He is my All time favorite/greatest Customizer/fabricator. He did the channeled and sectioned hood 40 Merc convert. Also did the Fadeways that a many of the guys back then used. Was he ever featured in the mags? Thanks. Ken
here's a link, How does one upload images here on the HAMB site, I don't have a image hosting site. web page
Thats one of the icons that deserves mork ink! A master metal man in the early days of customs, once wellknown for his fade-away fenders. He did act in the pre-magazine days, therefore no features of what I know, but Pat Ganahl´s book gives us some great information, along with a real nice front shot of the mentintioned Merc (but I guess any real custom guy already have Pat´s book...) Here´s an ad from the very first issue of Hot Rod.
Here's a forty Merc that was at one of the Billetproofs. It was found in the desert, likely could have the Jimmy Summers fadeaway fender pieces.
Not too sure about found in the desert... The 40 Merc on Mike´s pic belongs to the grandson of Dave Christensen, Redlands, LA. Dave brought the Merc in the 60´s and he did save it along with many other customs, one of them being George Cerny´s 50 Plymouth Wagon... too bad the Merc was stored outdoors. I´ know that it´s being claImed that the bodywork was done by Valley Customs, though the dip on the doors do not look like something from them... There was a feature about Dave´s cars in the Swedish magazine "Wheels" #11, 1978, written by Göran Ambell. In the latest issue of Lead News I did show the Merc, both the photo from the 70´s (with permission from Wheels and Göran) as well as some recent photos that I got from Kim Kehaka.
If any of you are still looking for info on Jimmy Summers, I am really good friends with his son Lee Summers. He has taken me under his wing and is teaching me all of the tricks he learned from his dad. I am sure I can get any info you guys may want as he lives directly across the street from me. Feel free to pm me or email me with any questions. I talked to lee today and he said he is going to get his big box of his dads old photos out for me to scan in. He told me he didnt realize that people still knew of his dad. email; travis.a@comcast.net
A Big Thanks fellas, It's like this, a couple years ago I bought a 40 Merc coupe. The Andril, Zaro, and Matranga mercs got be going. I thought I would never get one, but I did. Getting parts for this has been long and hard. I pretty much have the custom neccessities covered (i.e. Appleton's 112, tear drop skirts, full caps, standard chrom headlite bezels(Thanx Brewsir, better than delux), 47 Ford bumpers/bumperettes, one 37 Desoto bumper, etc.) Well the wheel covers are exactly like the ones on Jimmy Summers merc, the 2nd make-over, green metalic paint job. That car is beyond words for me. Thanks again and I will e-mail him for sum info. Ken
While looking for something else I came across this old post. And thought I added a few photo's of Jimmy Summers work. His styling was always so right. I'am very pleased to know now his '40 Merc is in good shape and most likely will be completely restored. The lines on that one are just perfect. I hope it will be fininished in its firs Ruby Maroon paint with tan Carson top. Here is an ad for his fade away fenders. The real items on a '46 Chevy Apperently Jimmy Summers also worked on this sport custom we all know as a Coachcraft built car. Strangely only this Honk Magazine ever reported the Jimmy working on this one besides Coachcraft. I dont have hard evidence but I do believe Jimmy Summers was responsible for this wonderful sports roadster for Kurtis.
And here are a few pictures of his georgious 40 Mercury. The way he moved the rear fenders up into the beltline is so genious...
Jimmy standing next to his Merc. Check out the frame around the license plate on his 40 Merc in the picture below and compai it to the Kurtis sports roadster... sure looks similar. The grille was made out of flat steel stock to roughly resamble a Buick unit. The runningboards where removed and chromed guards placed on the rear fenders. This car looks perfect with or without the Carson top.
RIKSTER,I spent 2 hours last night looking at your custom car pics on your site.WOW!Tons of rarely or never before seen pictures on there.EVERYBODY should check it out!
Thanks for bringing this back to top and the as usual great pics and info,Rik ! I agree,raising the fenders to the beltline is genious and it makes the look of the whole car.Does anybody know what hubcaps these are ? Early Cad Sombreros ?
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