Hello, I’m Tom Maruska and you’re witnessing history being made as the 1954 Mercury XM-800 concept car drives into view. You see, the XM-800 was a push car when new. It was common for auto manufacturers to not make their concept cars fully functional for cost saving measures. The XM-800 lacked certain drive train components needed to make it driveable. I installed these missing components when I restored the XM-800. The XM-800 was designed by John Najjar of the Lincoln-Mercury Design Division of Ford Motor Company in 1952. It was built in late 1953 and is crafted entirely of fiberglass. a new challenge in the auto industry and Fords first venture into fiberglass. Even the bumpers are fiberglass and chrome plated, likely the first plastics ever to be chrome plated. I restored the XM-800 over the winter of 2008/2009.The windshield and rear windows are plexiglass. The Xm-800 features power windows, power seats, power brakes and sual exhaust. All quite commonplace in todays automobiles but something quite amazing in 1954. It also features power opening and closing hood and trunk lids as well as a power reclining front passenger seat. These are features you still not available in todays autos. Other features include bucket seats front and rear, something not repeated in the auto industry until Pontiac did it in 1960. It has center consoles front and rear which contain controls for the seats and windows as well as a place to store personal items and cigarette lighters and ash …
amazing work, i don’t know how you did it, but it looks better than new, and i will share this with all my friends i am sure they will find this very interesting, overall great video and great work, you did a amazing job, just like all the other cars you have done, also i imagine this car is fairly light? i mean compared to a steel car, also could it be road legal? and you need to snap some pictures of this, i would love to have some pictures of it, and keep up the great work!
-Brent
This car was way ahead of its time. Power seats, trunk, hood, stuff we are just begining to see today Mercury had planned for the 50′s. Way too cool!
That car is wicked cool & interesting! Finally i see another car with a big round clock on the Passenger side dash and with a Sweeping second hand. -BOGAR!
Breathtaking and I’m sure a Herculean challenge!
Jack
Thanks for bringing it to us!
Wow! Great piece of history. 5*s
That is one sweet rolling masterpiece!!!!
What a fantastic Concept car. You’ve done it once again Tom. Congratz.
This is incredible! Thanks for posting it, and most of all … THANKS for restoring it!! My son and I saw the car last weekend at the Concours at Meadowbrook … AWESOME!!!
does that thing have the scary treadle-vac(spelling) master cylinder for the brakes?
yes it does, but it’s not scary anymore
Another amazing Tom Maruska restoration that is both well documented and educational at every step of the way. Congratulations for your work in excellence, and your desire to share information with others.
formal hardtop
never work on the canadian border in winter.
a beautiful car and an excellent restoration !
grille looks kinda like 67 mustang taillights
well done FORD did well and you sir my sincere congradulations this car is awesome, words do not describe this fine auto. 5 stars
Thank you from all FORD drivers.
nash used those type of sunvisors from 1952 thru 1957
It looks like a 1956 Lincoln.
this is one beautiful automobile. I can see where the Batmobile was inspired for it’s headlight design!
wonderful!
i love these concept cars , great job , thanks for preserving the history