History MILESTONE CUSTOM CARS: Louie Bettancourt 49 Merc

sumat I did a while ago!!

 

Hey Jeff are the pictures on your computer? If so it is pretty easy to post on here. Let me know and and I can try and guide you through it.

 

Jeff, use www.photobucket.com it's very easy. I upgraded mine so I pay a few bucks but it gave me more room to host pics. You can upload 5-6 pics at a time too if your computer can handle it.

 

Nice drawing!

 

I can't get enough of these threads! As a person who has always loved chopped Mercs but doesn't know much of the history it's been real learning experience.

 

ditto the history stuff is great.

 

This photo of Ed Roth working on his Rotar hangs on the walls of Larry Watson's private Museum. On the right you can see the Johnny Zupan Mercury. And I think (the photo is not as sharp, or large as I would have loved it to be) the car already has the front and rear pans reworked by Bill DeCarr. I think the Rotar was built in the early 60's...




In another photo from the Watson museum, we can see the front fender of the Zupan Merc, and this one clearly has the quad headlights installed.



Here is the complete photo showing the Golden Sahara road trip truck painted by Larry Watson.




In this Andy Southard photo of **** Gonzales 1955 Studebaker (paintjob by Watson) we can see the Zupan Merc in the background as well. I'm not quite sure which garage this is.. but since Larry Watson worked with Bill DeCarr a lot and since the car is a Watson painted car and the Zupan Merc was reworked by Bill... this most likely is Bill DeCarr's workshop.

 

These old photos are amazing you almost learn more from looking at what is going on in the background of them than looking at the intended subject matter. Keep them coming Rik.

 

Ever since I was a kid( I`m 40), I`d read everything about customs I could get my hands on. And took many photographs. I remember many of the names and have seen a lot of the photos. But THE RIKSTER put the timeline all together and the history becomes clear. I just sit back and take it all in. It`s not the quanity of people into the history of KUSTOMS, it`s the quality of people. Does the book, Computers For Dummies help, I`d love to learn to post pic`s.

 

Very cool post and well spoken.I agree with what you are saying about quan***y and quality because there really isnt that many people who care about the real core history (timelines etc.).Dont get me wrong.plenty of people love customs but to really be into the order and timelines you have to really be twisted(like some of us) to really think that stuff matters.Most people feel like "Does it really matter" is good enough.Well to some of us it does matter and it sounds like it matters to you and I think that is very cool.

 

Here are two photos of the car when Johnny Zupan owned it.
The car was being worked at by Bill DeCarr at his Artesia Blvd shop in Bellflower. The photos come from the Larry Watson Personal Collection.

It shows the front and read of the car being reworked. Studebaker pans added both front and rear and quad headlights installed at the front. The old Barris paint and Jeffries scallops and pin striping is still visible in these photos.

 

It is still hard for me to believe that nobody knows the whereabouts of this ever so famous mercury.Of co**** there is the story of that certain "group" that had it up north but one would think that by 2011 more info would of leaked by now.If the car is still around I would think it would of been recognized by now.It would be so great if this car was discovered and brought back for everyone to enjoy.

 

Jeff, the last thing I heard was that the car has been sitting in or on the back of a semi trailer. I believe somewhere in Arizona.

 

You know Rik,now that you mention it,I was told that too but it was a long time ago and I dont remember who said it but I just kind of brushed it off.Well maybe if you heard the same thing,then maybe their is some truth to it.Just think of how sad it would be if the semi trailor story is true.Just sitting there rotting away,why would someone keep it hidden like that after all this time?

 

I was told about this at this years GNRS... I heard it from two different sources that show.

And as for sitting there and rotting away.. perhaps Arizona is the best possible location for us for a car like this sitting outside!

 

Arizona huh.....Well at least it's warm and dry! I would love to see this car found and restored in my lifetime. probably the best looking '49 merc ever built!

 

Ok Kevin ... here is the real question....if you had it, which way would you go ? Ayala or Barris ? I dont even have to think about which way I would go with it .

I would also like to know your answer too Rik.

 

First version Ayala... although I have to admit the Barris version looks better imo. There are only very few real Ayala Custom Cars left, so what we have needs to be restored to the Ayala configurations!

 

Thats a tough one Jeff. Both versions are great of course, but I gotta be honest, the 2nd version is what really does it for me. But I dont know.....If I had, I would probably restore it to the Ayala version but use the Barris grill! Would I go to hell for that?

 

Great thread, thanks guys! The Ayala body work is great, but I think the Barris changes like the side trim and dark color really gave her more character. Maybe the first version went just a little bit too far to make it smooth and different... but I the Barris verision is now one of my favorit Mercs ever.

Obviously, the third version is not so interesting anymore... The best era of customs was nearing its end, and tastefulness and flow gave room for radical looks and eyecatchiness.

 

Oh Kevin ....I think if you did that with the grill ,Hell would come to you ! I think you might of woke Gil up just by saying that.

 

hahahaha! Sorry Gil!

 

If I found this diamond,this is what it would be getting restored to without question.

 

I'm with you on that Jeff!! To me its the only way to go with it. If i had the $$$$ i would clone it just like that.

 

Thanks , RIK, You always get me fired up, and ready to knock out some hours this weekend!

 

For me the issue I have with this version, which is nitpicking what I feel is the best Merc of all time is the lack of any kind of trim on the sides. The one thing I think Harris's did do on the second version that was a huge improvement was the Caddy side trim.

 

Oh come on Jeff, you know you'd be rollin hard in the gaudy Zupan version! Hey those hubcaps would look sweet on your merc!

 

How to **** up the perfect car.

 

Ayala version all the way! Less is more.

 

With all the resources out there. How can and still do people **** up mercury's.

The secound version has to much going on for me.