I’ve known this man since I was 13. Met him at his body shop on Juniper in Fontana California. He showed me how the art of Panel beating . One of the best paint and body guys in Fontana. He helped me machine the wheels for my first English wheel and always stopped by to see what I was building. When he caught wind that I was bringing back old racecars he gifted me this San Bernardino legend. Coming soon on display at the @rodandkart booth. See you in building 5!
Thanks for the late '60's early '70's memories of Merrell's auto wrecking on Waterman Ave. Some OK but some not so good as well.
The best mechanic in San Berdoo helped me rebuild my first 283 sm blk chevy when I was 16, near Baseline st.
My buddy, Phil was telling me about how you received a rear engined T body but I had no idea how nicely done the car was in its heyday. Do you plan to build a ch***is for it or just clean and preserve the body?
Building 5 ??? I hope you are talking about the GNRS. If so, I'm looking forward to seeing it there. My buddies and I have been making the trek there from Idaho for many years. My first was the Oakland Roadster Show at the Civic Auditorium, and I have had cars in the shows at the Coliseum and the Cow Palace. Never for compe***ion, simply for public consumption !!!
Waterman Ave. was home for at least five wrecking auto businesses from 5th Street to 9th. Scotty of Scotty's Muffler Shop downtown also owned Scotty's Wrecking Yard on Waterman Ave. Merrell's was south of there and that roadster was displayed for years in their office. I remember seeing in numerous times at their shop -- and very seldom at any of the local drag strips. They had a complete custom chopped top 39(?) Mercury(?) 4-door convertible that I tried to buy in 1958. No papers on it and they sent it to the crusher. Kriselle(sp?) Auto Wrecking was south of there and had a few Model A's in picking stock. I bought a complete rear end with brakes for $12.50 after hand pushing my broken one in trade a couple miles away on a 100-degree day, locking it up and throwing my 100-lb. body on the ground several times. Years later, after Vietnam, at a bar in Berdoo, a gentleman recognized me and said he owned the yard and laughed and had told the story for years.
. . .and speaking of Scotty -- here's he and his brother-in-law Chuck who ran the wrecking yard at opening day of the Colton Drag Strip. That's Scotty's tank which was one of the very first 200-mph SCTA cars.
Did you get any more of the car or just the body? I’m with Stan, haven’t seen it since the junk yard disappeared. Another was Bob Browns, that’s where the dmv would send you to get a new vin number stamped on your frame. See you at GNRS.
I work within a mile of the junkyards on Waterman and I've often wondered as I drove past. Scotty's Muffler was still in downtown last time I went by. Thanks for the history.
Scotty had that beautiful white "T" with the Ardun and all the 8 exhaust pipes too. I saw it run at San Fernando Drag Strip in the mid 50's. The Scottys Muffler Shop Special it was called as I remember. Build the 27 , it's a beauty.
My recent memories of San Bernardino are the Route 66 shows. But one of my best memories was as a 5 year old when my dad took me to see the Parade of Progress. https://www.sbsun.com/2024/09/09/gms-parade-of-progress-came-to-san-bernardino-in-1956/
Yes he does! @Jimmy B @hudsonjoe49 what a gift! So pleased for you to have this in your possession. Looking forward to seeing how this works out!
Happy New Year @hudsonjoe49...and a priceless star to 26 indeed. Give your Mentor a fist bump for us. What a great story...
The Jalopy Journal
