A friend received a box of mid 60s Motorsports magazines in excellent shape, that were published for 3 years or so, near Vancouver Canada. Unfortunately, along with other (real) motorsports, they document the demise of numerous 1957-58 or so Mercurys in Demolition derbys! In one case 17 were entered at one event.. When I think of the 312s that were lost to that destructive nonsense..I grit my teeth! Oh! and would you believe, at the start of the event, they gave a prize to the best appearing car.. Huh!?

Paul

Paul, Gary (with the black '58 Meteor) told me that the Y blocks were favoured at the demolition derbys because they could sustain a significant amount of damage and keep on running.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

if the 58s were Canadian models they would not be 312 powered.

True, but the guy with the '58 wasn't talking about his car but Y blocks in general.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Yes, I was also told by a fellow that managed a salvage yard years ago, that the Y-blk engines would outlast those other overrated engines in derbys by a good margin. He said he'd seen them run for up to 45 minutes straight, with no water in the blocks, without seizing!

Paul