Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Mid Century Mild Mercs... Continue reading the Original Blog Post
I wish you guys would be quiet about these cars. Write about Chevys, Moonglow, Watson loved em. Right now the Fors and Mercs are still 'cheep', half the price of the Chevys and available. Its a good thing I have my three. And the motors, the OHV six and the Y Block are just 'boat anchors'! Once other 'builders' find out, the prices will go to the moon (glow)!
Jive-Bomber, I am a staunch alumni of the Less-Is-More school! Great material, Great selections and a fine follow up to Ryan's blog from yesterday. Keep up the good work! HillBillyBomber
I think the mid-50's non-Chevys are some of the best deals in hot rodding/customizing these days. A good, mostly stock car can be had for relatively cheap and given the mild treatment....Mercs, Pontiacs, Olds, Buicks of that timeframe are inexpensive compared to their Chevy counterparts and make great customs. As Jive said...clean, lower and make some mild personal adjustments and you are in business!
Here would be my choice for a mild mid-50's Merc Kustom: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-Mon...m=331354351697&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_101wt_902 A Phatom! Be unique Boys! Somebody should jump on this one. Keep the original color!
My 53 with 54 Merc quarters and Pontiac trim. Caddy caps with Mercury Comet Gas caps for centers. Tom...
As much as I agree that Mark Morton's 54 is a favorite (my favorite). The top chop takes it out of mild territory and into full custom....though it looks quite mild it has alot of little body mods, but done so subtly that it looks mild
I've always dug the look of the 52-54 Mercs, just a little better than the 49-51s and my parents had them back in 50s and early sixties. Starting with a 46 coupe and ending with a 61 (they had a 51 convert). The 61 was rearended and with the insurance money, my parents bought a new 65 Mustang.
Some great choices there, JB! Especially like Harry Cruse's '53. I hate to say it about any of Larry Watson's work, but the tiger stripe scallops on the '55 are pretty distracting. I don't think I've seen pics of any other car where he did that again so that maybe he didn't think it was so successful either. For my money, Larry's masterpiece mid '50s Merc was this copper and gold beauty. Shown on Rikster's Custom Car Archive... or maybe it's this one!
I had the chance to buy a 54 about 10 years ago.I really wanted the motor,but at the time just wasn't feeling it for mid 50s Fords.That car pops up in my brain on a daily basis amd all I can say is "What was I thinking?"
The Jalopy Journal
