Driving The 52 Merc
 

I guess some will cringe looking at the roads I drive with the Merc but it has been that way for the past 62 years and still going strong. Gravel, dust, rocks and gullies. No worries about heavy traffic though and the scenery is fantastic. I took it out for a drive through the valley yesterday for a few pictures of the last bit of fall scenery before winter sets in.
https://youtu.be/MuQncC7YTo4

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Ralph: thanks for the ride, brings me back to the late 50’s when we piled into Dads 53 Merc two door, it was the first car he owned with an automatic, the dash to me look like a jet fighter.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

John Denver said it best : "Take me home, country roads".

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

I was tempted to do a few miles on the newly paved highway but thought I'd leave that for another day. Scenery is not as great there but it is smooth and dust free which is a nice change.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Great stuff Ralph !

Sal

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Greetings from the Maritimes Ralph! Nice scenery, and nice drive. I've only ever experienced Saskatchewan from the TCH. I'd like to see more of it someday. I have a good friend in Swift Current.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

I'm close to an hour North of the TCh and its quite different scenery. All that flat open country in the South is not for me. I need a few trees around.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1633353364
Ralph, The country side looks very dry?

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Yes, its been dry for over a year now. We are hoping for plenty of snow this winter and then good rains to recharge the soil moisture. There is nothing out there right now.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Thanks, always liked the body style of the 52/54 Mercs. Had a 51 Merc engine, auto and 3.3 in my 47 PU for several years. Worked great in Vermont where the hills are alittle steeper.
Gramps

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Nice, Ralph...I like the fact you're driving it as much as you can. One of the things I most enjoy about my '41 Merc is taking it out on gravel/dirt roads and cruising along at 30-35 mph just looking at the scenery. Yeah,it's dusty and sometimes rough but these cars have high clearance,big tires and were made when roads weren't paved in much of the country. They are at home in the sticks. :)
Terry

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Even better, they have no catalytic converter to set the grass/stubble on fire. Only thing I notice is the hard ride and I'm sort of blaming the steel belted radials. On rough roads it feels like it has steel wheels hammering over every stone or bump. I don't recall it being like that when I was a kid. Were bias ply tires that much smoother than steel belted radials? I've got half a set of good old stock bias plies I might try out one day just to see the difference.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Thanks for taking us along......"there's just someth'n about a Mercury". x2 on what tubman said.....

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Thanks for posting Ralph. Beautiful country, for sure. I was thinking how inexpensive car insurance must be where you live.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Its pretty reasonable. I license all my old ones as "antiques" which is quite a bit less expensive. Of course not much coverage for damage in the event of collision.. I only license them for the snow and salt free months so maybe six months max. I don't recall the exact figure for the Merc but I have the renewal for the 64 Chevy II right here and it is $79 for six months registration. I'd guess the Merc would be around the same or less.

Re: Driving The 52 Merc
 

Thanks Ralph.