Projects Accidentally Bought a 40 Merc Coupe

Love the build pictures. The rear fender skirts add flow to Your car very Kool

 

Just checked in on the Stardust coupe on Bring A Trailer from the link Moriarity posted. Looks like it is definitely way out of my range so I guess I will have to continue with this one.

 

Well, Stardust went up to $124k more than I have in this one so far. Looks like I have a reasonable budget of room for investment.

 

^^^^^ Reserve not met yet.

 

Yep, just noticed that.

My labor is free, so I figure this is my only way to own what I want for now.

 

Pretty sure I have come across some better rear fenders and possibly some other stuff in New Mexico and just happen to have a work reason to also go there in a little over a week. More to come...

 

It's like it was meant to be!

 

Ur merc looks much better shape than what i started with. Keep hitting it, i like the progress.

 

Really? I assumed your car was fairly solid.

 

41 Cad and Buick skirts fit the Merc better.
https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11...s_40_mercury/jimmysummers1940mer-2.html#media

 

41 Cad and Buick skirts fit the Merc fender shape better. Just pointing out that the Cad and Buick skirts fit the shape of 39/40 Merc rear fenders better that the 40 Ford style teardrop skirts.

 

Those 2 examples above definitely aren't '41 Cadillac skirts, the Cad skirts are kinda boxy and shorter, they don't stretch back that far because if they did they'd hit the little die-cast trims on the rear fenders.

They might be '41 Buick skirts though, those are way longer.

 

I don’t know why but just saw your project post. Really like the way these cars can be built and looking forward to watching your progress!

 

My brother just sent me this pic earlier from the Detroit Autorama setup. Sounds like the car is owned by Jack Walker from Missouri which happens to be the one mentioned earlier in this thread built by David Conrad. I need all the motivation I can get looking at these.

 

Don't know if it's much motivation, but this was mine in the late 70's. You can tell I had just bought a star filter for my camera. The second shot was taken at the first KKOA national meet in Wichita in 1981 sitting next to Larry Purcell's great 41 Ford.

Mick

 

Mick, that is a great looking Merc! Thanks for posting the pics!

 

Thats a perfect chop! great car.

 

I don't think I could've let that one go. Absolutely perfect.

 

No body style in the history of automobiles has benefited more from a chop than these Mercury coupes.

 

I have to agree these are probably my favorite chop rides. Especially when the rear is skirted and super low. The lines are amazing.

 

Amen! I was reminded of this at a car show last weekend when I saw a really nice one that even sat decent without a chop or skirts. Still a silly looking car in my mind at least. It is like night and day when they are done right.

 

@D.Conrad

 

Stock ones remind me of a Morris Minor roof on a '39 Ford Deluxe. Was probably very advanced styling for the day, as close to a "hardtop" as anyone got until the Lincoln Continental, but just proportionally off.

 

Very nice! I'm just down the road in Choctaw, look forward to seeing this car out and about!

 

The great thing about chopping a 40 Merc, is if you really screw up the top, you can build a convert which is just as cool with a nicely shaped Carson top. They are basically the same body save for a little extra work required above the windshield.

 

More pics of Jack Walker’s 40 at Autorama from my brother.

 

Outstanding photography!

 

Lol...yea...that’s what I was thinking... Thanks again for the pics.

 

Pretty sure I am settled on the style chop I plan to do. It will mix some elements from a few of the ones I like but it won’t be exactly like any of them. I’m not saying that no one has done one like I am planning, but I haven’t seen one like it yet.

 

That's the way. Why follow the crowd and be like everyone else? As long as it flows well and the proportions are right you should get a lot of compliments on it because of that
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