Conceived by Edsel Ford to bridge the gap between the Ford V-8 and the Lincoln-Zephyr, the Mercury brand introduced an entirely new market segment, offering the style, refinement, and road manners of a premium automobile at a price within reach of Depression-era buyers. Inspired by the streamlined elegance of the Lincoln-Zephyr, the inaugural Mercury featured graceful, flowing coachwork, a 95-horsepower flathead V-8, hydraulic brakes, and an impressive 196-inch overall length. It delivered spirited performance with a notable degree of sophistication, while offering space, comfort, and economy that few competitors could match. Even in its earliest years, Mercury established a reputation as a genuine driver’s car, aptly reflecting its namesake, the swift-footed messenger of Roman mythology.

This first-year Mercury Convertible Coupe is richly equipped with desirable accessories and said to retain much of its factory upholstery. Refinished at some point in black, it carries a subtly sinister, period-correct appearance that complements the model’s sweeping Art Deco lines. Period-correct details such as dual fender skirts, amber fog lamps, wide whitewall tires, and an array of chromed accents, including beauty rings, hubcaps, and bumper guards, further enhance the presentation.

The true highlight, however, resides within: A striking cabin trimmed in tan ribbed fabric with deep red accents, believed to be original and remarkably well-preserved. Having mellowed gracefully over more than eight decades, the interior is further enriched by an array of Art Deco-style gauges and a glovebox-mounted clock, offering a vivid sense of time and place. At cataloguing, the odometer displayed some 76,000 miles, believed to be actual.

Michael Leith bought eight cars from longtime fellow North Carolina enthusiast Bill Wiseman, just to get this Mercury. Mr. Leith eventually sold the convertible to yet another contemporary, Glenn Boyd, then missed it and bought it back. It likely remains one of the very most original of its type in existence, of course in fine running order and well-cared for within The Michael Leith Collection.

An unusually well-preserved example of Edsel Ford’s original vision for the Mercury brand, this Convertible Coupe is a true window into another time, capturing all the style and substance that made the company an automotive standard for generations.