The 1956 Mercury XM-Turnpike Cruiser was an experimental concept to anticipate future motoring needs
FFord Motor Co. just added a trunkload of archived PR car images to its heritage vault, including nearly 380 concept vehicles. The Ford Heritage Vault now has more than 1,844 concept car images from 1896 to 2021. The site also includes brochures and news releases.
I made a run through the site and had to stop and read more about the 1956 Mercury XM-Turnpike Cruiser and its Van-O-Rama.
The nameplate, “Turnpike Cruiser,” is the enthusiast’s siren song for a road trip, at least it was for me as a kid seeing the big Merc Turnpike Cruiser.
The 1957 production version of the Cruiser was tamed down from the concept, which had such features as:
- Twin jet pods in chrome nacelles on both sides of the lower front bumper;
- New delayed-action headlights remain on 30 to 40 seconds after being switched off; they are also a driving and fog light combination;
- Butterly top panels are built into the roof above each front door. The “butterfly top” opens when the door opens, facilitating passenger entry and exit.
The Van-O-Rama
Here is the news release for the 1956 Turnpike Cruiser, which Ford called “the experimental car that anticipates future motoring needs.”
“The first glass-sided, full-length trailer ever built will leave Cleveland Monday (January 30) on a 900-mile run to Omaha carrying Mercury Division’s XM-Turnpike Cruiser on a coast-to-coast tour.
“The Turnpike Cruiser is the first vehicle designed, according to Mercury’s forward-thinking stylists and engineers, to provide maximum visibility and driving ease for motorists traveling the nation’s new turnpike system.
“The special Van-O-Rama carrying the Turnpike Cruiser has picture windows on either side, which measure 20 feet by 6 feet 6 inches high. Drawn by a Ford C-700 truck, the special van was built by Fruehauf Trailer Company.
Self-Contained Unit
“In addition to transporting the Turnpike Cruiser, the van also serves as a self-contained unit to display the car. Both sides can be lowered and the Cruiser turned cross-wise in the van by the turntable. Aluminum walkways and railings are installed on either side of the car, and visitors can walk past and inspect the model.
“F.C. Reith, general manager of the Mercury Division and vice president of Ford Motor Company, said that the XM-Turnpike Cruiser will be brought to many sections of the nation which never before have seen an advanced model car.
“While equipped to hook into regular 110-volt AC current, the van also carried a self-contained power-driver 10 kW generator for operating the 110-volt electrical components, including lights, public address system, recording devices, turntable, spot, and flood lights. A hot-air defrosting system with four fans keeps the windows free from fogging.
“The Turnpike Cruiser is loaded on the van through rear doors by means of sectional loading ramps. The trailer unit is 35 feet long, and the overall length of the tractor and trailer is 45 feet. Its height, including the plastic domes, is 11 feet 6 inches, and its width is 12 feet.”