| Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercury (Ford) |
| Also called | Mercury Convertible Cruiser |
| Model years | 1957–1958 |
| Assembly | Main plant Wayne, Michigan[1] (Branch assembly) St. Louis, Missouri Pico Rivera, California Metuchen, New Jersey |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size car |
| Body style | 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop sedan 2-door convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Chassis | body-on-frame |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 368 cu in (6.0 L) Y-Block V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) Marauder V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) Marauder V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) Super Marauder V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 122 in (3,099 mm) [1] |
| Length | 211 in (5,359 mm) |
| Width | 79.1 in (2,009 mm) |
| Height | 56.5 in (1,435 mm) [1] |
| Curb weight | 4,015 lb (1,821 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Mercury Park Lane |
The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser is a series of automobiles that were produced by the Mercury division of Ford for the 1957 and 1958 model years. Named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, the Turnpike Cruiser was marketed as the flagship Mercury model line, slotted above the Montclair when Mercury was positioned upmarket to luxury status when Edsel was introduced in 1958.[1]
The Turnpike Cruiser was produced as a luxury two-door and a four-door hardtop sedan. During the 1957 model year, a convertible, called the Convertible Cruiser, was offered on a limited basis, which served as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 auto race. Mercury fitted the Turnpike Cruiser with a wide variety of advanced features for the time of its production, including a retractable rear window marketed as the "Breezeway", compound-curve windshield, mechanical pushbutton transmission controls and a trip computer.[2][3][4]
In total, 23,268 examples of the Turnpike Cruiser were produced over two years. Mercury discontinued the Turnpike Cruiser for the 1958 model year, phasing its content into the Park Lane product line.
- ^ a b c d e Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
- ^ "Directory Index: Mercury/1957 Mercury/album". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ "1957-1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser". 2007-10-29.
- ^ "Directory Index: Mercury/1957 Mercury/1957_Mercury_Foldout".