Another one found on ebay a few years ago... I dont think it will fit in as a Kustom, but its these type of cars that lead to Kustoms being built. Perhaps some License plate guru's can identify when this photo was taken, but my guess it the early-mid 40's 1934 Ford Cabriolet with chopped windshield, removed running boards, and rear fenders protected with stainless steel guard. It looks like the single bar flipper hubcap from a 30's Cadillac is used and not the well know aftermarket hubcaps we all know so well... rather poor quality photo... all I have, since this one went to a bidder with much more money that I had. Another similar styled Ford is Alex Xydias 1943 Cabriolet... Another ebay find... Hard to tell but its either a Ford or Mercury from 41-48. Heavy chop on the windshield, and a very intersting shape of the padded top. The fenders are raised and the hood is sectioned... I have never seen any other photo of this wild custom... I believe it was from the East Coast... Ray Vega's Valley Custom Shop built 38 Ford with 40 front end.... classic
I have heard rumors that it was still around and hidden in a garage (on the east coast). But I have never seen any photos that could proof this.
Lee Pratt started a semi-clone years ago. It was part of build-up features in Classic and Custom magazine. I hear there is a clone being built in New Jersey as we speak. Not sure of the fate of the original, but I'm pretty sure it's gone. Either way, it's a great looking car.
This one was on the cover of the 1956 Nov. issue of RnC. Owned by Roger Cunningham of Portland, OR. and built by Bob Mead of Forest Grove.
I forgot where I found this one.. perhaps here on the hamb, or elsewhere on the net. Photo from http://bchra.org From ebay... Posted on the hamb many years ago... Photo from http://bchra.org Dave Crook 1958 Pontiac
A few years ago these photos showed up on ebay... they went away for a very good price (I think less than $200), unfortunately I did not have the money to spare at that moment... Would be great to see them up close, I see some very famous custom cars in that stash.
Here is a '49 Merc at the Ft. Wayne show in 1965. It was candy lavender with white scallops. The interior shot is a '55 Olds in blue flake with blue/white pleats. The '34 is a little off for this thread but the interior is classic custom in white and gold pleats. This car had a plexiglas firewall.
I don't have much to contribute, but here's a few prints that I do have...some are kind of grainy, oh well. A few are pretty recognizable, a few maybe haven't been posted yet. Hard to keep track... Awesome thread! Of course, the Hirohata Mercury: Gene Winfield's Mercury: Gene Winfield's shop truck (currently under restoration): I think we are all familiar with this one: A pretty radical Mercury: A '53/'54 Chevy Convertible: Nice little '56 Chevy sedan: And a little Shoebox Ford action for good measure: So much inspiration in all these old pictures...really amazing to see how different builders approached a Kustom... Thanks for everyone who has shared pictures... BRT
BIGREDTODD...I was bidding on ebay on that Hirohata photo. Was it you that won it. if I recall the auction said it was an 8 x 10.
No, I have had these (reprints) for a few years. The one on Ebay may have been a reprint as well, or the Original that mine came from... Sent you a PM...
Please tell me that car isn't a redo of Bailys Famous Candy Purple Merc with the AWESOME Bubble skirts!!! I don't have any reference material where I'm at, but please tell me that's not it....a simple no will do......Centurion9
I don't know what to say Rik........That car used to keep my dreams occupied for a long time.....That's too bad, but it happened to so many of the era...trying to keep up with the changes in style and missing it.....Thanks for being such a great resource...even when it hurts! Centurion9
I like the M/T Radar wheels better than the Cragers. The Radars were hot in the early to mid 60s. The bubble skirts would be awesome though. I took that picture with my Kodak Brownie Starflash camera. Remember those? The Merc must have impressed me because I only photographed about a half dozen cars that year. I would have been 17 at the time. Tom
This photo caught my eye and I wondered what was wrong with it. Then I noticed the license plate which appears to be a California plate with a 53 tab. I didn't remember those black plates having numbers like that and did some research on the Internet and found this site that has photos of every year of CA plates ..... California didn't have personalized plates until much later so I wonder why the numbers on this plate are wrong. Could it be a "paper plate" that was put over the real plate for a movie? Anyone know if this car was used in a movie?
Not all CA 1951 plates had 7 characters. In fact, I have a '51 plate with only 5 characters. The 7 character plates were later in the production (1951-1955). Gene likely had a lexan cover over the plate, making it appear to be flat rather than embossed. The frames appear to have more squared off corners as well. The car could have been used in a movie, but I am all but certain the plates are legitimate. BRT
Great photo, 39 delux. That Merc was a cover car in Custom Craft. I have the pages of the article inside the mag in my pic album here:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=569
Thanks Mike, I knew that I've seen the Merc before I just couldn't remember where. The sad thing is I have that same lil page magazine at home. I guess it was the five spokes that was throwing me off. Happy Trails, Mick
This post is awesome...kustom heaven. I want to post a picture of my dad's '49 Merc convertible in hopes that somebody might recognize it and know more about it. However, it's just a mild kustom, but with Anthony having East Coast kustom knowledge coming outta his ears, I figured maybe he might know a lil somethin about it. My dad bought this merc in May or June 1960 in Long Island when he was 19. He drove it from Garden City to Jamaica and parked it at the train station while he was in New York City. It had a '56 Olds mill with triple carbs, chromed everything, and ribbed valve covers, but whoever installed the Olds motor didn't have the right driveshaft so it would always fall out when my dad got on it. Rather than fix it, my dad installed a stock '51 Merc flathead. When he joined the Navy my grandmother sold the Olds motor for $150. The car was supposedly built around 1958 and had the obvious done to it- '55 Ford grill, radically rounded (east coast) hood corners, frenched headlights, '55 Pontiac Starchief sidetrim. Out back it had '58 Biscayne taillights. The car was medium metallic blue with silver above the trim and grey primer spots on the doors and trunk. The interior was similar to a '54 Chevy square pattern and blue and silver as well. No chop. My dad bought it from a young kid who supposedly did all the work himself. I dig the moon discs for some reason... This picture is poor quality, so if I get a chance I will scan the original again... Only pic we have:
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