Mercury, a brand of Ford Motor Company, began making pickups in 1938. The first Mercury pickup truck was called the ‘Courier’ and was introduced as a light duty vehicle.
The Courier was based on an earlier Ford design and was intended to be used for personal use. It had a single-cylinder engine, wooden bed, and a flathead four-cylinder engine. It had a three-speed manual transmission and could travel up to 60 miles per hour.
The Courier was replaced in 1949 by the M-Series pickup truck. This new model featured an updated design with improved performance and better handling.
It had an updated four-cylinder engine with overhead valves, a three or four speed manual transmission, and could reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. This model remained in production until 1960.
Mercury’s Second Pickup Truck
In 1961, Mercury introduced their second pickup truck model known as the ‘Marauder’. This model featured an even more powerful V8 engine with a four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension and adjustable rear shocks.
It also had improved brakes and better fuel economy than previous models. The Marauder remained in production until 1971.
The Third Generation
In 1972, Mercury introduced their third generation of pickup trucks known as the ‘F Series’. This model featured larger engines than previous models including the 302 cubic inch V8 engine that produced up to 200 horsepower.
It also offered improved suspension, brakes and other features designed for better performance and handling. The F Series remained in production until 1979.
The Final Pickup Truck
In 1980, Mercury introduced their final pickup truck model known as the ‘Mastiff’. This model featured an even larger V8 engine than previous models with up to 240 horsepower.
It also offered improved suspension, brakes, steering system and other features designed for better performance and handling. The Mastiff was produced until 1982 when it was replaced by Ford’s Ranger lineup.
Conclusion
Mercury began making pickups in 1938 with their Courier model which proved popular among consumers for its reliability and affordability. Over the years they continued to improve on their designs culminating in the Mastiff which offered superior performance over its predecessors before being replaced by Ford’s Ranger lineup in 1982.
So when did Mercury make its first pickup truck? That would be 1938 with their Courier model.
