Folks Of Interest Who IS Mercury Charlie?

I was googling for stuff on Mercury Charlie after a ch***is thread caught my attention today and I stumbled on this portrait by William Geisler. Kinda surprised me. I met Charlie briefly when the Round Up Garage Crawl stopped in on his shop last year.
I know the basic bio, member of the Kontinentals, knowing all things Mercury shoe box, clearly having some experience as the circus ring master (saw that myself ), ever lurking HAMB member. I loved the ch***is he was showing off last year and he has two of the most beutiful examples of these cars I have ever seen. (Nadine is my favorite) The thread about his Hot Rods & Honeys Party last year looks like it was a real blast. Sorry I had to miss it!

Now I'm curious. Who can tell us more about where this guy really comes from? I hate to think I live so close to such talent and don't know anything more about him.

 

Mercury Charlie is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. I always have a good time at shows when I see him. Hope one day to get out to his shop in Austin, TX

 

Mercury Charlie is the real deal! He used to be a partner at South Austin Speed shop,before Jesse James took it over. He has his own shop now and is happier than ever! He's just the coolest guy! At the Merc gathering he gave all us Merc guys a 45 with his own label on it! he also gave us all his business card with a mercury dime on it. He was running around like a teenage kid all weekend. Just a great guy. I will make it to his shop too,one of these days...

 

I live about half a mile from his shop but only met him once, he was really nice. We talked about trim or something. Nadine is an amazing car.

 

I also got a chance to meet Mercury Charlie at the the Merc Gathering.He's so cool and down to earth.We talked about Sweet Nadine and my barn find Merc.He told me I could call him anytime I need help with my Merc and I believe him.I wish more of the builders were like him.

 

i was at his shop yesterday
he is truly a hot rodder
just a cool guy all around

 

Excellent! So who's singing sweet Nadine on his 45s? Where the hell do you get records pressed these days?!

 

Mercury Charlie took some old 45's and had labels printed and used them for prop's and handed them out at the Merc Gathering at the Sacramento Autorama.

 

Didn't he have a Merc at one time with bl/wh checkerboard painting on the engine block? Looked really cool the way he did it.

 

DITTO!!

Still does its Nadine the Purple one above. All you see in that picture is that
mess of chrome intake love.

I knew I should have nabbed one of thoses 45s Damn it!!!!

 

Charlie is Rad and Nadine RULES...
thats a bad *** picture of him...

Tuck

 

There is a chapter on him in "The Hot Rod Kings" book.

 

I was at the Sacramento show in 08 when MERCULES won Americas Most Beautiful Custom and he went ******* over that one.I never seen a guy so pissed in my life.He had his Merc there and won the John D`Augustino award for best custom. He loved my roadster and I gave him and his girlfriend a Time-Bombs hat.This guy is a real custom car guy and he really gets it.Proud to call him a friend after that show I`ll tell ya. Time-Bomb John

 

He Rules

 

He is a cool dude and has one of the best mercs of all times, IMO.

-Saint

 

Looks alittle like Indian Larry without tats. And thats meant as a good thing.

 

I'll have to dig that up. Thanks!

Yep, I thought so, too.

Well, maybe Charlie will get wind of this and chime in with some stories. Appreciate you guys speaking up.

 

He`s a dam south austin hippie ..... I like those kinda people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3AnzfjmmLI

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308064&highlight=mercury+charlie&showall=1

 

Charlie's a good guy with a flathead-powered heart.

 

Don't know how I missed this last month.

Merc Charlie is the real deal.
He took care of me when I had him install my www for the F-100 I had.
Charlie showed me around his shop, introduced me to everyone there and even let me get up close and personal w/ Nadine

Charlie if you ever need a shop helper ( sweeping floors,taking out trash etc.) let me know.


Oh yeah.....if anyone ever needs any restoration/buffing of auto trim done see Wade (Buffy's Vintage Stainless). He's at Charlies shop. That guy does some amazing work!
His business card says it all.....DEDICATED TO MAKING THE REST OF YOUR CAR LOOK LIKE ****

Thanks again guys!

 

Charlie saved my *** on a road trip when I broke down in Austin.
I find it amusing this thread got ZERO replies back in '05.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54660&highlight=charlie

Great guy.

 

That is odd. Musta been beer:30. I saw him this weekend at the show, but it was way busy so I didn't muscle in. I need to drop in and say hi.

 

I had never met him before this past weekend, and I have to say he's a Hell of a guy! Gave us the grand tour of his shop, that was cool.

 

Mercury Charlie IS a great guy! He has helped me with getting to know lots the Kings of hot rodding and has taken tons of interest in a budding car photographer. Some of the best shots I have taken have been of nadine. Im now work in his shop and am putting in inner rockers, floor and firewall, into a customers 51 Merc. Thanks Charlie for giving me a chance to work for you. I know alot of guys that would love to.

 

OT.How's the Merc Gathering book coming along.

 

There was a great article in TRJ on MC and Nadine. I'll have to look in my log for which issue when I get home. Gives a little personal background and of course tons of detail on Nadine.

 

Nadine is bad***, but i see pics of her being built on gary howard's website? What do i not know here?

 

Gary Howard did the body & paint work on Nadine. Charlie put his life into that car.

 

i had an argument with a guy here in lubbock who owns a hotrod shop and swears that mercury charlie 100% owns A.S.S. and jesse james has nothing to do with it

him and mercury charlie aslo also really great friends and he stays with him when they go down to the round up

i say B.S.

 

Mercury Charlie has his own shop now with no affiliation with A.S.S.