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Lead sleds were heavily repaired cars filled with lead, which became popular in the US after WWII. Lead was a popular filler material until polymer resins were developed. Lead sleds were typically heavy and sleek, with more importance on looks than performance. The term can also refer to modified vehicles and heavy aircraft with poor power to weight ratios.
The term lead sled refers to two different types of automobiles. It was first used in the first decades of the 20th century to describe certain vehicles that had been heavily repaired. At the time, lead was a common filler material used to repair bodily damage. This sometimes resulted in vehicles that were literally full of lead, hence the somewhat derogatory term. The phrase was later used in reference to the large, heavy cars that became popular in the United States after World War II.
Lead was one of the first body fillers used by automobile factories and repair shops. As a soft, flexible metal with a low melting temperature and high resistance to corrosion, it was a popular filler material until various polymer resins were developed for the task. Lead was typically applied by cleaning the damaged area, applying a tin substance, and then melting the lead in a vacuum. When applied correctly, the cable would often be securely locked in place, although poor preparation of the work area could result in the cable simply falling off later on.
Since most body work involved the application of lead, and some factories even used it to seal body lines, not all lead work necessarily carried a negative connotation. The term lead sled was generally saved for vehicles that had undergone substantial repairs or modifications. It is still possible to do lead body work today, and car enthusiasts can sometimes use this old technique for more authentic results.
In the post-World War II period, products made from polymer resins became more popular as fillers for automobile bodies. Larger and heavier vehicles also became more widespread. This resulted in a class of full-size cars known as lead sleds. These lead sleds were typically heavy and sleek, with more importance on looks than speed or performance. The Mercury Eight, the first named vehicle produced by the Mercury automobile company, was one such lead sled in the postwar period.
Lead sled can also refer specifically to vehicles like the Mercury Eight that have been modified. Many lead sleds had their suspensions lowered and other modifications. Such modifications include having various trim pieces and trim removed and filled in.
The term lead sled is also used in the aviation industry. Refers to a number of different planes that had a poor power to weight ratio. Some of the heavy aircraft that earned the nickname included jets like the F3H Demon and turbojets like the F-84 Thunderjet.
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