# Mercury XM-800

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XM-800 at [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan), 1957

XM-800, 2017

Rear view, 2017

The **Mercury XM-800** is a [concept car](/source/Concept_car) created by [Mercury](/source/Mercury_(automobile)) and first introduced at the 1954 [Chicago Auto Show](/source/Chicago_Auto_Show).[1] In newspaper publicity at its 1954 debut, in Chicago and elsewhere, it was presented with its full name, Mercury Monterey XM-800.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The XM, or experimental Mercury, "push car" (meaning that it was not drivable) went the 1954 US auto show circuit season.[1] 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](/source/John_Najjar). He was also responsible for the 1955 [Lincoln Futura](/source/Lincoln_Futura) show car and the mid-engine [Ford Mustang I](/source/Ford_Mustang_I) experimental sports car of 1962. Much of the car's appearance and styling cues were later used on the [Lincoln Premiere](/source/Lincoln_Premiere), [Lincoln Capri](/source/Lincoln_Capri), [Mercury Montclair](/source/Mercury_Montclair), [Ford Crown Victoria](/source/1955_Ford), 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 312 cu in (5.1 L) V8 engine with dual exhausts.[8] 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.[9]

In early 1957 Ford donated the XM 800 to the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan)'s Automotive Engineering Lab for use in training "future" automotive engineers.[10] 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."[11] After the automotive school closed, the show car was auctioned to a private individual who stored it in a barn, but never returned.[8] It was sold again and stored for almost 30 years before being sold on 2008.[10]

The car was restored and made operational and finally drove under its own power in 2009.[12] Subsequently, the car was auctioned in 2010 for $429,000.[13] It was shown at the 2012 [Chicago Auto Show](/source/Chicago_Auto_Show).[14]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Supercars_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Supercars_1-1) ["1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 - Review"](https://www.supercars.net/blog/1954-mercury-monterey-xm-800/). *Supercars.net*. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** “Mercury’s New Monterey.” Chicago Tribune, 21 February 1954. March 13-21, 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** “Mercury Sends Experimental MX-800 to Show.” Chicago Tribune, 14 March 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** “1st Showing in Chicago…The New Mercury Monterey XM-800.” (Chicago Auto Show Display Ad) Chicago Tribune, 14 March 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ”Experimental Cars by Ford.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, 14 March 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ”The New Mercury Monterey MX-800.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 March 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ”Advanced Design.” Greenfiled (MA) Recorder-Gazette, 16 April 1954.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-conceptcarz_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-conceptcarz_8-1) Vaughan, Daniel (March 2011). ["1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800 Concept"](https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7469/Mercury-Monterey-XM-800-Concept.aspx). *Conceptcarz.com*. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cartype_9-0)** ["Mercury XM-800: 1954"](http://cartype.com/pages/3195/mercury_xm-800__1954). *Cartype.com*. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Carscoops_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Carscoops_10-1) ["1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept for sale on eBay"](http://www.carscoops.com/2008/04/1954-mercury-xm-800-concept-for-sale-on.html). *Carscoops.com*. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Schelkopf, Ronald. “Dream Automobile: Experimental Automobile Used by Engineers.” The Michigan Daily (U. of Michigan), 12 March 1957, 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Reader's Galleries: 1954 Mercury XM-800 Concept Car"](https://www.hemmings.com/users/155243/gallery/1723.html). *Hemmings.com*. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car - Automobiles of Arizona 2010"](https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AZ10/Automobiles-of-Arizona/lots/r130-1954-mercury-xm-800-dream-car/202709). RM Sotheby's. 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** McCausland, Evan (9 February 2012). ["2012 Chicago: 1954 Mercury XM-800 Concept Still Working Auto Show Circuit"](http://www.automobilemag.com/news/2012-chicago-1954-mercury-xm-800-concept-still-working-auto-show-circuit-108773/). Automobile Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mercury XM-800](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_XM-800) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_XM-800?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.