The one and only 1954 Mercury XM-800

Concept Car Dream Car prototype.

During 1954 this car was featured at the Chicago Auto Show and other national auto shows throughout the United States.  The XM800 traveled the auto show circuit through 1954 it made a brief appearance in the 1954 20^th Century Parade of Progress. 

This car was designed by John Najjar, Mr. Najjar was the most famous designer of the Ford Motor Company and was responsible for not only the 1954 Mercury XM-800 but was also responsible for the 1955 Lincoln Futura show car and the mid-engine Mustang I Experimental sports car of 1962.  The car is currently in running condition and has less then 5 miles total on the entire car since it was built.  The Mercury XM800 and the 1953 Lincoln Capri Coupe show car are considered the two most important designs put out by the Ford Motor Company in the 20^th century.  It is absolutely amazing that this car still exists today.  The body is a fiberglass body with much of the trim made out of chrome plated fiberglass. The lower part of the car sported a pearlescent white body color and the upper part a pearlescent copper metallic colored roof.  The engine and running gear are 1954 Mercury V-8 with dual exhaust.  It is important to note that this car is 5 inches wider than a stock 54 Merc – voluptuously round and predicted the hooded headlights to come out of this mid50’s time design zone for production cars.  While its radically wrapped windshield hinted of latter developments circa 1957 and its 4 bucket seats and stationary arm rest predicted the interior lay out for the 1958 Thunderbird.  This car is a four-passenger hard top coupe.  Very low in height 56.6 inches

This particular car was built in October 1953 and studio engineers were Mike Nowicki, Marty Harbl, Delmar Dustin Joe Ramp,  Paul Bann and Joseph Morris, GL. Treweek., R D’Angelo and the executive designer was J. Najjar.

Unusual features of this car is that the car is entirely made out of fiberglass

Most chrome trim including the bumperettes are made out of fiberglass that was chrome plated – quite a trick for 1954. 

The car has four bucket seats. 

The car was designed with power windows

The car is currently in need of cosmetic restoration

Mechanically the engine and transmission are running and operating.

The car has less than 5 total miles on it!!!

Rumor has it that this car that this car was almost put into production and many styling ques were taken from it to be used on the 55 Lincoln.  Again one of the most amazing features of the car are the many pieces of chrome including the dagmire front bumpers that are really fiberglass items that are chrome plated – a very early first in the industry.  Design wise everything about the car is unique including the interior and especially the rear trunk design.  Note one factory picture shows the car in the Hotel Greenbriar White Suphurs WV on 9/23/54 one picture shows the car as it was sketched before being built, another picture show the car in its clay form.

This car was designed for and shown in all of the 1954 auto shows and has been in almost every major automotive and other magazines during the year of 1954.  In 1956, Ford donated the car to the University of Michigan Engineering School/Automotive Engine Laboratory School and when the automotive school closed the car was sold to a private individual.  After that the car was sold again to an individual who has had the car for almost 30 years. 

This car during the last half of the 20^th century was featured in its unrestored condition at such prestigious museums such as the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, The Gilmore Museum, The Cleveland Auto and Aviation Museum.

The copy of the original Ford press release will be supplied with this car.  The car is equipped with controls for 4 way seats, front passenger seat reclining, electric window lifts, cigarette lighter and ashtray.  Influence of aeronautics is evident in the design of the instrument panel.  The car was equipped with power steering, power brakes and Mercomatic transmission as per the press release dated 4/15/54.

The Mercury XM800 is considered to be the most significantly designed concept car that was put out by the Ford Motor Companies that did get into private hands.  Any top collection or museum has only to do the math to figure out that this car would be one car that brings great fame to the collection or museum.  An example of this philosophy is the museum that purchased and currently features the 1954 Oldsmobile F-88.  The museum has multiple fabulous cars from all eras but they feature as their logo car the concept show car the Oldsmobile F88.

It is noteworthy that Chrysler and General Motors had any where from 15-30 cars escape the crusher and end up in private hands, but being that Ford was family owned they had better control of how their concept cars were put to rest and only six Ford Dream/Concept/Show cars are known to have escaped the crushers blow and get into private hands.

The offering of this car for the collecting public at this time and undoubtedly the news of this car being for sale will be a shock to the collecting community. 

This is not a RARE OPPORTUNITY but an almost IMPOSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY to purchase this holy grail of all Ford concept cars.

This car comes with a full lineage of ownership from the time that it was built by the Ford Motor Company and copies of documentation showing numerous magazine articles both from 1954 and subsequently and even a copy of a blue print with the signature of John Najjar.

Any concept car would put any collection or museum on the map with the respect that the concept/dream/show cars from 1953 and 1959 have received in the last decade but there are show cars and then there are the Holy Grail show cars that number just a few.  The Mercury XM800 is considered to be the best of the best.

This car still has the original leather interior which is dried out but excellent for making patterns and matching colors.  Also this unrestored car has the original paint on the upper and lower parts of the car so that the colors can be matched.

One only has to do the math and look at this car which is 99% complete and add the restoration costs and realize the great value. 

Note:  Pictures that are shown in this eBay ad have been distorted or partially blanked out so that they cannot be reproduced for any commercial purposes.

Another picture shows the Ford team making the clay model; another picture shows the actual factory ford color picture of the car at the Detroit auto show.  Factory pictures taken at the Ford Motor company

It is the hope of the current owner that a benefactor or prestigious museum restores the car and puts it on public display for generations and centuries to come.

For all questions feel free to e-mail the seller or call (313) 421-0634 for prompt reply.