My '51 Merc, can you help me out...

Hey Terry ,Please show me a chopped merc built before 1990 with a set of fake 37 DeSoto bumpers on it !There is nothing traditional about them.Its like saying Hagan headlight frenching kits are traditional.Those bumpers suck.

 

Are you saying there were no brizo bumpers before 1990? My world had fallen down around me, everything I've believed has been a lie! LOL!!!!

It don't matter brother, your not going to change my mind, and I'm not going to change yours. I dig em' and thats all I care about. But they sure sell a lot of ugly bumpers....

 

Love the comments guys, 'ppreciat them bigtime.

How about the curvy spears on the side those are pretty cool, is there one specific one that might work on the side of the car without major body work?

Anyone's Merc run 10.9 or faster? Even my truck runs 13's.

 

Looks like you have a good start with the Merc.. Your doing the right thing by asking questions and try to find out what direction you need to go...... I bought mine years
ago and it could have been one of the ugliest Mercs in the country. Checkout the before and after pictures below. Patience and many years I've got it going in the right direction.

Suggestions; Bumpers need to go and Wide whites make a big difference. Also it looks like the grill sticks out to far. Most importnat thing is to drive it and have a good time.

Good luck.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Looks like the old setup had the upside down nose of a 91 Pontiac Formula... I've seen that pic before...

Now do you guys fill in the old holes in the bumpers and have them chromed without the holes?

 

I agree with most of the guys here. The bumpers have to go. Would do stock 51 in rear and 50 in front. Desota grill or 54 pontiac floater in front. Taillight lens change. Something like 54 chevy custom lens at lees lenses. They look close to fitting. Wide whites. Spots are ok if you can get them turned down and lower on the windshield post. They are too high. Lakes are ok but I always thought they took away from a merc rather than adding to it. As you said paint later solid color. Black and a dark maroon look very well on a merc. Hell most any color looks good on a merc. Your car has a lot going for it. Just remember to build it for yourself. Do what you like and tell everybody to foff. It's your car. Thanks, BOBBY FORD

 

Lincoln Lido trim works like stock. No body work.
I think FEDSLEDs chopped 4 door runs 10.9 or better..........OLDBEET

 

i thing your talking about 52/53 buick side trim. very popular modification. that stuff is pricey. i've seen it anywhere from $400 to $1200 a set. the trim itself has to be modified to fit the car by cutting and welding it. make sure you get 2 door trim and if you can find it from a skylark is better because the skylark is smooth of the side. mercs usually are not hot rods, but, no reason they can't be! i've seen a few that are strong runners, makes them that much cooler to me.

52/53 buick side trim






hot rod!

 

Okay grille and bumpers are first the on the list.

 

Speed you seek in a Merc?

Well then....


http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?D=Paul_Athey

 

Would look better with no bumper and grille then with a painted
grille and brizo bumper.-----------T.C,

 

some of us here would love the dilema of "oh whatever shall i do with my 51 merc". poor thing. kinda like someone in hawaii bitching about the weather. no bitterness here. nope. none.

i am a big fan of Marvin Coley's Merc in the Sept 2007 R&C. stunning attention to detail. the interior is one of the best of i have ever seen. i don't have any pictures to post of it.

to each his own though... except for those bumpers, i think that ones universal. as a lesson one should always stay away from the terms "aftermarket" and "ribbed", but that preference can easily go into MANY areas. just sayin'.

 

Bumpers are getting offed for sure, they don't really fit the car in person. I'll be taking the lake pipe stuff off since they don't attach to the exhaust and I think they look gratuitous anyway.

Might be getting referred to a local dude who is selling '50 Merc bumpers, so that's a good start.

Car runs good, engine looks good. Some spots the paint has some issues so my interest in repainting has gone up but I first need to get everything working on the car.

Okay so I think I will do the wide whites, ditch the lake pipes, and the bumpers, and then post an update picture.

 

Is there a size of tire that would look good? I'll look at what size I have on the car. Does anyone sell these tires in Chicago or do I have to have them shipped?

 

I would add another vote to go with a repaint. The flame design is kinda eh, little too crab clawlike for my taste. Plus the colors scream Hot Wheels. You've opened yourself up to alot of opinions in this thread, kind of a ballsy move especially on somehting like a Merc. I think you're headed in the right direction though. Wide whites will make it look like a whole different car.

 

I'm a old car newb, never had a car older than '60 in the past, so the feedback is interesting though I have my own views on the car and the scene in general. Dark red/burgundy or black are possible colors, but I also like stuff like Mineral Gray (Mustang color) and other late model colors.

 

I would agree with many others I am sure... I haven't the time to read all the entries. Get rid of the crappy carpet shitty-street interior... go rolled and piped and maybe a bench so your girl can get comfortable and you maybe a grin.

 

For tires:

Firestone 6,70 or 7,10 are good choices.

 

that is the understatement of the year....

.......maybe not so much in real life,but especially on the internet,,there are so many fuckin "experts" on mercs on the interent message boards it is almost as bad as the camaro internet experts....

 

No lack of experts on here,LOL!!!!

 

51 taillights are clean shaved

 

Prolly like you oldtimers I am developing a love/hate with this board, because I love seeing the pics of the cars but then all the things I think I should change bug me.

 

Its your car man build it how you and only you like it you are the one that has to love it and noboby else.Good luck and have fun with it!

 

Yeah I have a plan in my head right now.

Are these the kinds of w-walls that folks run?

http://www.universaltire.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=324

 

wtf are you talking about??? custom touch of the 50's?? roy brizio wasn't making bumpers as a child...sheeesh....just because you see them on 50's cars at the local "50's night" sock-hop doesn't mean they were actually on them in the 50's...

 

maybe you are referring to actual 37 desoto bumpers, in which case, those still have no business on a 49 or later car...

 

no john, not radials...folks here certainly prefer bias-ply tires...try coker tire...of course if you want the radials, go for it, but the look of a bias-ply wide white is sooooooo much better. you have a great start going and as bad as I hate those bumpers, that tweed realllly needs to go first...lol...if you have the scratch, do it all at once, if not, just do it a little at a time...if it were mine:

bench seats with vinyl pleats
lose the cat-eyes on the headlights
diff taillight lenses...maybe 51 ford will fit? or even cutom lenses in the opening there
lose the spotlights...they are too high on the pillar
get the bias-ply's
ditch the caps, good on an earlier car, but not 51
throw a trim ring on until you find a cap you like...
go to rikster's site and learn about early customs...

 

54 pontiac wagon tail lights look great

i always liked the buddy alcorn 50 mercury.

 

yes sir they do...if you can find 'em! but they are awesome