I can't speak with certainty on Fords and Mercurys, but I am more familiar with the Lincolns. Since all three makes were made by the Ford Motor Co.,I am sure that there is carry over to the other makes. Basically, The 1946 models were to be made for 1946 only. There were labor strikes and materials shortages and the factories could not keep up with demand. The 1947 models came out looking exactly like the 1946 models and it was planned to bring out the new (1949) models that year. The 1947 models (At least for Lincoln ) were given a seriel number that started with 7. By March - April of 1947 it was obvious that the new models were not going to make it for 1947, so the late 1947 models were updated with new mouldings, parking lights,dash instrument background and other minor things. When the 1948 models were introduced in Sept. 1947, they were almost exactly the same as the late 1947 models, because the NEW models were going to come out. Finally, what we know as 1949 models came out in March?April of 1948. People have been trying to figure out what year Ford product they have ever since.
