Mercury XM-800 : 1954

During 1954 the Mercury XM-800 was featured at the Chicago Auto Show and other national auto shows through out the United States. The XM-800 traveled the auto show circuit through 1954 and it made a brief appearance in the 1954 20th 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 Mercury XM-800 and the 1953 Lincoln Capri Coupe show car are considered the two most important designs put out by the Ford Motor Company in the 20th century.

The body is fiberglass with much of its 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.

While its radically wrapped windshield hinted of latter developments circa 1957 and its 4 bucket seats and stationary arm rest predicted the interior layout for the 1958 Thunderbird. This car is a four-passenger hard top coupe. Very low in height 56.6 inches.

It was built in October of 1953, the 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.

(source: eBay)