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The 1954 MERCURY   CONCEPT CAR

Back in 1954 the XM-800 was a big hit in all of the car magazines of the day.
Shown here are those that I've managed to dig up so far.
There may be more,
and if you know of one that isn't listed here please let me know.
You can click here to email me

When you click on each picture in the slide show
it will open the full size picture in a new tab or window.
You can use the controls at the bottom of the slideshow pictures to go back, forward or pause.
First is the cover of the magazine issue
followed by the page(s) of the issue
pertaining to the XM-800

Now here are a few more ways Mercury promoted the XM-800.
Some of you may remember back in the 50's and early 60's when you
could get small scale model cars and other things in cereal boxes.
Kinda like Cracker Jacks used to be too.
In specially marked boxes of Grape-Nuts cereal you would get a scale model of Ford and Mercury cars
Among the model types was the "Mercury XM-800 Idea Car"
as can be seen in the lower right area of this picture

This scan is the complete cereal box including the
front, back, sides, top and bottom panels.

Here are a couple pictures of F&M models, the XM-800 and a '55 Thunderbird
followed by a picture of a red XM-800 I have that is still in it's original wrapper

Packed in the box was also an order blank where you could order the cars you were missing from the complete set.


Another neat promotional item was the XM-800 Key chain.
It was produced in at least two only slightly differing styles.
I have an NOS (New Old Stock) one still stapled to it's merchandising card,
and I found the pictures of the second one on ebay.
The NOS item I have has two key blanks that open like a pocket knife
which can be cut for the trunk doors and ignition of your Ford product car.
The ebay version has only one key blank and is a colored differently



Now this next promotional item is real interesting!
It involves a few famous actors and actresses from back in the 50's.

The XM-800 appeared in the movie "Woman's World" with Fred MacMurray,
Clifton Webb, June Allyson, Van Hefflin and Lauren Bacall!
Although shown very briefly in the movie, the XM-800 looks absolutely stunning
in it's brilliant Pearlescent White and Copper colors.



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