[[File:XM 800.png|thumb|right|XM-800 at [[University of Michigan]], 1957]] [[File:Mercury XM-800, front left (John Lloyd).jpg|thumb|XM-800, 2017]] [[File:Mercury XM-800, rear left (John Lloyd).jpg|thumb|Rear view, 2017]]
The '''Mercury XM-800''' is a [[concept car]] created by [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]] and first introduced at the 1954 [[Chicago Auto Show]].<ref name="Supercars">{{cite web|title=1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 - Review |url= https://www.supercars.net/blog/1954-mercury-monterey-xm-800/ |website=Supercars.net |date=19 April 2016 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref> In newspaper publicity at its 1954 debut, in Chicago and elsewhere, it was presented with its full name, Mercury Monterey XM-800.<ref>“Mercury’s New Monterey.” Chicago Tribune, 21 February 1954. March 13-21, 1954.</ref><ref>“Mercury Sends Experimental MX-800 to Show.” Chicago Tribune, 14 March 1954.</ref><ref>“1st Showing in Chicago…The New Mercury Monterey XM-800.” (Chicago Auto Show Display Ad) Chicago Tribune, 14 March 1954.</ref><ref>”Experimental Cars by Ford.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, 14 March 1954.</ref><ref>”The New Mercury Monterey MX-800.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 March 1954.</ref><ref>”Advanced Design.” Greenfiled (MA) Recorder-Gazette, 16 April 1954.</ref> The XM, or experimental Mercury, "push car" (meaning that it was not drivable) went the 1954 US auto show circuit season.<ref name="Supercars"/> Although it was promoted by Ford as an "advanced design, engineered to go into volume production,” the XM 800 never passed the concept phase.
==Background== The show car was designed by [[John Najjar]]. He was also responsible for the 1955 [[Lincoln Futura]] show car and the mid-engine [[Ford Mustang I]] experimental sports car of 1962. Much of the car's appearance and styling cues were later used on the [[Lincoln Premiere]], [[Lincoln Capri]], [[Mercury Montclair]], [[1955 Ford|Ford Crown Victoria]], and other Ford and Mercury products during the mid-1950s.
The concept model was built by Creative Industries of Detroit on a modified Mercury frame with a 1954 Mercury {{convert|312|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} V8 engine with dual exhausts.<ref name="conceptcarz">{{cite web|last=Vaughan |first=Daniel |title=1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 Concept |url= https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7469/Mercury-Monterey-XM-800-Concept.aspx |website=Conceptcarz.com |date=March 2011 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref> It features a low fiberglass body with much of its trim was also made out of chrome plated fiberglass and an interior with four bucket seats.<ref name="Cartype">{{cite web|title=Mercury XM-800: 1954 |url= http://cartype.com/pages/3195/mercury_xm-800__1954 |website=Cartype.com |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref>
In early 1957 Ford donated the XM 800 to the [[University of Michigan]]'s Automotive Engineering Lab for use in training "future" automotive engineers.<ref name="Carscoops">{{cite web|title=1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept for sale on eBay |url= http://www.carscoops.com/2008/04/1954-mercury-xm-800-concept-for-sale-on.html |website=Carscoops.com |date=4 April 2008 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref> A March 1957 article in the campus's student newspaper gives details of the then-recent donation, stating that the vehicle "was styled by William Schmidt of Mercury."<ref>Schelkopf, Ronald. “Dream Automobile: Experimental Automobile Used by Engineers.” The Michigan Daily (U. of Michigan), 12 March 1957, 3.</ref> After the automotive school closed, the show car was auctioned to a private individual who stored it in a barn, but never returned.<ref name="conceptcarz"/> It was sold again and stored for almost 30 years before being sold on 2008.<ref name="Carscoops"/>
The car was restored and made operational and finally drove under its own power in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reader's Galleries: 1954 Mercury XM-800 Concept Car |url= https://www.hemmings.com/users/155243/gallery/1723.html |website=Hemmings.com |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref> Subsequently, the car was auctioned in 2010 for $429,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car - Automobiles of Arizona 2010 |url= https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AZ10/Automobiles-of-Arizona/lots/r130-1954-mercury-xm-800-dream-car/202709 |publisher=RM Sotheby's |date=2010 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref> It was shown at the 2012 [[Chicago Auto Show]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McCausland |first=Evan |title=2012 Chicago: 1954 Mercury XM-800 Concept Still Working Auto Show Circuit |url=http://www.automobilemag.com/news/2012-chicago-1954-mercury-xm-800-concept-still-working-auto-show-circuit-108773/ |publisher=Automobile Magazine |date=9 February 2012 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Mercury vehicles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercury Xm-800}} [[Category:Concept cars]] [[Category:Mercury vehicles|XM-800]] [[Category:University of Michigan]]