Gentlemen, just got me a 51 Merc. It’s still stock, no modifications yet. Unfortunately i am very familiar with 60ies Fords and Mercs, but this is my first Flattie, so i am a bloody beginner there. I am a „originalo“, like stock or mild period correct customizing. And i love bling bling (sorry, i know.... ) So the plan for the Merc is installing of: OD Trans Visor Fender scirts Lake pipes AND LOWERING 2“ ??? The car will be a Daylie driver, i don’t need a crazy low scratching car. And the costs for parts should be low. What should i do? A: blocks/ blocks B: moog aerostar springs/ blocks C: lower springs/ lower leaf springs D: dropped spindles / lower leaf springs Thank you so much for advice Joe
These are totally at odds! BITD people into bling bling loved the JC Whitney catalogues. But they were not customs. Bling bling and accessories = gook wagon. (a traditional term)
Heck of a starting point! Like X38 said above, gook wagons are an affront to customs. Less is more! *Edit - The term was discussed here on the HAMB, closed thread. Not appropriate these days probably. NOT used to describe people.
Very nice 51, my favorite year. I'm with lothiandon1940 on this. Mild lowering, & skirts. A propperly rebuilt 255 Merc flatty with mild cam & 4 barrel will be dependable & sound GR8. A set of chrome 5 spoke mags wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Cool ride - Congrats - - x2 no mags wheels - run '57 Caddy Hub Caps or put bolt on spinners of current caps
GT, you will be led astray, in 360 directions if you depend on these guys! Do what YOU want! Then thumb your nose at anyone rude enough to get in your face. Gook wagon?? NEVER heard that before. Certainly not in the mid west where I came from. Ben
Beautiful! I love the 50 also very much, but i am crazy for these „overdone and way to much“ propeller like bumper horns.
Blocks and Aerostar coils . loose the front bumper over rider no visor ( my opinion) And your golden Lakes pipes and Appleton spot lights if ya want some bling .
Aerostar coils up front and blocks in the rear. Lake pipes will make it look a bit lower, so will skirts. You've got a great car there, less is more, in my opinion. Keep it uncluttered and enjoy.
Aerostar coils are less than $100 and blocks are around $50-$60 plus a front end alignment. If it were mine, I would lower it, maybe do an OD transmission since you said you were going to drive it daily, maybe skirts, and call it good. That is one sweet 51 pretty much as-is and just a couple small changes could make it perfect in my mind.
I imagine the gas door trim and them gee-gaws on the front fender are bolted on with the attendant holes drilled in the fenders. I'd check, just on the chance you may get lucky. Also, "gook wagon" was a common term in Minnesota, at least in the fifties and sixties.
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