Projects Accidentally Bought a 40 Merc Coupe

Dave Wolk`s Merc ended up in California. Not sure if this is it. Dave never ran skirts when he owned it. He said it looked terrible with them. This has skirts that look questionable.

 

Ok. I just saw the similarities. Exact same chop, leaded fenders, skirts, shortened trim, WWW, Cad caps, 48 bumpers, overriders and lower bar, color, ride height.

 

The Matranga Merc was darker. At least it is in all the B&W photos I've seen. Another good example to use styling cues from.

 

So Jeff, what color are you going to paint yours?

 

Well...I’m not planning on a Matranga clone since pretty sure there are plenty of those and I will likely lean toward black or maybe something like Washington blue or something.

 

Mine is a non metallic maroon, a late 70s BMW color. It looks like the other one is more of a metallic red. The sun usually lightens most colors.

 

Question, what colors are the 2 cars on the left.

 

Assuming your 32 and 36 is what you are asking about David? If so, I actually thought your 36 was blue for quite a while until I was looking at it last year and realized it is green. I have no idea what green though...

 

If you were a Custom kid of the 80`s, you`d copy it off D Agostino`s Stardust.

 

Actually, I was into muscle cars and custom trucks in the 80’s. So, I wasn’t really paying attention to custom cars much until later years.

I am actually amazed how many pics I have from shows over the past few years of 39 & 40 Mercs. I took this one of a nice one during the reliability run the day before the Gathering at the Roc this past year. Just found it looking through pics in my phone.

 

The 40 is the nicer of the 2 years.
Well, it's time to organize your parts list.
5 cadillac wheels with sombreros..
Dropped axle, 40 Ford is the same.
401 nailhead with a 4 speed.
9 inch rear end.
Fender skirts.
Welding stuff.
Roothawg tuck and roll interior.
Mud.
Paint.
I might have missed a few things.
From now on you will have to schedule your life around swap meets.

 

Lol! That’s a pretty good parts list and sure makes it sound easy other than scheduling life around swap meets. The dropped axle deal is easy considering Sid just lives less than 2 miles away. However, we will have to see if Roothawg starts his interior “retirement” business before I need it or not. Oh, and I already have Buick wheel covers just not wheels that they will fit on yet. I definitely like the 401 and 4-speed plan!

 

My '36 has a stock front axle with a Posie spring. That put it right where I wanted it. The Merc. has a dropped axle with a original spring.

 

Pretty sure I have talked myself into a dropped axle already. I’m starting to think I need to get the car sitting right before I start chopping it so I can better visualize the finished product. This also means that I probably have a chrome stock 37-41 axle for sale if anyone needs one...

 

Here's another nice chop for inspiration....

 

Good colors range from the classic red wine, to dark greens and blues, black, and now even stock looking 1940 colors. The choice will be hard.

 

You could get away with using that stock chrome axle, my 39 was a taildragger before I got it, and it had a stock axle with a dropped spring. I did the dropped axle because it had been converted to Hot Rod stance, but had I returned it to Kustom stance, I would have left the front alone and just got the rear down.

Also, I thought the 600-16's filled the wheel well nicely, so that's the smallest tire on the front I'd recommend.

 

Didn't know anyone had one of these in Germany. Gives me hope I can get one one day.

 

I would love to see a profile shot of this one! Looks great from the angles shown! I also love the color!

 

LOL I don't even want to take pics of our new ride until I get it off the trailer.

 

Just managed to get in on the train, looking forward to seeing this one come together.

 

Some chop pics
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Paul_Hoffmann's_1940_Mercury

A couple inspirational pics

And a bunch of other 40s
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/1940_Mercury

 

Thanks Anthony!

This one also shows lots of the steps involved in the chop.

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Reno_Casasola's_1940_Mercury

I plan to buy the issues of Street Rodder from 1999 that were mentioned as well as the issue of Rod & Culture that was also mentioned where there was information on chopping one of these. Pretty sure it is pretty doable to get a nice chop between all the information I am finding and just basic design and welding skills. I’m definitely staying excited on this one and am just trying to get some other work knocked out so I can get started and focus until it is done. I was looking it over Saturday night and seems I might be missing some of the stainless around the passenger windows. I sure wish this thing would have never been taken apart... But again, half the fun is in hunting stuff down as well.

 

Hunting for parts and the interesting people You meet along the journey. That’s what keeps these projects exciting and digging through one’s own pile of pieces for future projects.

 

Yep, I have learned over the years that this hobby is as much about the people and friendships along the way as it is about the actual cars. Pretty much all my good friends have come through this hobby...as you likely know Kurte...since that is how we met as well.

 

I’ve been thinking about this… many makes and models can successfully be built as a hot rod or a Kustom.

However, 39-40 Mercs should only be built as Kustoms.

 

Amen Dan! I’m trying to convince Clay and Bret that. Lol