LOT 46

1950 Mercury Convertible Coachwork by Ken Brown, Ken's Kustom Kars Chassis no. 50DA54937M

Estimate: US$55,000 - US$65,000

Previous Lot

Next Lot

Lot 46

A beautifully presented Lead Sled
1950 Mercury Convertible

The Greenwich Auction|31 May 2026, 10:00 EDT|Greenwich

1950 Mercury Convertible
Coachwork by Ken Brown, Ken's Kustom Kars
Chassis no. 50DA54937M

350ci Chevrolet OHV V8 (see text)
Edelbrock Four-Barrel Carburetor
300bhp
Edelbrock Four-Barrel Carburetor
Three-Speed Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission
Coil-Spring Independent Front and
Live Rear Axle, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Rear Airlift Suspension
Front Disc and Rear Drum Power-Hydraulic Brakes

* Custom coachwork by Ken Brown of Ken's Kustom Kars
* Dark metallic green with subtle underlying flame motif
* DeSoto grille teeth; 1953 Buick side spears; frenched lights; louvered hood; powered chopped top
* Brown leather interior with dark green piping; Classic Instruments dashboard; hidden door and deck lid controls

THE 1950 MERCURY CONVERTIBLE

Few automobiles in American history have proven as fertile a canvas for the custom car builder as the 1949–1951 Mercury: low, long, and possessed of a slab-sided simplicity that rewarded modification. The "ShoeboxMercury" — as the styling idiom of the era came to be known — became the defining subject of the postwar custom movement almost from the moment it appeared. The lead sculptors of the era, among them Sam and George Barris, Gene Winfield, and Larry Watson, returned to the Mercury body repeatedly throughout the 1950s, and the car's profile became so synonymous with the Kustom Kulture movement that it remains its most iconic representative today. The standard powertrain — a flathead V8 of Mercury specification — was frequently replaced by later overhead-valve units offering greater output, while the body itself invited every manner of modification: chopped tops, extended decks, frenched headlights and taillights, removed door handles, and radical paintwork among them. The result, at its best, was an object of genuine sculptural ambition — a popular automobile transformed into something approaching automotive folk art.

THE CAR OFFERED

This 1950 Mercury convertible has been comprehensively customized by Ken Brown, of Ken's Kustom Kars, and presents as a fully realized and extensively equipped custom of serious quality. The body has been treated to DeSoto grille teeth, 1953 Buick side spears, frenched lights, a louvered hood, and a powered chopped top, all executed with the coherence that distinguishes a considered custom from a piecemeal one. The car is finished in dark metallic green with a subtle underlying flame motif — a sophisticated and restrained approach to paintwork that rewards close examination. The interior is trimmed in brown leather with dark green piping, complemented by a matching top boot cover, and the dashboard has been upgraded with Classic Instruments gauges throughout. Equipment includes power actuating front seats, tilt steering, power windows with hidden controls, air conditioning, power steering, and rear airlift. The car was built with hidden door and deck lid controls as its primary operating mechanism, though conventional working door handles are retained. Motive power is provided by a 350 cubic inch overhead-valve V8 developing 300 bhp, fed by an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and driving through a three-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. A tan canvas top completes the specification. This lead sled is ready for all the drive ins and cruising down main streets anyone, or any corner of America, has to offer.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact client services.
Buyers Premium and Charges
The final bid (hammer) price of each lot will be subject to a buyer's premium.
For MOTORCAR property the premium is 12% on the first $250,000 of the bid price and 10% on any amount of the bid price exceeding $250,000.
For MOTORCYCLE property the premium is 15% on the first $100,000 of the bid price and 10% on any amount of the bid price exceeding $100,000.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import License or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such License or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancelation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Collection Notices
NOTICE TO BIDDERS: VEHICLE UPLIFT
All motor vehicle lots will be removed from the venue directly after the auction. Lots will be uplifted and held to order by Passport Transport. Uplift and storage shall be at the buyer's sole risk and expense. Uplift and storage charges will be charged by Passport Auto Transport according to its standard rates and ultimate destination of the vehicle(s). For applicable charges, please consult with Passport in advance of purchase.
Passport Auto Transport
Contact: Ed Watts, +1 (417) 588 4921 or
mobile +1 (314) 496 6228
[email protected]
Payment Notices
Payment Deadline:
12pm EDT on Tuesday, June 2
Contact Client Services at +1 (212) 644 9001
Shipping Notices
NOTICE TO BIDDERS: VEHICLE UPLIFT
All motor vehicle lots will be removed from the venue directly after the auction. Lots will be uplifted and held to order by Passport Transport. Uplift and storage shall be at the buyer's sole risk and expense. Uplift and storage charges will be charged by Passport Auto Transport according to its standard rates and ultimate destination of the vehicle(s). For applicable charges, please consult with Passport in advance of purchase.
Special Car Dealer Notices
Some of the motor vehicles in this auction are offered with a Bill of Sale only. Please refer to the Conditions of Sale for further information and limitations regarding certificates of title.
For the Greenwich Auction, Bonhams is working in conjunction with SST Motorcars LLC, CT Vehicle Dealer N2752. For all registrable vehicles, please note buyers will not receive the vehicle title at the time of the auction. Bonhams manages the title transfer process on behalf of the buyer to ensure the car is free of liens and encumbrances. Buyers can expect the vehicle's title to be couriered within 30 business days post-sale, at which time the buyer can register the car at its destination. Titles announced as "in transit" will take additional time to be processed. All titles and any registrable documents will be shipped via FedEx from Bonhams' offices.
All historical documents and accompanying items will ship either with the vehicles or from Bonhams' offices.
For inquiries and updates, please contact Bonhams' Dealership and Compliance Manager, Jessica Chavez: +1 (323) 436 5588,
[email protected].
- Cars
- Motorcycles