Sacramento AMBC Winner is MERCULES

I thought it was funny that the color choice was blue. A friend of mine had his blue hardtop Merc at SEMA 2 or 3 years in a row now. The first time I see or hear anything about this blue hardtop Merc was when it went to SEMA last year 2007. And, my friends Merc was there as well. It's not like SEMA pictures can't be found online, so I think I would have went with a different color myself.

 

How did the Merc win??

Kustoms usually don't compete for the big prize because of the lack of attention to motor and ch***is detail. Since the winner didn't have a full chrome running gear, how could it have won?? Charlie's Mercury can compete with the indoor circuit because it has the the motor detail to throw it over the top. Mercury Charlie's motor is second to none and has to be one of the best Mercs of all time.

One of these days I would love to see your Roadster in person. I've enjoyed the past article of your roadster because the attention to taste and detail. One can learn a lot by looking at your builds.

Kongrats on the invite.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

to each there own really.....the car isnt my cup of tea. Im sure there are people out there who like it, it sure doesnt fit in here on the hamb.

John your 36 is the finest custom I have ever seen in person, in my opinion yours is better hands down. I drooled all over your car last year at speedorama here in TO. Your car is absolutly gorgeous, every square inch of it and there isnt a trophy out there that is worthy of the craftsmanship and attention to detail your car has, period.

 

What a great Merc...






FOR ME TO POOP ON

As long as these shows are more about POINTS and less about STYLE then these things will continue to win. Historically very few of the winners of these "most beautiful" shows have been the most aesthetically pleasing car. Oh well.

Time-Bomb, your car is awesome. So is Charlie's. FantaC, you should be proud that a car you built went up against the best the world has to offer and came home with the trophy. Of course it's not my style (and apparently not yours) but that is one hell of an accomplishment.

 

John you got snubbed again!!
your car by far has to be a peoples choice favorite.
i know i like your car wayyyyyy more than that ugly *** roadster from GNRS or this **** box on this post.

 

Thanxs again for your comments
here`s a pic of the super charged V10
and the rear end Jag suspension


I might add that it wouldn't take much to put the original front sheet metal back on it

 

Amen brother!
I drove a measley hour and was pissed. I won't be going to that show ever again with all the bump and sideshow bs....we did have fun making fun of peoples cars. Like that 73 caddy that was behind that Merc-cedes...lol. The only show in Sac i'll be going to is Mid Night M***!

 

Bryan

 

Ryan may have to come up with another trophy.

 

Congrats to FantaC on his fab work!!!! Sure its not up alot of our alleys as far as taste ect. But its a reflection of what direction the show cars have been going in now for a while....Is it right or wrong? Its all an opinion anyways.......It seems its all about making advancements and in turn pushing the envelope for these awards and that fine too......When I look at cars personally at a show I never loose site of the blood,sweat and tears that went into it the build, no matter how misguided I think it is, which is an opinion that does not matter......I still respect the work.........Would have I voted for it, no not exactly, but thats because I am stuck in the past...sometimes you have to look at something and ask yourself if you could even be capable of building whats in front of you, whether you like it our not...alot of time the answer to the term respect lies in that........Hell ,I do not know if that will make any sense, but I am running w/ it...We as the builder and shower will always feel different about cars that have been funded by the owner and built by others and then shown....Littleman..not everyone can do it..and congrats to Time-bomb John, for a dream come true!!!! Thats alot of work..

 

i can appriciate the work that went onto it , but they really never stood back to look at it .

 

This might be slightly O/T, but it is something that has been on my mind for a long time, plus it was hit on a little earlier in this thread.

I am a metal man here in the Phoenix area. I worked at Squeeg's Kustoms for like 6 yrs. I have worked on quite a few "High profile" cars.

Some of the shops I really admire, are the ones who are known for their style (ex. Gambino Kustoms). That would have to mean turning down jobs. Or turning away customers who want a street rod built, or a kustom like this "Merkules". I wonder if you have to build **** like this until you have enough people wanting your style, Or you just fight uphill from the beginning, and not have your name ***ociated with stuff you are not happy with.

In the time I have spent dealing with "show circuit" cars, I am left feeling kind of disenchanted. Lots of politics, and you end up with **** like this.

 

I had a good time.

 

what kinda grill is that? i like it... it almost takes away from those ugly headlights in my opinion..

 

You're talking out both sides of your mouth.

On one hand you tell us you're not a trophy *****, then on the other, you tell us your mission was to be selected for both categories, and you did it, and now it's "mission accomplished".

It always seems about whiney car show **** when I click on your post... and how you didn't get selected as the Goodguy's custom of the year award.... blah, blah, blah...

Maybe all these guys on the HAMB don't know it... but you gotta step up and ask to be in these compe***ions...

For a guy "who doesn't give a ****", you sure do give a ****.

Sam.

 

I think some of us are missing the point when it comes to recognition. Beating up on someone that hopes to win an award after they’ve spent years, hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars building something is a little harsh in my opinion. Whether it’s an award, a trophy or just a nice comment from a fellow enthusiast, it’s nice to get some recognition after you spent that much time on something. We have awards on this board and at shows. How many guys eagerly post pictures of the progress of their build and people make comments. Are we supposed to now answer, “how gives a **** about your build. Just drive it and stop bothering us” Come on. Recognition isn’t a bad thing.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
What the AMBR and AMBC “winners” show is that what we love, i.e. TRADITIONAL rods and kustoms are not where it’s at for the general public. Street rods with Chevy crate motors, billet wheels, futuristic interiors with tilt columns are what draws the crowds. Cars built to win shows have not been the same as ones meant to be driven for a long time now. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">High point</st1lace></st1:City> cars don’t necessarily equate to style and taste. Nothing has changed. I stopped buying Rod & Custom, Car Craft, etc. after 1958 because I couldn’t find too many cars I liked. I personally don’t think canted quad headlights, billet wheels, tube grilles and scallops look great on an early Ford (pre-49), but who asked me.

 

Congrats to the owner and builder, it a BIG deal -to not only build something different, but to travel with it half way around the world...yes I know its not for this forums style, but I looked at it for a while at SEMA, heard it was over here for the big indoor shows, and I said, theres the next AMBC winner. Its a nicely detailed car, and that is what it takes, especially in the custom west coast stuff, not a lot of people do the underside or engine stuff all out. That thing has more work in the door panels alone, than some so called "rat rods' do in the entire build.
Some time someone will do a high dollar car for one of these awards, incorporating the best of all that is curently offered, but with a solid nod to the past, of style and craftmanship....

 

This build pic looks sick as hell - should have left it right here.


http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1524713873050833998IQYwyo

 

I completely agree!!!

 

There's just some things you don't want to screw up on a Merc. The damn lights lights are one. The "donk" tires and wheels need to be outlawed from even being considered on a hot rod or custom. Leave that **** for the welfare office parking lot.

 

is the car coming to Seattle in march for the indoor show????

would like to see it in person. you can always learn something new, its one reason I like to see the show cars... it may be a bracket or some other fabricated part but its something to put in the memory bank for the next build. you have to see past the big wheels or other modern twist..

 

I no longer work on cars for a living and i am currently out of work .I am thinking of a career change maybe something to do with computers ( no not designing cars lol ) In my spare time i will do my own car its a 1958 FC van . It will be more traditional styled
Once more thanxs for your coments
Cheers John Gilbert

 

Still haven't seen a pic of the back...trunk,tailights,etc...

 

Here`s the trunk
no room for luggage lol



And yes it did get driven , not by me tho

 

Which 'local rag' are you referring to, mate?

 

FantaC should be able to confirm/deny this, but I'm pretty sure it's a custom-made billet piece. I should know, as I spoke to the owner at length about it, but that was a couple of years ago now and I've seen a LOT of cars since.

 

Regards the grill bar
I first made one from round bar and box sections
I file finished it to a chrome finish but stuffed it up when i had to weld some small cracks
It was then made billet by a very talented young machinist guy who also made the gear shifter and rear Jag hubs
Here`s a pic of the very first grill bar i made but the owner thought it was too old school for the car

 

I think the craftsmanship was exacuted perfectly, the hardtop look was different also, no... not tradishional but, a very nice,smooth street rod for the gold chained m***es. I looked at it for a while and the details from one end to the other were just what a "custom show car" have evolved into. just wait a few years guys it will be for sale on e-bay and you can own it.

 

I didn't do the hardtop
It was done by Dave Dixson and the owner they got a video from America that showed how to do it

 

Hey FantaC - Are the speaker boxes in the trunk made from steel like the door panels?

I reckon that's one of the coolest parts of the car. Whereas most blokes would carve up some foam and then 'gl*** and bog over them, FantaC made up the inner door skins in steel. Not sure if that was already covered, hard to follow everything on a 5 page thread!