Mercury 500 identification

[LukeDet]

Hello, I’ve got an old Mercury 500 50hp 4 cylinder 2 stroke with a serial number A103177. Can anyone tell me what year this was manufactured? Thanks!

 

[Fun Times]

Serial number 0A103177 comes up as an 1985 50 [ELPT] Model number 1050625…https://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury-outboard/275.cfm?mdl=D8OJYC&q=1050625

 

[LukeDet]

Thanks. Didn’t know I needed the 0 in front. The actual tag doesn’t have that. See attached.

 

[Fun Times]

The missing 0 in front of some of these serial numbers is a hidden Secret.

 

[LukeDet]

Appreciate it!

 

[racerone]

Does the motor have those brown / copper decals.

 

[LukeDet]

The bottom part does have brown but the top /wrap around piece is more of a chrome/red could’ve been replaced? Kind of a low light picture but you can tell what color it is.

 

[racerone]

The wrap around cowling is from a 76 / 77 model.

 

[LukeDet]

But you agree the bottom portion is the same as the 85 brown tan color? The front portion is that tan/brown as well.

 

[jimmbo]

And the Lower Cowl/Cover is from an 84/85 model.

I used to keep a 71 wrap on my 84 115, just because I hated the Brown, and thought the Red Decals looked much better. Lower cover I left Brown, because I was just lazy, I did have the 71 piece, actually I still have the entire 71 cowl.

 

[LukeDet]

Makes sense. It is kind of an uglier color scheme, at least to my eyes. Thanks for your help!