Hey all, my car was recently hit on the rear quarter panel, i am going to have to take down the white pearl completely. My thought was to give the car a mild custom feel, shave the handles, door locks, mirrors, antennae, rear emblems, front emblems and side emblems. Just wanted everyone to weigh in on their thoughts, right now the car has a white pearl, was thinking of going with a gold pearl since i have to spray all over again. Thoughts?
Hard to imagine changing your car at all. It's pretty much perfect just the way it is. If it was mine, I'd fix the damage and repaint the same colors as required. I'm very fond of the '55 and '56 Mercurys with all the "gingerbread" intact. I don't think they look any better with it shaved off. Although I've considered going "mild custom" with my own '54, I think I'll like it better with full trim intact as well. I might remove just the hood and deck emblems (I'll keep the bird for sure) and let it go at that...
The bottom line. It's your car build it the way that will make you and only you happy ! Even if you paint it Purple and green with pink poka-dots.
Phil, I really love the white pearl with the red. I'd have to see a gold pearl but I don't see how your could do much better than that red and white pearl. I think that shaving the handles, locks might be cool but I think your emblems look great on the sides with pinstriping you have. But it's your car. Just my $.02!
Appreciate the feedback guys! i am a little torn between what to do, the car has been this color for a long time, seems that it is time for something new!
I fall into that trap too, Phil. I think we all do at one time or another - get tired of what we have and want to make changes even though no changes are needed. I've learned to ask myself the question, "Will it be better...or just different?" The answer is usually that, while different, it won't be any better than what I've got already...and heads off the potential disaster of making it worse than it was before. Perhaps that's why my "customs" tend to be very mild. On the other hand, "mild" = "timeless..."
i would keep the trim on the one hand, and on the other, you could almost make enough if sold to finance a new paint job. please keep the trim. and leave it white too. it looks really sharp as is, minus the new custom bodywork of course.
While your car is the way it is, it shows people how sweet these cars are. Modify it and it is no longer a cl***ic and may lose some of it's charm. It would be unique if you change it to suit your tastes but it already is that. It is your choice at the end of the day, but I am sure just about everybody here loves your car the way it is, but hey, it is your car. Regards
I say atleast nose it and deck it. Maybe get rid of the stainless on the rockers, but I'm indifferent to it. I think shaving your car would make it look rad, but after fighting solenoids for a few years on my car, I understand them getting old. Mirrors make good cars look bad. Keep the trim, it breaks up the car. Take off the extra, it makes it busy. Mostly, do whatever feels right
I don't know man that car is AWESOME like it is. Would almost be like Marilyn Monroe Getting major plastic surgery. It just would'nt work. She was perfect like she was.
Thanks to everyone for the comments, i have been a Kustom guy for quite sometime, so this build will be as mild as possible while still maintaining the integrity of the Merc. Stay tuned for pics!
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