1946
Mercury
Convertible
A
lead
sled
is
a
standard
production
automobile
with
a
body
heavily
modified
in
a
particular
way.
Especially,
though
not
exclusively,
a
1949,
1950,
or
1951
model
year
Ford
or
Mercury.
In
the
name,
lead
refers
to
the
heavy
weight
of
the
body,
and
sled
refers
to
the
lowering
of
the
vehicle,
giving
these
vehicles
the
appearance
that
they
were
slip
sliding
down
the
highway.
For
consignment,
in
all
out
Kustom
Kemp
form,
we
have
a
Canadian
1946
Mercury
convertible.
Canadian
Mercurys
were
simply
rebadged
Ford
bodies
sold
in
the
Great
White
North.
It
is
believed
that
this
Kustom
before
your
eyes
is
one
of
40
'46
Merc
convertibles
that
were
built.
Almost
every
possible
body
modification
has
been
done
to
the
rust-free
car
and
it
just
oozes
50's
styling.
During
its
tenure
with
our
consignor,
it
has
been
featured
in
not
one,
not
two
but
3,
count
them
three
calendars.
Read
on
to
be
amazed
and
left
in
awe.
Exterior
A
slammed,
nosed,
shaved,
decked,
chopped,
frenched,
and
Lake
piped,
this
Mercury
that
has
seen
many
an
hour
of
customization,
is
dripping
in
a
metallic
mauve
paint
job.
A
custom
white
convertible
top
was
added
on
to
a
chopped
pillar
line
and
includes
a
small
glass
rear
window.
1959
Cadillac
taillights
that
have
been
frenched
in
along
with
simplified
headlights
with
cat's
eye
covers.
A
new
grille
courtesy
of
a
1946-1948
Oldsmobile
is
up
front
and
appears
to
be
giving
a
disapproving
frown.
Dummy
spotlights
are
seen
on
each
side
in
front
of
the
doors
and
dummy
Lake
pipes
are
seen
down
below.
Kustom
roll
pans
have
been
added
to
the
front
and
rear
of
the
car
while
full
sized
fender
skirts
cover
up
the
rear
tires.
Bullet
style
hubcaps
are
on
all
four
wheels
and
are
wrapped
in
thin
radial
white
wall
rubber.
Interior
A
quick
flip
of
the
interior
door
handle
and
we
are
met
with
a
seat
of
white
vinyl.
White
tuck
and
roll
vinyl
door
panels
and
blinding
and
have
a
walnut
burl
insert
that
holds
the
armrest.
A
brushed
aluminum
door
release
and
window
crank
also
float
in
this
sea
of
white.
Down
low
is
an
aftermarket
speaker
and
trimming
out
the
bottom
of
the
panel
is
mauve
carpeting.
Sliding
into
the
well
padded
white
vinyl
tuck
and
roll
split
front
bench
seat
we
are
in
comfort
heaven.
A
rear
bench
emulates
the
front
and
is
equally
as
comfy.
A
woodgrain
LeCarra
steering
wheel
is
mounted
on
a
mauve
metallic
tilt
column.
This
fronts
a
custom
walnut
burl
faced
dashboard
complete
with
a
litany
of
Classic
Instruments
gauges
with
gold
bezels
to
monitor
all
engine
functions.
Deep
pile
mauve
carpeting
covers
the
floors
and
is
perfectly
soft
enough
to
soothe
my
toes
on
a
long
drive.
Drivetrain
A
mauve
metallic
350ci
V8
Chevrolet
mill
replaces
the
original
engine
and
is
topped
by
a
3-2bbl
manifold
and
Rochester
2
jet
carb
setup
that
only
runs
on
the
center
carburetor.
A
nice
addition
are
the
Corvette
ribbed
aluminum
valve
covers
with
mauve
paint
added
between
the
ribs.
This
is
backed
up
by
a
bolted-on
TH350
3-speed
automatic
tranny,
as
well
as
a
10-bolt
rear
from
a
Camaro.
A
mirrored
firewall
gives
extra
bling
to
the
engine
bay
and
provides
a
great
addition
to
all
the
mauve
and
aluminum
parts.
Undercarriage
A
factory
issued
frame
and
floor
pan
set
run
from
the
rear
of
the
car
to
the
firewall
and
display
in
black
with
no
rust
in
sight.
From
the
firewall
forward
we
see
a
grafted
in
Camaro
subframe.
This
subframe
gives
not
only
better
suspension
geometry
but
it
provides
the
added
benefits
of
power
disc
brakes,
power
steering
and
an
independent
coil
spring
front
suspension.
On
the
rear
we
have
traditional
leaf
springs
providing
the
ride.
Block
hugger
heads
send
spent
fossils
to
the
rear
of
the
car
by
way
of
a
pair
of
glasspack
style
mufflers.
Well
thought
out
and
tidy
down
here.
Drivability
I
donned
my
white
T-shirt,
leather
jacket,
and
my
pack
of
Luckys
then
slid
behind
the
wheel
of
this
lead
sled.
It
roared
to
life
with
a
turn
of
the
key,
and
I
was
off
to
the
Classic
Auto
Mall
test
track.
Here
the
car
performed
quite
well
with
ample
acceleration,
good
handling
and
bias
free
panic
stopping.
I
did
notice
the
car
was
devoid
of
any
form
of
heat
or
air
conditioning,
but
hey,
it's
a
convertible!
All
was
well
as
I
rolled
low
and
slow
off
the
track
and
back
to
meet
my
partner
in
crime
for
a
quick
lunch.
If
you're
in
the
market
for
a
well-executed
lead
sled
with
all
the
makings
of
Kemp
then
this
is
the
ride
for
you.
Massive
amounts
of
body
customization,
a
reliable
simplistic
drivetrain,
and
a
comfortable
Kustom
interior
all
meld
well
together
to
form
a
splendid
Kustom
that
is
ripe
for
the
picking.
Even
Edd
\"Kookie\"
Byrnes
would
be
blown
away
by
the
amount
of
Kemp!