This 1940 Mercury Eight coupe was acquired by John D’Agostino in the 1980s and modified by Bill Reasoner’s Classic Auto Body of Walnut Creek, California. The body was chopped, nosed, decked, and shaved as part of the build in addition to installation of a Mustang II-sourced front suspension and rear air shocks. Dubbed “Stardust,” the car is powered by a replacement overbored 255ci flathead V8 that features an Offenhauser intake manifold and cylinder heads as well as three Stromberg carburetors. Additional equipment includes a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission, a brass radiator, a dual exhaust system, Appleton spotlights, rear fender skirts, and 15″ steel wheels with Cadillac-branded “sombrero” covers. The car was acquired by the current owner in 2007 and subsequently refurbished with work involving repainting the body, reupholstering the interior, and rebuilding the engine. This custom Mercury Eight is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with refurbishment photos and a clean California title in the name of the owner’s trust.
Body modifications performed as part of the aforementioned 1980s build are said to have included chopping the roof five inches up front and six inches out back as well as installing an oval rear window sourced from a 1941 Mercury. The hood and trunk were nosed and decked, the door handles and hinges were shaved, the doors were rounded, and smoothed running boards were molded into the body as well as the modified fenders. According to the seller, the car was disassembled by Roy Brizio Street Rods of San Francisco, California, and repainted in its current Black Cherry finish by Vintage Color Studio of Concord, California, following the current owner’s acquisition in 2007. Further custom touches include Appleton spotlights, Buick-sourced rear fender skirts, and Ford-sourced chrome bumpers with overriders up front as well as integrated taillights out back.
Steel 15″ wheels wear Cadillac “sombrero” wheel covers and are mounted with BFGoodrich Silvertown wide-whitewall tires. The car features a Mustang II front suspension with power rack-and-pinion steering and front disc brakes. Air shocks are installed out back and connected to an onboard compressor. The suspension was reportedly overhauled as part of the refurbishment performed under current ownership.
The interior is said to have been reupholstered by the Sid Chavers Company of San Marcos, California, and features two rows of bench seating trimmed in maroon and cream leather that extends to the headliner and door panels. The car features a column-mounted shifter, and additional details include lap belts, red carpets, and a clock mounted within the glovebox door.
A custom-made translucent red steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames a horizontal-sweep 110-mph speedometer along with auxiliary gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and battery level. The five-digit odometer shows 48 miles, and total mileage is unknown.
The replacement flathead V8 is said to have been sourced from a 1948 Ford and overbored to displace 255ci as part of the modifications completed in the 1980s. The engine was subsequently rebuilt in 2007 by Roy Brizio Street Rods, according to the seller. Additional parts and components include an Offenhauser intake manifold and 24-stud cylinder heads as well as three Stromberg carburetors and a brass radiator.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end. The transmission was reportedly rebuilt in 2007, and the car features a dual exhaust system with headers.
A collection of photos documenting the refurbishment work completed under current ownership are presented in the gallery.
The seller is unable to locate the chassis number on the vehicle itself, but the VIN on the title—99A175918—is consistent with that of a 1940 Mercury Eight coupe.