The Bob Hirohata-Jim McNiel preserved then restored Merc is one of my favorites cars of all times. Not a fan of many of the customizing trends done to lots of cars in that time frame, somehow this over the top custom really tics all the right buttons. When Jim bought this custom it was in the second 2-tone Greens it wore through the passage of time. It was painted for the Black-n-White movie "Running Wild". Mattel has jus released a 2nd version of this amazing car in their "Hot Wheels" "Rod Squad" collection. It's in the "Running Wild" 2-tone Greens. I like it better than the first color. Now 2 the question. Does any one have more pictures of Hirohata's merc in "Running Wild" greens ?? There aren't many pictures out there in these colors. There has got to be more somewhere ??
The only pics I've seen on are Kustomrama and Customcarchronicle. I'm assuming you've seen these but if not.....
Thnx guys, yes I have those pictures. Faded Gold that may have been a "Candy " Lime Acrylic Lacquer back in the day is not all that. I bet it was not bad when freshley completed. I bet this shot of the car was is in the 2nd set of colors. I wonder if Jr Connway knows what colors were used the second time ??
I've never been a fan of the gold-green. This is the clone that is supposed to be pretty accurate and in my photo the color looks a lot lighter but I have seen photos of the real deal and this clone together and the colors are close.
Last I heard Junior was not doing well. I know Teddy Z, I can ask him if he knows anything about the second color. Teddy knew Bob Horohata and Junior.
Teddy does not know the actual color, was probably mixed special. He said it was a medium gold metallic. Also said after it was in the movie it was damaged on one side. I believe it was owned at the time by Dirty Doug who worked for Roth. Doug traded it in to the used car lot where McNeil found it.
Thnx KevKo, Now looking back, this car was painted originally for Bob Hirohata by Barris' amazing crew in 1953 I'm betting just days before it was entered in the 1953 "Motorama" a Peterson show ?? , where it was a sensation. It was in the movie "Running Wild" released in 1955. So who painted it for its' movie roll ? When ? Late '54 early 1955 ?? With all that said it may not have been it's "current" green as long as the darker shades ??? questions-questions ??
I am not a fan of most customs, but this IMO is "THE Kustom". Bob Hirohata may be gone, but his Mercury will live on forever in my mind.
The car was featured in The Rodger’s Journal #5 in unrestored condition, and in TRJ #8 after restoration. Lots of good info there. It was painted lime gold at Barris’ shop before the movie. Then it changed hands (Robert Waldsmith). After it was wrecked it was repaired and painted gold metallic by Sam Gates. Then it changed hands again (Dirty Doug), and again (Jim McNeil). Junior painted it the original colors for the restoration.
Thnx KevKo, I've got the Rodders Journal edition. Next question. Anybody know of any color pictures of the Lime Gold Paint ?? Is the first picture below from a magazine artical from 1956 or so ?? Bob showed in in the second color comb. There has got to be some color picture from that look ??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohata_Merc Wiki can be darn useful if it's got lots of links. This page does. It doesn't have all the history, but it has magazines it was in, 16 threads from here thru 2018, and links at the 2 biggies already mentioned. Lots of other reference links, too including a mention of a Barris.com site that is no longer online but can be accessed at the wayback machine. You could probably spend a day gathering all the stuff. Of course, some might be wrong. https://www.customcarchronicle.com/tag/bob-hirohata/ https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11..._cars/barris-1/hirohata_mercury-1/50s_photos/ I'd really like to get both of those HW. I see they are being hawked on the big sites at a markup, but not too steep. Guess this means they are still out in the wild. EDIT: GOT THEM!
It doesn't surprise me that there are no colour pictures of it in it's second paint job from back in the day. Colour photograph was still pretty rare and expensive in the mid 50's and the car had been out for two years at that point so it wasn't new and cool anymore. There are only a handful of colour pictures of it from the time when it first came out and was a sensation so once it had had it's day it's far less likely to get photographed by someone who had the ability to do so in colour. The custom car scene was changing rapidly at that point in time which was probably part of the reason Bob had it repainted to try and keep it relevant. Newer builds were probably far more likely for a photographer to use his expensive colour film on than a repaint of an already well known car. We have to remember the average person didn't have a colour camera at the time. It would have been something for the rich and professionals and anyone covering the car scene as a professional wouldn't be "wasting" colour film on what at that point was an older custom just because it was repainted.
I was hoping because Bob had showed it in the second color, like at the "Thrifty Drugs" car show or during the filming of "The Wild Ones" someone out there has some color pictures...thnx 4 your help guyz
The movie was Running Wild. I would imagine the only reason a colour picture would have been taken of a car for a movie back then would be for promotion of the movie and the Hirohata was just a secondary car in the movie. The main character drove Fred Rowe's convertible Merc so if there was a picture to be taken for movie promo it would have probably been that car not the Hirohata. Its the one you can kind of see on the movie posters for Running Wild. My guess would be that the Hirohata was painted in Lime Green Gold which was a custom paint colour that George was selling through his Hollywood Kustom Accessories deal. Being that he was always a self promoter it would make sense to use a colour he sold to paint the car to using as a rolling promo. I doubt it was a candy as it would have been painted right around the time of the first known candy paint job and it was never billed as that and George would have been all over that had it been. I did a lot of research on lime gold colour from that time period when I was trying to figure out the paint colour for my truck and everyone I talked to said the cars painted in those colours in that time frame were not candies. Man to get a gallon of custom mixed lacquer for $18. One can only dream lol.
I always thought it would have been fun to buy it from the guy who had it forever and cruise it around as found. to be honest I'd rather have had a look at the original remains than the restored car.
The hamb detective agency has just come through. I'd bet dollars -2- donuts the second paint job is "Barris" No.3 Lime Gold Green on the top and No. 12 Organic Green in the lower portion.
I’m sure most of you have seen this video. Pat talks about contacting PPG and getting color matched lacquer paint for the restoration. Of course not the lime gold that original poster was looking for. The story of this car really captivates a lot of people.
I'm going to say-it. I like the "Wild Ones"colors better. No.3 Lime Gold Green and No.12 Organic Green. I bet George was betting on the movie being shot in color to help sell his Kustom colors (below). These colors would have "blown-up" on the big screen !!
This picture here is why we do what we do. It's out lives. Ryan keeps it going but this one here says it all. Don't know what Camera was used but @Ryan the subject matter, man.... agree ?
Not sure how I feel about Mattel still calling this the hirohata with this paint scheme. Wound up in my collection as it's still cool though lol
The Jalopy Journal
