History What Ever Happened to..........?

Welcome back. It was posted a few pages back.

 

....eeek! Good thing I didn't know about that.....I woulda been trying to sweet talk my wife out of our kids college education. Hoping it will get out and about.....Indy?

 

It still amazes me, that with all the customs ever built, plus with the ones being built. Misty Bluz and the first version of the yellow Merc are still on my list of all time greats.

 

The pink car was a different car from the same builder. I hear he was from the North West

 

00 Mack, Thanks for that info clearing up the similar Mercs. I know you are a wealth of kustom info, looking forward to more from you. BTW, nice pics in show coverage in Kustoms Illustrated #51.

 

@OO MACK after you mentioned about the yellow Merc being for sale in a fucked up version. I went threw my old Leadsledders and found the add. Then it took me at least 3 years to learn how to post pic`s. Thanks for the info.

 

Misty Blue & Ally Opp were both part of Duke Thompson's (Duke 0f Earl) collection. Sadly Duke pasted away last August.

 

Duke had quite a collection of Mercurys and loved Corvettes too. GREAT GUY. Never without his white shirt and a cowboy hat.


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Misty Blue is back in Jersey. Elle Chesworth (spelling??) bought it. She previously owned a 54 Plymouth Belmont concept car. Her driver stopped at my buddies house in Toms River to show him the car, and he thought it was one of my builds, so he shot me some pics from his phone. I talked to the driver, and gave him a short version of the car's history, to inform the owner.

 

Now that is an unusual pipe treatment!

 

The pipes were functioning flame throwers. The shield prevented paint damage. They were used.

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This pic was taken in 96 or around about. What other customs did he own.

 

He owned Buck Owens' Merc for awhile.

https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11...s/51_mercury_custom_cars/buck-owens-1951-mer/

 

Here's a couple more of Duke's cars. Automotive artist, Thom Petersen, has a very nice Youtube video of an interview he did with Duke just last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzIANR7txEk&t=19s

 

Prez, that link doesn't work.

 

Front view of the Buck Owen's Merc.

 

It worked for me.

 

When I click the link you posted I get a "Mail is currently unavailable" notification page.
I found the video and posted it above.

 

Did Duke add the flames to the Owens' Merc or was it like that when he got it?

 

Here`s the front end shot of the car I posted earlier.

 

Here is the shot of the Gary (Chop It)Fioto built 51. It was also at the show in 96(?) in Davenport Iowa`s Merc Duce Reunion. Thanks for the info.

 

What Ever Happened To..........? number 85.

1956 Mercury "Heart and Soul"
Owner: Clarence Crayton
Montgomery, Illinois

This week's W.E.H.T. seems to be another one of those cars that came on the scene and disappeared rather quickly.
Clarence Crayton put together this nice mild custom '56 Merc in the early 80s. As far as the body goes, it's pretty much stock with the exception of the shaved and louvered hood, shaved trunk and the name "Heart and Soul" that was lettered on the lower front fenders. What the car lacked in custom mods it made up for in detail. The pictures I've seen of the engine show the incredible amount of time and money that went into the engine compartment to make it a real contender at the shows. Top notch stuff! Clarence also seemed to like doo-dads as the trunk was highly detailed, and he liked to hang a car hop tray on the driver's door with fake food to get the total time frame effect.
According to my research, the car was taken to the '82 Leadsled Spectacular in Des Moines, as well as the '83 Spectacular in Springfield, Ohio. It was also at the Mid Century Mercury Show in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1983.
As far as videos go, Clarence was interviewed by one of Rowdie's (@49toad) gals at the '83 Spectacular, and it was seen a few other times on the video as well. After that, I couldn't find it on any other video.
I didn't find much in magazine coverage, but I did find a super two page feature on the Mercury in Custom Cars by Hot Rod volume 1 number 5 from 1983 on pages 58 and 59. Shame it was in black and white, but a great article none-the-less. In the article, it mentioned that at car shows Clarence had "Heart and Soul" playing through speakers set up in his trunk. I've included a video link to the song to help get the 50s vibe for this post like Clarence was trying to do at car shows some 37 years ago! Unfortunately, that lone article was all I could find on this Merc in my library.
I did manage to find a small group of great pictures. The first few came from @Rikster's site and were taken by our own @drdave at the '83 Mid Century Mercury Show, including a super shot of the engine compartment. It's a very small image but I hope it's large enough to see the great detail. The other two pictures I found on the Custom Rodder website by an unknown photographer. Another pair of nice pictures, but it's really too bad that all the pictures I came across have the hood and trunk open. I understand about show points and all that, but it's hard to get the sweet lines and profile of a custom with everything wide open.
I guess all we get this week is a really small sample size of this great sled as my research didn't turn up a whole lot. After '83 the car faded away--at least in this version. Maybe it was re-done or sold or something, but let's all hope it's still out there.
Until next time, see you around! E

 

Wonder why the engine pic is so small. No matter, I know the guy that has the original pic. Maybe he can post it tomorrow when he gets to work. [emoji6]

I still remember seeing that engine and thinking, “wow! I’d like to have a detailed motor like that one day.” Maybe it’s where my love of all things finned aluminum and chrome came from. [emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Lil' E Not that I've seen it since, but here it is one year later than your records, at the '84 Spectacular in Des Moines.

 

Pictures don`t do this car justice. You have to see it in person. I have no idea why I don`t have a picture of this car. A local here in town built a 55 Merc after seeing this car in Des Moines in 82. He later moved to Georgia and sold the car. I did find a pic of Clarence in Classic And Custom. I have a soft spot for 55-56 Mercs, and Heart and Soul is at the top of the list. Thanks for the video link.

 

Found this classified ad. I think this may be it. The Continental kit is obviously added, along with the front/rear striping. But check the striping on the taillights and the layout of the louvers on the hood!
https://classiccars.com/listings/vi...clair-for-sale-in-toms-river-new-jersey-08755

 

And if that IS indeed "Heart n Soul", now you know what it looks like all closed up.