1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

[57whitehouse]

I'm trying to find a picture of a 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400. I've googled and found nothing.

Can anyone help?

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

never mind. I found it. How do you all feel about this motor? I'm looking at a boat with one of these on it. Looks like fun, how about trouble with these?

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

This is a tried and proven design that dates back to the early 50s.My info indicates the 400 first appeared in 60 and ended in 61.I've had 2 Merc 500s that have both performed well.(essentially the same engine)
I believe some electrical parts are getting hard to find.It uses a 4 cylinder
magneto distributor.If you go to Johns Old Mercury Web Site they can probably give you more details on any pluses and minuses.Also some excellent Merc links.

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

quote from steelespike "My info indicates the 400 first appeared in 60 and ended in 61."


I found this pic at oldmercs.com. It is listed as 1959 super thunderbolt 400 40hp.

This guy wants $600 for a 1959 larson 14ft boat in fair to good condition with this motor. He said he broke the float bowl cover on the carb, otherwise it runs good.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

quote from steelespike "My info indicates the 400 first appeared in 60 and ended in 61."


I found this pic at oldmercs.com. It is listed as 1959 super thunderbolt 400 40hp.

This guy wants $600 for a 1959 larson 14ft boat in fair to good condition with this motor. He said he broke the float bowl cover on the carb, otherwise it runs good.

Not to be argumemtative:: I just checked Peter Hunn's "The Old Outboard Book" Mercury production indicates 60/61 for the 400, In 59 he lists Mark 35A 35hp,Mark 55A-40hp,Mark58A-45hp.Merc 400 is listed at 45 hp.59 Super Thunderbolt is listed as a 45.Thunderbolt is used on the 35 and 40.
My after market ser.manual has a 400 in 60 and a 400 and 500 in 61.
As I understand it there was never a consumer based serial number date list
there is a partial list from a dealer. Other lists may or may not be accurate for dating early motors.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

That's a beautiful outboard. It would look awesome on a boat from the same period. Good luck. MJ

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

Yes that is a very simple, reliable design. Ran a 73 Merc 500 50 hp inline four for many years. Only thing I would have changed about it was the solid state ignition...I prefer the old magneto outboards, like the one you are considering. If you can check compression, lower unit (is it lubed, does it shift?), and especially the wiring under the hood/cowl. You can get a float bowl cover for not much scratch. At that price, I'd do some horse trading if the boat is worth having...the outboard is worth that in my opinion if its in running condition.

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

Not to be argumemtative:: I just checked Peter Hunn's "The Old Outboard Book" Mercury production indicates 60/61 for the 400, In 59 he lists Mark 35A 35hp,Mark 55A-40hp,Mark58A-45hp.Merc 400 is listed at 45 hp.59 Super Thunderbolt is listed as a 45.Thunderbolt is used on the 35 and 40.
My after market ser.manual has a 400 in 60 and a 400 and 500 in 61.
As I understand it there was never a consumer based serial number date list
there is a partial list from a dealer. Other lists may or may not be accurate for dating early motors.

You may be right, I may be crazy. Check out this site and look down the page a little (4th pic from the last of the pictures) and see where I went wrong. The motor is soo pretty I may buy the boat just for the motor.

http://www.oldmercs.com/models.html

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

No doubt about it a pretty motor I had a 77 500 black of course and presently
have a low hours carefully cared for 65 500 again black but very similar to yours under the skin.I believe both are 44 cubes.I also had our motors step uncle a 56 Wizard WA25 25 hp. 4 cylinder.

 

[mercurydoctor]

Re: 1959 mercury super thunderbolt 400

The Mark series of Merc engines ended in 1959, after that they were called Merc 400,450,500 and so on. Buy the boat. That engine is greatly sought after by collectors such as myself and is an easy engine to work on. It has a mag, no electronic ignition, and is about as good as it gets in a vintage engine.