Turnpike Ready
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser is a series of automobiles that were produced by the Mercury division of Ford for the 1957 and 1958 model years. Named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, the Turnpike Cruiser was marketed as the flagship Mercury model line, slotted above the Montclair.
The Turnpike Cruiser was produced as a luxury two-door and a four-door hardtop sedan. During the 1957 model year, a convertible, called the Convertible Cruiser, was offered on a limited basis, which served as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 auto race. Mercury fitted the Turnpike Cruiser with a wide variety of advanced features for the time of its production, including a retractable rear window marketed as the "Breezeway", compound-curve windshield, mechanical pushbutton transmission controls and a trip computer.
In total, 23,268 examples of the Turnpike Cruiser were produced over two years. Mercury discontinued the Turnpike Cruiser for the 1958 model year, phasing its content into the Park Lane product line.
For 1957, the Turnpike Cruiser was fitted with a 368 cubic-inch, 290 hp V8. Sharing its name with the car, the engine was offered as an option across the rest of the Mercury line. For 1958, two all-new "Marauder" engines were introduced: a 383 cubic-inch, 330 hp V8 was standard (and shared with the Montclair and Colony Park); and a 430 cubic-inch, 360 hp (shared with the Park Lane). An optional triple-two barrel carburetor "Super Marauder" version of the 430 V8 produced 400 hp. Exclusive to Mercury, the Super Marauder was the first factory-produced engine with a 400 hp output, a response to the 375/390 hp 1957 Chrysler 300C.
While sharing much of its body with the Montclair, the Turnpike Cruiser was distinguished by several exterior design features. Although not legalized across the entire United States until 1958, "Quadri-Beam" dual headlamps were fitted as standard equipment, the only 1957 Mercury to do so, as well as one of very few cars from that year to be equipped as such. For states that still mandated single headlights, a standard setup was used. In place of contrasting paint, the scalloped tailfins were gold-anodized. Along with its retractable "Breezeway" rear window, the Turnpike Cruiser received a separate roofline, with a windshield curving into the roof. The windshield was among the first to use tint to reduce solar glare.
Turnpike Ready
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser is a series of automobiles that were produced by the Mercury division of Ford for the 1957 and 1958 model years. Named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, the Turnpike Cruiser was marketed as the flagship Mercury model line, slotted above the Montclair.
The Turnpike Cruiser was produced as a luxury two-door and a four-door hardtop sedan. During the 1957 model year, a convertible, called the Convertible Cruiser, was offered on a limited basis, which served as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 auto race. Mercury fitted the Turnpike Cruiser with a wide variety of advanced features for the time of its production, including a retractable rear window marketed as the "Breezeway", compound-curve windshield, mechanical pushbutton transmission controls and a trip computer.
In total, 23,268 examples of the Turnpike Cruiser were produced over two years. Mercury discontinued the Turnpike Cruiser for the 1958 model year, phasing its content into the Park Lane product line.
For 1957, the Turnpike Cruiser was fitted with a 368 cubic-inch, 290 hp V8. Sharing its name with the car, the engine was offered as an option across the rest of the Mercury line. For 1958, two all-new "Marauder" engines were introduced: a 383 cubic-inch, 330 hp V8 was standard (and shared with the Montclair and Colony Park); and a 430 cubic-inch, 360 hp (shared with the Park Lane). An optional triple-two barrel carburetor "Super Marauder" version of the 430 V8 produced 400 hp. Exclusive to Mercury, the Super Marauder was the first factory-produced engine with a 400 hp output, a response to the 375/390 hp 1957 Chrysler 300C.
While sharing much of its body with the Montclair, the Turnpike Cruiser was distinguished by several exterior design features. Although not legalized across the entire United States until 1958, "Quadri-Beam" dual headlamps were fitted as standard equipment, the only 1957 Mercury to do so, as well as one of very few cars from that year to be equipped as such. For states that still mandated single headlights, a standard setup was used. In place of contrasting paint, the scalloped tailfins were gold-anodized. Along with its retractable "Breezeway" rear window, the Turnpike Cruiser received a separate roofline, with a windshield curving into the roof. The windshield was among the first to use tint to reduce solar glare.