Whaddyacallit #135 - Solved! 1960 Mercury styling preview

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.
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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.
Thanks.

[Ray B.]

Moved

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm getting a Ford vibe................I think......................

[Ultra]

Mercury.

[Ray B.]

YES!
Now I can't ask for exact year and model, but just: what kind of Mercury?

[Otto Puzzell]

It's got much more of a Ford look (think 1960 Fairlane sans tailfins) than Mercury.

Is it a variation on a Ford styling preview of a 1960 model?

[Ray B.]

No, Ultra was right (read my answer to his post above). You've got the two right words I was asking for in your post. But I think Ultra should have the point. From the picture, guessing it's a Mercury seems harder than guessing it's a...

[Otto Puzzell]

I din't expect a point, I was asking if the car was a re-do of a previous Ford concept.

I think guessing it's a Mercury is quite easy, once Ford has already been guessed. It's easy to spot it as a design from the Joe Oros / Elwood Engle era at Ford. So if it's not a Ford, and clearly not an Edsel or a Lincoln, that leaves.....

Moreover, the greenhouse on this styling buck is a dead ringer for the Ford Quicksilver concept that was adapted to the 1960 Ford Fairlane.

[Ray B.]

Otto, you are right and masterful about the Oros/Engel design. I you have more about that "Quicksilver" concept I'd like to see. I kinda collect all Ford concepts and never heard of that except a 1983 Ghia project.
I had forgotten you had felt "a Ford vibe" before. That greenhouse has been used on the 1960 Fairlane 500, and on the 1960 Edsel (Ford bodied but made by the Mercury Edsel Lincoln division). But I have found this picture, among others, labeled "1960, Mercury, styling" and can't find where anymore.
Even if by luck, Ultra gave the right make, unless my source is proven wrong.
If so, I'll have to substract his point! I hope I won't be banned after that.

[Otto Puzzell]

It's Ultra's point, fair and square.

I have some pics at home form a recent Hemming's Classic Car of the Quicksilver. I'll scan (and credit) one or two tonight, if I can.

Edit:

Here's a scanned pic of the Quicksilver, from the August 2008 issue of Hemming's Classic Car

[Otto Puzzell]

OK, not a dead ringer - but there is certainly a family resemblance. 

[@re]

Aren't there seven letters on the rear end of the puzzle car? Doesn't it say "Mercury" there? I remember thinking, when I spotted that, that I should have been able to reason my way to a (partial) answer.

[Ray B.]

Not a dead ringer, but the grille and bumper are 90% identical. The front, naturally, is more reminiscent of the 1960 Ford, especially in the Quicksilver. The front fender and bumper of my pic would inspire the 1961-63 T-Bird. The photographs have obviously the same origin. I believe these was corporate design research and it what later decided what division would use it. Here is another one.