1950 Mercury Pace Car

T

tbenvie

Junior Member
Hello everyone-I am researching the various Indy 500 Pace Cars and now am on the 50 Mercury. I create a Registry Database of each year, collecting as much data for all the cars that year. Thus far I have over 200 50 Mercs. I am looking for some information on the various codes. I have the VIN info and the paint codes and also the date codes. What I need os the 1950 Mercury interior and top codes. Does anyone have any info for these codes?

The Pace Car was presented to Johnnie Parsons for winning the race. he had it for about sixth months when he went through a car wash and the power windows shorted and started a fire. Though damaged it was still salvageable and he sold it to a guy who worked for Disney) not Disneyland as that was still a few years to go).

The Mercury VINs are very helpful to determine the actual car. It was made in Dearborn during April 1950 before arriving at the track the beginning of May. By looking at the database I found a car with an April 18 and May 15 build date. This would put the VIN sequence number between 400000 - 4600000. So the VIN would be similar to "50DA400000M-50DA46000M". The car would have paint code "19" for 19- Mirada Yellow. Had a black leather interior and black top but I do not have those codes.

Thanks for any help. I will be sure to post when complete
 
580622


1950 Mercury Convertible - Indy Pace Car
 
In 3 more years you will be researching the 1953 Ford Sunliner Pace Car. I can tell you that the trim code was SS.
 
Already completed 1953:

Search my facebook Group:

1953 Ford Crestline Sunliner Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Registry Database
 
The photo with the cars on the car carrier are the "Official Cars". Mercury supplied one Pace Car and 25 Official Cars-a few convertibles, at least one wagon, and a Monterey and a number of sedans. They would be lettered as an Official Car and usually would have the name of the Official on the side-both track officials and AAA officials who ran the race (and later the USAC replaced the AAA officials)
 
If I'm looking correctly does the truck have the same hood ornament as the cars with the wings?
Steve
 
Unfortunately, my book does not show those codes and I have been unable to find them.

However, it appears there were four possible convertible top combinations: Black with Black Binding; Black with Red Binding; Gray Tan with Gray Tan Binding; and Green with Green Binding.

Ken
 
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1953 Ford Customline Convertible Indy Pace Car - as displayed at the Early Ford V8 Grand Nationals - Lake Tahoe in 2013.
Notice that this example has Back-up Lights and Wire Wheels. The one at Auburn didn't have these Accessories.
Also, some have combination Spot Light - Rear Vision Mirrors while others just have Mirrors?
 
Thank you all for the help. I have completed my research on the 1950 Mercury Indy 500 Pace Car and have a Facebook Group to solicit comments, corrections, and additions. It does not appear I can post a link here, but if you search for "1950 Mercury Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Registry Database" you will find it.
 
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