Comments on: 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser

By: H. J. Matthews

H. J. Matthews — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:40:26 +0000

I remember it well. This was my car back in 1957. Of course, the color was somewhat different … all white with gold trim. Red and white interior. 0 to 60 in seven seconds flat … just a car length behind a Dodge back in those days, but with a higher top end. Built for cruising, and we did … didn’t we? All we needed was a few bucks for gas. Seeing the price back then blows me away. To think that we’d be driving Japanese after all these years.
Thanks for the memories.
Jim

By: G. Patton Hughes

G. Patton Hughes — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:20:16 +0000

This was a magnificent automobile. My uncle owned the Lincoln-Mercury dealership in Jonesboro, AR at the time, and he sold my dad a new car about every year or two. We had suicide door Mercs, a 53 2-door Lincoln Capri with the OHV V-8, a 55 and 56 Mercury Monterey and finally after a trip to Jonesboro, we ended up with a lt. blue with black top Turnpike Cruiser. It was a great car except the air conditioner (factory) would freeze up. We’d have to go about ten miles with the windows and back window down to let the AC thaw out. My uncle sold the LM dealership and we kept the TC for about three years before trading it for a 61 Chrysler Newport. An old black lady in the community bought it and it was around town for years. In about 69 when I was 19, I stopped by her home and asked her favor, “could I drive the car.” Eight or nine years of minimal maintenance was telling on the car when I drove it … it was pretty rough … squeaks and pops in the suspension – never had shocks replaced… some tears in the upholstery. I thanked her but I do wish my dad had done as he threatened – put the car on blocks and keep it. But as the seven-ten year old car fanatic, it was a great car; It was a fun car – it had the first tachometer in a car I ever saw – and also had push-button drive (Most folks associate that kind of transmission control with Chrysler but this TP cruiser had it. The images like the “M” in the front grill, the gold in the design element of the tail light, the airvent and the quad-headlight assembly are all design cues that strike my memories as parts of the care that were really special.

By: Michael R. Cerza

Michael R. Cerza — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Many historic automotive enthusiasts like to say that the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser along with the Edsel was proof that America rejected these cars for over the top styling excesses that proves they were failures. When you look at these cars, especially this black Turnpike Merc, ugly or over the top just does not apply!

This car is magnificent, and if I were in the market for a medium price set of wheels, this is the one I would have been placing my money on! When you look at what was out there at the time, nothing comes close to the Cruiser. That beautiful projectile down the side quarters to the tailamps was simply beautiful. The covering over the rear window, the projectiles out of the roof in front, that amazing windshield, the rear window that lowered behind the rear seat for ventiliation, and those beautiful fender skirts with thin outline molding – the car was just beautiful. In this color black, the car is stunning!

I know that people will get into arguments over their favorite car from this period, but if people think this car had styling excesses, how about the “forward look” Mopar products, and how about the tailfinned excesses of the GM products.

This beautiful restored Merc proves all of these years later, that these cars were unappreciated in their time; ahead of their time, and will be given their proper place as valuable classics. The Edsel is in the same category, that what was underappreciated in its time, comes back and proves they shine among those cars from the period.

Yes, I would have purchased a Mercury Turnpike Crusier just as pictured for my ride, and I know that it would have been enjoyed and admired!