There's a lot of work in that, but with all those beautiful curves, that grille could have been done better. In my opinion it draws away from the rest of the car. I would have used different tires (thinner) and painted it too. Still very nice work.
I think the wheels take it over the top. Maybe some wires with whites or black steel wheels with whites or even those black walls but dont like those polished unstyled wheels.
The sheer pleasure of seeing a Mercury Body is worth the glitz. The Merc was a great design, simple , well-balanced, and timeless.
i was kinda diggin it, except for the wheels, then i opened the photo that shows the interior.... ****ing checkerplate. idiots.
fugly. that br*** radiator shell instert is hideous. the tires are all wrong. the diamond plate interior is gay. needs a set of kevin lee wheel covers on wires. and a some proper floor board covers. beautiful body work.
Body- Awesome!!! Ebverything else- sell to buy REAL speedster equipment. While I personally liked the copper '40 Ford from last year's(?) SEMA, the same idea CANNOT be applied to ANY automobile.
Now, to keep this fair, lets have everyone that posted a negative responce to this car post up some pictures of their car so we have a basis of comparison for your negativity. I'll get off so the pictures can come flooding in. BTW, I really like it. It surp***es everything I've ever built or ever will build. To have that kind of talent is a dream of mine. Frank
Frank, Even though I'm not in the Berlin Philharmonic, as a musician, my ear is trained well enough that I can tell the difference between a good and a bad performance. The eyes work the same way- let me ask you, do those wheels look right on that car to you? Not trying to be rude, it just doesn't work- would get the same response if those rims were on a stock T.
That car is roped off at a show, that makes it fair game for criticism. Paintings that hang in the Louvre are criticized and scrutinized by art critics all the time, most of whom have never held a brush in their lives. The body on that car is beautiful to my eye, but much of the rest, the wheels, tires, blue and the interior do nothing for it IMO, too bad the guy that built the body didn't build the whole car. And in answer to your question of what the critics here have built, well the only way any of my cars would ever be roped off at a show, would be to keep them from getting IN, and people STILL criticize them, it's what people do.
I like it!!!!!!!!!! Anyone that can turn out a buffed aluminum body is a true master. I know of less than 10 original Mercury bodies, they were the best aftermarket T body IMO. To me the best Mercury restoration was the former Harrah Collection car with the DO Fronty. I'll start the Morton & Brett Speedster thread later today.
Well, I'm sure I've seen 10 or more Mercury bodies(at swap meets, complete or partial) or Mercury-bodied cars over the last 30+ years, but they are very rare and absolutely the best as you say.
That is a common tactic used in debating -- known as AD HOMINEM (attacking the credibility of the critic) -- but it's a fallacious argument. Doesn't work. If you have ever eaten a meal at a restaurant, and formed a critical opinion of the food, it makes no difference if you are a profession chef or not. .
I like the concept of doing a speedster-style T with newer parts, but those parts are a bit newer than I had envisioned. I would love to see a Mercury body (or even just a simpler "two buckets and a tank" type) speedster done with 16" wheels (wires or solids) and a flathead V8. Sort of a "What if Dad had kept his old speedster from the '20s in the barn, and Junior turned it into a 'modern' hot rod circa 1947?" scenario. There is a weird break in continuity between the Speedster guys and the early hot rodders. I think it must be a geography thing. Reading up on T speedsters gives me the impression that most of that was dirt-track racing in the midwest (especially Ohio) and that the early hot rodders were mostly out west. Interesting to think what might have come through cross pollination. -Dave
Strange.... ...I feel nothing at all when I look at that. I see too many things I would do differently - I can't hardly look at it. It's very nice though, don't confuse bad taste with bad craftmanship - she's done beautifully.
I've fantasized about the exact same combination: Mercury body, flathead, Kelseys. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that somebody did it back in the day, but I've never seen it.
I am a frustrated sheetmetal fabricator and there have been a few times that I have spent hours at the english wheel only to give the piece the heave-ho at the end of the day. The work appears to be very nice and I say hats of to the fabricator. If I brought the car home there are a number of things I would change but that is true with many cars out there. Here is a photo of a T with a Mercury body at the recent Glenmoor Gathering in Canton. A pretty decent looking T in my estimation-Jim
If all these folks find flaw in that beauty then no way I'm gonna post pix of my POC truck. They'll cut it to shreds.
Did anyone notice the gas tank door used as a cowl side vent? Been thinking about using a couple I have on my track roadster pickup. If I can do it without screwing up the paint. That speedster is certainly a work of art, a bit like a Moal car, not every piece in sync to everyone, but a work of art nonetheless. Only in my dreams could I do that sort of work... Charlie
Those wheels are almost exactly the same wheels that are currently "all the rage" a**** T speedster folks...just wider and a smaller diameter. You can see them at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mode...ryZ10076QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Guys, It's a differnt genre. Appreciate the talent and time that went into putting that package together and let it be. It's ok to ignore some things that wouldn't be in your own bag of tricks.
The Jalopy Journal
