not worth that after what I've seen inside and all around over and under.

I did wrote down the whole door tag ... off my mermory - it's a M-11 model .

UPDATE: PHOTOS with more information!

Alright, my computer's back in service today. I've upload many pictures of this '61 Mercury van I went to look in.

Here is the door tag as said:

First line: 134896A-5921190L 01 1HH 4.00.1
Second line: M-11 90 3.600
Third line: QZ-3 , L/D

More photos...

Even more...

I found out that the van is owned of an employee in the shop. Decent nice guy - he said he had it for over 15 years (more or less)... was going to fix her up but never got around to do since. The engine is original as he said, it's a 170 straight 6 and looks to be an automatic shift-type. The shift you see on floor isn't original - obviously. Seems it was before that guy got it.

All the pictures you see here is how it is. There's no original seats, the emblems were stolen what he told me, lol. the rear sunroof was bashed in, same for the other smaller sunroof above the engine cover. No front bumper. The dash wiring harness looks to be splinted and tied - for me is a red flag.

The good sign is that the floor appear to be solid with minor rust on surface... the worst is localized on the rear right corner inside (see photo). Outside on body is covered by surface rust... the paint seem to had peeled off over the years by nature. There are 2 portholes - one on each side. No original door mirrors, but from the holes I see, they were the ones that goes on top edge to below the window.

Inside the van - there are bucket seats and couple bumpers but they aren't with the van - just stuff tossed inside as storage. There is a drive shaft that belong with the van. The serious rust issues I see are on the rear bottom corners to rear wheel arches and the driver's side bottom. The windshield glass is in great shape with no chips or cracks! On front nose is one large dent where the "MERCURY" emblem is located on.







The guy's name is Lloyd. He wants $1500 but is open to offers. I don't think I'd pay that much and I hesitate to try give a low offer out of respect to not insult him... it's too soon in there. But is is nice to know there is another early van close to me. Anyway, I didn't meant to say it's for sale here (mods, if you think should be in "for sale" section - please move it there). I only post here to comment what I've found in my local area is all.

The van looks to be a basic model by what options I see in there.

Well, it has perfect glass, and if possibly the engine is worth it... but $1500? That van does not look restorable to me. Up here, I bought the Grimstone van for $500, and drove it home 250km (okay, took 7 hours...).

$1500 is a bit hi but I say a $1000 for it From what I seen in the pics it is a pretty solid van. Very minor rust issues. The wiring under the dash can be redone. The shifter has to be standard. The 61's did not have auto trans. That came latter. My truck came with a hifter cut into the floor. I took it out and patched the floor. The dash speaker can be repaired with welds of ribs from a parts van. You can also patch the roof vents.
The tag says it is a 61 merc van for light duty. The original color was Arcadian Blue. The engine is the right engine , matches the tag.
I would go for it and offer a lower price . See where he goes from there. He may get upset or give a counter offer.
I look at the solid body. The wiring and name plates came be found and repiared easier than rust.
There are lots of us here with spare parts. There is that van here at my place of yours that you could use as a donor. Think about it. I would start an offer at $800. about half and come up. You don't want to go too low and insult him. I have had my share of that with vehicle selling here.

Hi there demondog! Speaking of my van at your place... whatever happen to the plan in towing it over to here? I was wondering about that - PM me ok?

As for the '61 Merc for sale near me ... the condition is about much the same as mine - it do need the bottom body panels replaced there. The front wheel arches are in good shape and interestingly the rear bottom valance (behind the rear bumper) is also in good shape! Lloyd said there is some rust on front driver's support under the floor (where the suspension is fasten to body) - it's bad and need be repaired.

Only things that bother me is the portholes and the old roof vents on roof - it'd be too much work to patch them there. However it do have the engine in there, and the good windshield glass. Right now, I see his ad was updated a bit - with lowered price ... but only 50 dollars down! Huh? he only knocked 50 bucks off? That tell me he might not take lowball offers at $800 pretty good. Maybe wait later and see what's next.

Last night I saw two vans in Edmonton, (not Mercs) running and driving One for $1500 and another for $2000. One has extra doors.
You can use those as bargaining tools. To show that you can get ones in better shape for the price he is asking.

Corey told me more about the 61. He said you saw the under frame had sections rotted away, that were not showing in the pictures. That is too bad. I have a panel van body here. Everything looks great til you get underneath and see the frame damage. Not rust, aprevious owner cut sections of crossmembers to fit in a V8. Then they hit the ditch and the frame crumpled and shifted.

As for the trailer. I have not heard from the guy for a few months now. He bought some truck parts and a frame. He has not been back to pick them up.
I mentioned the trailer to him once and did not get a reply. I get the impression he changed his mind.
I will email him tonight.