HAMB HISTORIANS HELP -Finest Merc gathering around ~ 60th Anniversary of the 49 Merc

I'd like to see pictures of the Private Eye car too .

 

Mr. Bomba - Conrad Garcia,

Unfortunately the inside of the building is totally full BUT, as you might of read, we are having a very neat outdoor gathering simply called "MERC DRIVE IN" and close to 100 Mercs and Lincolns are expected to park all around the Merc building. We welcome cars of all shapes,years,and conditions, and we more than welcome you to bring your new Charlie Lopez Merc to the event !

that's sad that you have to turn down a merc with so much history here in so cal.

it has been said that there was a time when this was the only kustom merc you would see at the shows. to a lot a people including me believe it carried the the torch thru a time when 70's muscle cars, low riders and vans were the main thing at car shows!

 

Hi Axle
He still owns a house here in St.Louis and was here though out the holidays so that is why you couldn’t get a hold of him in Tucson. He is in Tucson now and I talked to him last night and he has been working on the car and getting ready for the trip incase he decides to drive it up to the show.

 

There has to be just one more spot for the Charlie Lopez Merc inside that building.

 

Maybe it could be suspended over the other Mercs with it's gull wings open wide like it was swooping down.

 

AMEN!
this belongs inside.
this WAS the merc back in the 70's and 80's when everyone else forgot about customs.
you want a time capsule? this is the merc.
its mostly unchanged from its '79 show days.
except for paint and tires. the original interior paint and pin striping on the firewall , fully chrome undercarriage , and hydraulic suspension , doors, hood, and trunk all still operate perfectly.
room should be made for this historic custom.

 

Have it on a waiting list, I'm sure 1-2 cars will not show up right?

 

That Private Eye merc always annoyed the **** out of me when I was little cause it wasnt nosed!LOL

 

I agree x100!

It would be an absolute shame if the Charlie Lopez Merc wasn't included in this show. It would be a joke actually. You want history...this is it. I'd would jump at the chance to see this over some clone any day.

 

This is what I was kinda figuring. I've heard so many stories about this Merc cruising and s****ing down Whittier Blvd. it would be awesome to see it in person. Alot of history there.

 

Amen. She belongs on the inside. I like the "Waiting list" idea.

 

Yeah and it would represent a whole segment that wouldnt be covered otherwise!The Charlie Lopez mobile is a very important car!

 

Very true! It would fit in the Merc custom timeline perfectly. Great point.

 

I agree 100% that the car needs to be a part of the Show Indoors it holds its place in the Custom Merc History and Deserves to be recognized for what it is and it also is a "49" Im sure room for one more car can be made

 

Some time ago Rod Powell posted this photo of the West Coast Kustoms at Lake Naciemento many, many years ago.

The Lopez Merc was well accepted in this line up!

 

look at that line up!
it would be great to see them all together again.

thats some history right there brother.

 

WOW. Look at that lineup!! Rik, thank you for posting that. Amazing.

Not to beat a dead horse...but damn Axle...yooza fool if you don't allow this car indoors. Seriously.

 

thanks for the picure RIKSTER your the man!

 

This Picture was Taken at the 1st westcoast Kustoms Paso event in September 1982

 

Axle,

I will look for them. I have a lot of pictures ****tered since doing the Winfield book. As soon as I find them, I will post them or email them to you.

David

 

Axle,
You apparently don't have the memories or haven't heard the stories on the Charlie Lopez Merc like we have. This Particular car started it all for some of us, wether it was cruisin Bellflower or Whitter Blvd. we can remember dreaming of owning a car just like it! and now that My Buddy Conrad's dream came true by not only finding this car but actually buying it and bringing back to So. Cal. for all to see....You are gonna kick it out in the cold like some step child?? C'Mon Man!

 

You guys need to lighten up on Axel. This is the hard part of hosting a show, you can't please everybody.

After 21 pages of praise for doing this and filling up the building with custom Mercs, you guys jump all over him for not having room for one more. If the building is full, it's full. Which other Merc would you have him take off the list to make room? Sorry but that's just the way it is sometimes. You still have to have room for the spectators to walk around.

 

Amen...

I can't wait to see this gathering...

 

Bruce, I didn't mean to sound like I was trashing the event. I regret saying that it would be a joke if the Lopez Merc wasn't allowed to show. Truth is, there are SO many of my favorite Mercs already confirmed. Hats off to Alex, Rik, and the others for coordinating the event. I'm sure it will be absolutely amazing. Yes, Alex's job is hard. And no, he won't please everyone. I've had the priviledge of being included in his shows in the past and I'm grateful for that. In stating our opinions here, I think I and the others just felt the need to stand up for a car that was seemingly being over-looked. Not so much by Rikster. Go back and read his posts, as he had some very insitefull things to say about the importance of the Lopez Merc. As did Happy Hoppy and Chicano Kustoms. I think the thing that just kinda rubs me the wrong way is that Alex himself seemed to brush off the idea of including the Lopez Merc. I've been following this thread since the beginning. Even when there WAS room last week, he was asked about the Nostalgia Sleeper and his response was "We have a stock 1951 Merc coming, thanks." That was before he posted that the show was full. In my opinion, that was a slap in the face to a car that has deeper history than many already on the list. I would think that a person so dedicated to Merc history who's going to such great lengths to find these rare cars would recognize, as many of his fellow HAMBers and Merc historians did, the importance of the Lopez Merc and want to be a part of its continued history. Guess not. Like I said, either way this will be a fantastic show. But I make no apologies for standing up for a terrifically historic custom Merc that seemed to be nonchalantly brushed off by the main guy organizing the show of custom Mercs. Just didn't seem right. Sorry if I said so much that you felt the need to be Captain Save-an-Axle. I'd like to hear Alex's response to some of the things that Conrad, Happy hoppy, Rikster, and others have said about the Lopez Merc and its importance. That would do a great deal in calming the sea of criticism.

Axle, congrats on the way the show is coming together. It will be quite an event!

 

Very well said. I felt the same way as though this car was being brushed off. Given it's history I couldn't understand it. Sometimes I just can't find the words. I'll let you guys come up with it and I'll agree. Thanks

P.S. Axle, the amount of work that you and others have done to get this together does not go unappreciated. Especially the car owners. Thank you, thank you all.

 

I couldnt have said it better myself "Captain Save an axle" LMAO

 

Eryk,
Just want to clear this one up, since Axle is at the GNRS.
Axle is a die-hard original style custom car guy, and he probably was just not aware of the Charley Lopez Mercury other name "Nostalgia Sleeper".
So he made his comments thinking another Stock with hopped up engine Mercury was offered for the Gathering!

 

Although i am extremely busy and living on 4 hours of sleep every night for the past 5 days,and probably the next 3 days, i find it a must to get on here, state some facts,and clarify some things!

First off, Mr Conrad Garcia, you recently wrote to John Buck (which he forwarded to me) and stated in your letter that "you personally know that i print "no Lowriders" on my show fliers" . I have NEVER printed this on any flier i have ever been involved with! We do however, not allow Low Riders in our Viva Las Vegas car show. We also don't allow mini trucks, muscle cars, Fad T's, or high tech Street Rods. The reason for that is simple , cars like those don't have anything to do with the Rockabilly music festival and the 50's lifestyle.That is our choice and we are en***led to organize it the way we see fit.


Mr Garcia, On an earlier post i stated that the building was full but i welcomed you to be a part of the "Merc Drive In". If i had something against you or the Lopez Merc i wouldn't of even invited you to be a special part of that gathering. You must remember one thing, you are enquiring about this show 2 WEEKS prior to the event. This is something that was full over a month ago (way before i posted it on here). Full means Full ! I don't know how else to explain this.

Organizing this Merc gathering has been a monumental task ! Had i known just how much work this was going to take i would NOT of done this ! For the past 3-4 months this has taken over my life. I have constantly been on the phone and computer talking to people from all over , and have driven all over California and Nevada meeting with people to make this happen.

Thanks for your time and i hope those of you that attend the event enjoy it. Have a nice weekend, Axle

 

Hey man I was just giving props to the car,not comin down on Axle.I aint even goin.lol