History MILESTONE CUSTOM CARS: Louie Bettancourt 49 Merc

Hey Rik,

Maybe Ayala figgered early on that if they had gone with 552's instead of the 112's, and moved them up on to the A posts ,that you'd not be able to see outa the windscreen?

" Humpty dumpty was pushed "

 

I like the location of Louie's spotlights.Its kind of cool where they were mounted.Probably had something to do with opening the hood.

 

When the spotlights are drilled in the typical location(a pillar) at the right height.......they are a little bit of a pain in the *** but the look is worth it.

There is nothing worse then seeing spots sitting halfway or more up on the A pillar,that is a Custom sin in my opinion,but thats just me.

 

I have to say that this thread fired me up to go sleddin tonight.I was tired after work but then looking at Louie's Merc I changed my mind.Got showered and went to the little cruise night.Mostly tweed and other stuff there but it was somewhere to cruise to.I know this is o.t. but this thread got me goin.New avatar pic was from tonight.Nothing like a little sleddin to start the weekend.Thanks Louie

 

I know the feeling Jeff.

Everytime I see an online listing for a Mercury I wonder if it could be one of the earlier builds. But I haven't seen one with a fadeaway like that pretty much ever for sale.

 

stunning!

 

Pat... well since you had brought up your book and the section talking about Louie's merc I have to ask you this question.I say this with all do respect so I hope it doesn't come out wrong since it is being typed.
In the opening paragraph of your writeup for Louie's car you talk about how it went to Ayala's shop to get chopped,etc but was taken to Barris' for finishing.
Now I know you did the TRJ articles about the Ayala brothers and im thankful for that because not many people seem to care much about those guys.So I figure you would have to know that this car was at the Pan Pacific in 1952 and yes it was a finished and not by the Barris shop.So I have to ask why you wrote that in your book.Im not trying to start **** here...I just would like the truth to be known especially in a book of that quality.

I know you are not the only one who has said this about Louie's car but I just wanted to ask you.

 

Jeff,

By now I'm pretty sure you and I are the only ones reading this. But the answer to your question is simple. It wasn't until I interviewed Gil's wife Lucille, and their daughters Lisa and Lu, for the 2-part Ayala story in The Rodder's Journal, that I saw photos of the Bettancourt Merc as finished by the Ayalas (note the 2-page photo of Louie standing next to it on pp. 18-19 of issue No. 39). Not only did Lucille have lots of great early photos, but also the program books from the '52 Motorama and several other shows where Ayala cars appeared. Until then I thought (because I had been told by more than one person) that for one reason or another Bettancourt took the car to Barris's to be finished. One big reason I did the Ayala stories was because we knew far too little about this important, historic customizing family. The great thing about studying history is that you continue to learn new facts. One thing I learned from Lucille was that Louie Bettancourt was a close friend of Gil and her. Something she couldn't answer, however, is why Louie took the car to Barris's later to have it redone.
That we might never know, for sure. One thing I have learned since those article were published is that "model" Jeannie Chrisman was actually Wally Welch's girlfriend at the time.

Now, if you check the copyright dates on the magazines and on the book, it would lead you to believe the articles were written first. But books take a long time to write and then to publish and print. I actually wrote that part of the book before I interviewed Lucille and saw her photo albums and memorabilia; otherwise I wouldn't have repeated what I did in the book.

Pat Ganahl

 

Thanks Pat, I thought it might of had something to do with the timelines of your book getting published.Thanks for being cool about it, because like I said.......it was an honest question.

Yes....we are probably the only ones reading this.Well I can think of one other Ayala fan.

 

Lots of people paying attention - it just SEEMS like dead air.
Over 25,000 views of this post so far.
History evolves.

 

Me, me, me!!!

 

You guys are not alone.

 

Im here too! thanks Pat!
-palle

 

I am here as well. My favorite custom of all time.

 

My guess after reading this thread all the way through again, is that, George Barris, being the ultimate promoter, kept an eye out for primered cars that he could paint fast, enter it in the newly started indoor shows of the day. This way he could hang his name on it and get great publicity. A great marketing ploy and why he became King of the Customizers.

I really liked the Barris version the best, the one with the scallops. Scallops were a visual update, and at that point in time, very popular.

Whatever your tastes, this is a fabulous car, and I hope it is found someday.

 

Oh no, sir... You are wrong there.

 

Me too!!!

 

I'm here as well!

 

I"m loving this thread.

 

Lotsa Kustom guys still out here, Pat....watching.....lurking.....lurking......

 

Shakin' it here Boss!

 

I am still here on the edge of my seat reading every word! Jim

 

I'm here too Jeff, trying to build my own little Ayala shrine !

 

Great information Pat! Your search for facts is of big importance for us custom historians.

 

Here is Johnny Zupan at Lions Dragstrip in 1955 or maybe 56.

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

Man Zupan did no favours to that car!

 

^^ You are right about that but it still looks cool cruising in a parking lot full of "regular" cars. I like it because it shows some of the work of Ayala bros. Deep beneath the stuff Barris did to that beauty.

 

It is a great picture. My favorite Merc of all time up until the last version. I love that slippery Ayala style. Everything molded into one flowing m***. Nobody did it better IMO.

 

That's '56 or later, those are '56 CA plates on all those cars. '55 plates are black.