Chassis No. EH81H48-6932

For many years, the Canadian automotive market offered several lines of cars from the Big Three only available 'north of the border.' Ford of Canada's 1946 division of its Ford and Lincoln-Mercury lines into separate sales networks resulted in the latter dealers – especially those in rural communities – complaining they would lose the highly lucrative truck business. To appease them, the manufacturer introduced the M-Series line of Mercury trucks, exclusive to the Canadian market, which were differentiated from the Ford F-Series mainly by their unique grille and slightly different trim, inside and out. Mercury trucks would be built in Canada for over two decades, and the few that have since journeyed to the States are always great conversation-starters at shows.

Jim Taylor's 1948 M68 was acquired from Fred Lewis of Barrie, Ontario, in 2007. It had been ordered with spartan specifications, including not only without a heater – something unimaginable in Canada – but radio delete, with blanking plates on the dashboard. It was equipped early in life as a tow truck, with a massive front bumper featuring a rubber push pad and grille guard, ideal for nudging along recalcitrant automobiles. The tow apparatus itself appears to have been home-built but was finished to a high standard; it is operated by a hand (or should we say arm) crank, guaranteed to burn off calories!

The truck remains in attractive older restored condition, with 94,493 miles recorded at the time of cataloging, and is sure to appeal as a vintage 'shop truck' or to the Ford or Mercury collector seeking something just a bit different.