I asked the experts on the World's Fair Facebook page and the statue's whereabouts are unknown. They think it was more then likely melted down for scrap.

San Diego's current Air And Space Museum in Balboa Park is housed in the only remaining former Ford building of the several Ford Motors built for 1930s Fairs and Expositions across the country. A sleek circular Art Deco Streamlined building, it has a fountain in the inner courtyard designed to resemble the Ford's company's V-8 logo, and a circular indoor mural depicting the history of transportation, both now-restored elements of the building's 1935 construction. Located very near SD International Airport at Lindbergh Field, you've flown over the museum if you've ever come into San Diego by air.

Although slang called those warning lamps smudge pots, they were known as highway flare torches. A smudge pot is an entirely different device. These highway flares were designed to burn kerosene or very similar fuels with a simple wick as it is easy to use, safe and especially in the early years, available everywhere. Kerosene is also known as coal oil (another slang), heating oil and various other names. Kerosene certainly is considered an oil and is derived from petroleum as opposed to actual coal oil, also used in lamps which is very similar to kerosene. A heavier oil, such as motor oil is difficult to light without preheating and facility to keep it hot, then a lighter weight oil or fuel gets dangerous. A search for Dietz Highway Flare Torch will provide much more info. The attached picture is of a K-D brand highway flare torch in my collection.

I used to work in this park, the site of the Worlds Fairs. It's now a ghost town of sorts, with a few remaining buildings here and there, and some cool artifacts. Was this the site of what's now the art museum/skating rink? I should know but I don't!

Under the "Bus Road" sign is an old smudge pot or whatever they were called. I think they burned kerosene to mark hazards on the road at night.

[They burned oil. -tterrace]

The tall spire behind the Ford Pavillion is the Trylon (of Trylon and Perisphere fame).

I love that statue. I think it must have been so unique and moderne for 1939. Lovely and interesting.

The 1940 engines from Ford weren't that big. The V8 was 239 CID or 3.9 liter for you metric enthusiasts. The V12 was
only a bit larger at 292 or 3.9 liter

I was puzzled by the flags in front of the Ford building. At first, all I could see was what seemed to be a variation of the Japanese flag, which would have been ironic, given what happened a year and a half later. But it finally dawned on me that they are stylized versions of Ford's famous V-8 symbol, as held in Mercury's right hand.

"The Mercury sculpture was generated by Mr. Robert Foster who is considered as one of the most talented and gifted sculptors in the world. Mr. Foster often referred to this type of work as “Structural Sculpture”. The Mercury symbol clocked in at 25 feet high and weighed over three tons. The most stunning feature was that it provided its own support with no supporting pillars. The weight of the sculpture was carried from the shoulders to the draperies and building structure. The Mercury sculpture contained the V-8 emblem in one hand and the V-12 emblem in the other hand. The V-8 symbolized the Ford models while the V-12 symbolized the beautiful designs of the Lincoln-Zephyr automobiles." Source

is one ugly thing.

Anyone done a repop of that scuplture - or even just a T shirt or something?

Albert Kahn, architect; Walter Dorwin Teague, designer

Gorgeous

Beautiful building but that is one ugly statue.

He has a V12 in his other hand. Ah, the days of big engines.

It must be sitting somewhere? Does anyone have any idea?