Danbury Mint 1949 Mercury

Old tech you bet, but an underrated classic nonetheless. The Danbury Mint '49 Mercury is one of those models that cruised under the radar screen its entire life. The majority of collectors simply viewed it as a ho-hum model. Not until you hold this black beauty in your hands will you appreciate what a classic this replica truly is.

The '49 Merc is one of my favorite replicas. Maybe it's the simple lines or the glass like paint I don't know but it is a model that always excites me whenever I gaze upon it; it is a beautiful replica of a classic automobile.

Mercury, like the defunct Edsel, was created from scratch, rather than being a takeover of an existing company like Lincoln. It was its own division at Ford until 1945 when it was combined with Lincoln into the Lincoln-Mercury Division, with Ford hoping the brand would be known as a "junior Lincoln", rather than an upmarket Ford. In 1949, Mercury introduced the first of its "new look", integrated bodies.

The first logo of the Mercury brand was its namesake, the Roman god Mercury. The side profile of his head, complete with the signature bowl hat with wings was used during the early years.

For an "old tech" model the fit and finish is near flawless. The paint is smooth, mirror like in appearance I believe I can shave in it. Ok, the gas filler cap doesn't open and the fender skirts are molded into the body but neither of these "old tech" features detracts from the beauty of this model. Its stance and bodylines are flawless and in my opinion exemplifies what could be accomplished when a designer pours their heart and soul into a project. The end result is a model of the caliber of the '49 Merc, which I view as a true classic.

On the other hand engine detail wasn't anything to brag about. The model I reviewed had glue visible everywhere in the engine bay and the hood wouldn't stay open. The "bling meter" never moved off zero while gazing the engine components that resembled chunks of plastic not actual parts. Viewing the paltry engine detail should be a testament on just how far our replicas have evolved since the early days.

Upon opening the door and fantasizing I was sliding behind the wheel brought a big grin to my face. As a kid I remember sitting behind the wheel of these old classics pretending I was driving down an endless highway to nowhere, even though my feet didn't touch the pedals yet. Also, I remember how the Mohair material made you itch and the musky smell that was prevalent in all these old cars or so it seemed. I have to say the seats are the highlight Danbury Mint replica other than that the remaining detail is rather drab but remember this was an old model and I found the detail to be acceptable for the period.

Wrapping it up I will say the '49 Mercury by Danbury Mint is a keeper. This black model is now discontinued therefore you are regulated the secondary model to obtain one. If you are fortunate enough to own one enjoy it; it's a classic. If you don't keep your eyes on the auctions they can be purchased for about $50.00 making this model a true bargain, one I am sure you will enjoy for a long time to come.