Seen on TradeMe: Ford Mercury Special 1959

[Lotus7Alfa]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=557285704

Kilometres: less than 1000km
Body: green, Other
Fuel type: Petrol
Engine: 8 cylinder, 4000cc, Manual
1959 Ford Mercury Special Single Seater Historic Racing Car

Also Available Reconditioned Mercury engine if required

[Steve Holmes]

Nice! Whats its history?

[Lotus7Alfa]

Good question! The TradeMe listing gives no real information but I thought someone on here might know something. I'm not interested in buying the car so don't want to go asking the vendor questions about it and getting his hopes up!

[jim short]

Did Peter Benbrook not have it in the 80s,ran it Ardmore 30yr reunion??

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Jim. Your memory is impressive! So it obviously has some history to it.

[jim short]

Steve I think you have it on the Ardmore reunion at Puke 1983 dvd its painted white has a flathead sounds great chugging through the pits,plus a little at the race start,it came from the South Is..Then again I may be wrong ,no dont think so

[MarkQ]

It known as the Briggs Mercury Special, built by Brian Briggs who I'm guessing was from Christchurch.
In 1962 Peter Leversedge of Christchurch swapped a '34 Ford coupe for it minus engine and then raced it at the Beach Champs in Nelson 1962-64 before he sold it in 1965 and bought the Bill Harris / Rattray V8 special, which he still own's and races. It's a neat old car.

[GeebeeNZ]

I spent some time tonight encouraging Peter Benbrook to come on this site. He found , owned, and raced this car some years ago and also raced cars for Ferris De Joux. Heres hoping.
Graeme