So you have one away each of those years? Looks just like the others, great job. Do you remember what cars you have them To? Lol I know you do! Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Heart and Soul merc, I remember the car from being at Springfield, I'm sure I've got pics of it some where. Remembered it was in a magazine too, took me awhile to dig it up tho, seem to remember another article with a leggy model and a tight sweater but haven't found it yet ... anyway back to the present .. street rodder magazine, February 1983
Clarence also had a stunning all white 49 or 50 Merc as well, surprised nobody has posted a picture of it. There was no visible wiring under the hood which was very unusual in the 80's!
Talked with Dale Conrad in Indy, and I brought up Clarence`s 56 Merc. I always thought his last name was Clayton. He mentioned Clarence Crayton`s White Merc. Since then I did run across a pic of his white Merc. Can`t remember where I saw it. @Sancho
The only time I saw Clarence's '50 Merc. was at Americruise in '94 or '95 in Peoria. He got the car from Kurt McCormick, Kurt got it from me, I got it from Jerry Mongomery and Jerry got it from Kurt Mc Cormick. Kurt got it from used car lot in Affton , Mo. Tom H.(?) customized it in the late '50s. It was beautiful when done. I heard Tom sold it to a rich kid and it went downhill from there. When Kurt bought it in the late '60s it was really rough. Brush painted black with very crude homemade flames. Clarence did a beautiful job of rebuilding it. What ever happened to Clarence?
Saw this Merc at the Good-Guy's event in Bowling Green, KY in September of 2015...still looks the same and was for sale at the time...don't know if it sold. R-
I didn't know that Clarence Crayton had any other customs besides his '56 Mercury. I'd also like to find out more about the white '50 and what happened to Clarence like @D.Conrad said. If you look at the pictures that @BrewtownPrez posted, you can see a lot of similarities to "Heart and Soul" and this white Merc. Very, very clean engine compartment. Lots of finned aluminum goodies on the nailhead as well as carb scoops instead of air cleaners, and no visible wiring like @Slopok mentioned. Also, it has a name lettered on the bottom of the front fenders and it has Illinois license plates. This could be the Clarence Crayton Merc. Knowing the kustom history mystery hunters that are on this thread all the time, it will turn up! E
I believe that it is, looks as if to be at Mid Century show in Kenosha maybe? The cleanliness under the hood was a rarity when I had first seen it, today it is commonplace especially on the high end builds. Anyone notice the mirror muff on the 56???
Thought so, thank you. Those were nice shows, wish they were still around. Now we have to go to the Ducktail or James Dean in Indiana to see a gathering of Mercs.
Some "Misty Blue" first pic is from December 81 Street Rodder coverage of the First Annual Leadsled Street Spectacular, owned by Rick Schnell it won "Koolest Interior" Second pics from June 82 Custom Rodder feature Sent from my QTASUN1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
There we go! @62hotcat found "Heart and Soul". Glad to know it's still around. Thanks for the great pics 62hotcat! I see it has a "For Sale" sign on the seat that shows $36K, and it has $31K written on the windshield. Either price is a lot of money, but it's a lot of car with some cool history. I'm still wondering where Clarence is and if he is still into customs. E
In person. It's in good shape but neglected. Has some leaks needs a good cleaning. Sent from my XT1650 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It's a shame to own a car like that and be unaware of it having some history...is there any blame ? Some people don't care about history.... I know I kick myself in the ass still for not checking on the possibility of some history on a few of the cars that I bought in my younger years to find out later that they had famous Background's....but then they were just cars l didn't care about there past ounce they belonged to me.....back in the early 80's I showed a Kustom 56 Buick and hit most all the local events the car was later sold to a local guy that always liked the car.... I talked to him a year or so later after not seeing the car around he seamed to be not that interested in it any more he said he got tired of going to shows with the car and having people knowing more about the car than he did...last I heard it was parked in one of them portable car tents all forgotten...... Sent from my QTASUN1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I hear stories like this from time to time and it's a real shame. You always hope that custom cars, especially the ones with great history end up with owners that will take care of them for future generations to enjoy. I guess some guys don't know how lucky they are..........E
In one of the pictures the "For Sale" sign is on the seat. There is a phone number on it but even when I blow up the picture I can't make out all the numbers. I see 908-413-35?? Maybe somebody will be able to clear it up. E
The Jalopy Journal
