The 405 Aired Sept 21st, 2026
I want to again welcome you to The 405 Coffee Break. Guys, new week. Get your cup of coffee, glass iced tea, bottle of water, beverage of your choice. Let's see what's happening.
OK Solberg:Spring wheat $6.65 a bushel, 14Pro. 550lb steer calf gonna give you a range, they're dropping off a bit, but still a good price, $4.40 a pound up to $4.70 a pound depending on their quality, and a 100lb fat lamb, in Billings not moving at all, $3 to $3.10 a pound. But guys, there's more, much more.
OK Solberg:Well, let's not let anyone become confused. Like I said, it's Monday, and that means it's Jay and Joe's Motor Monday, the day we look at horsepower one Monday at a time.
OK Solberg:It might well be said that in 3 weeks, we will be celebrating the 1st anniversary of Motor Monday. That means today is the 50th episode of Jay and Joe's. So what about that then?
OK Solberg:Now often I come up with a theme for motor Monday. Other times, a listener will text me with an idea. Well, today, I'll be sharing one that a listener kindly suggested or just mentioned. And when I heard it, well, guys, I couldn't wait for Monday to arrive.
OK Solberg:Today, it isn't Ford. It isn't Chevy. Today, it's Mercury. And it isn't just any Mercury. It is, drum roll, please. It's the Mercury pickup truck.
OK Solberg:Oh, you and I probably both have seen one on occasion. I know I have. Not real often, but I've seen one. But, of course, when I saw it, I knew it was unique, but, guys, I didn't know the story behind it. Now I do, and soon you will too.
OK Solberg:So let's start with what was called World War II. We all know about it from our history classes. But did you know that Ford Motor Company quit making civilian vehicles and so did the other big 3 and they put all their efforts into war production.
OK Solberg:On February 10th 1942 nineteen forty two, Ford Motor Company made its last civilian automobile. The last Ford V8 passenger car for the duration came off the line that day in 1942.
OK Solberg:Also, from history, we know that the war ended in September 1945, and that is the same year Ford started production again of their civilian vehicles. Now there is a country to the north of us and many of you might know it and that country is called Canada.
OK Solberg:Well, us people living in Malta, Montana or Phillips County, we know it well. Well, it's 60 miles away, but something interesting happened up there to our neighbors north of us. After World War II, Ford Motor Company of Canada reorganized its dealer network.
OK Solberg:Hear it again because this is the key. After World War II, Ford Motor Company of Canada reorganized its dealer network. Ford dealers sold Ford cars and trucks while a separate group of dealers sold Mercury and Lincoln products. This, well, created a practical problem.
OK Solberg:Some Canadian communities had a Mercury Lincoln dealer, but no Ford dealership. So think about it. If you're a Canadian town and you had a Mercury Lincoln dealership, they could not buy a pickup. Well, have you ever seen a farmer or rancher without a pickup truck?
OK Solberg:Ford Motor Company didn't wanna give any sales away just because they knew customers would simply go buy a Dodge or a Chevy instead of driving miles to a different Canadian town to buy their Ford pickup. So guess what happened?
OK Solberg:Beginning with the 1947 model year, Ford of Canada produced Mercury badge pickups alongside its Ford pickup trucks. The first Mercury pickups were basically the same Ford but they put more chrome on the new ones and fancied them up a bit kinda like GMC in the Chevrolet world.
OK Solberg:So now we had two pickups that were basically the same guts, and one was called Ford F1 for The USA and Mercury M1 for sales in Canada. Then all of a sudden it turned to Ford F100 and Mercury M100. So always remember and never forget the Mercury pickup truck wasn't made to compete against the Ford pickup.
OK Solberg:It was developed because after World War II, some Canadian communities had a Mercury Lincoln dealer but no Ford dealership. Ford's solution was wonderfully simple, Give the Mercury dealers their own pickup.
OK Solberg:The Mercury pickup was built from 1947 through 1968 for sale in Canada. Now just a little side note, in 1965 something else happened. A Canadian United States automotive production agreement commonly called the auto pact changed the economics dramatically.
OK Solberg:It allowed qualifying automotive products to move between Canada and The US without the previous tariff barriers. So for a period of time, a short period of time, the mercury pickup for Canada sales was produced in San Jose, California. That there and a $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee, but I find it rather interesting.
OK Solberg:A bible verse and then I'll run, Deuteronomy 32:7 two seven, remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father and he will show you your elders and they will tell you. Again, Deuteronomy 32:7
OK Solberg:It's good to know the history. And now don't ever tell anyone that there wasn't a mercury pickup because now we know the best of this story.
OK Solberg:So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.