Vintage pic of the day 04/28

"The Hirohata Murcury", photo by Ralph Poole

If you guys have any memories or other data on this car, it'd be great to hear.

Scanned from the book "ICON: Hot Rods & Custom Cars, Vintage Speed Graphics" by Coco Shinomiya, Taschen books. www.taschen.com

 

I've always wondered whatever happened to Bob Hirohata himself. Everybody talks at length about the "Hirohata Merc" but no mention of the man who commisioned Sam Barris to build the Holy Grail of Customs.

Is there an unpleasant backstory? I ***ume that he has been dead for a long time. I have looked but not found any mention of his fate. Just wondering.

 

that is a nice car,

 

Benzine, Bob Hirohata was shot and killed several years ago (20 or so).
I don't believe there was ever a motive established or that his murder was ever solved.
Mick

 

Cool pic!
Another Texas Blake, whoever the hell that is......

 

Cool! I didn't know that was a Barris creation, much less that it had any "grail" status.

<- FNG is an applicable ***le.

Who'd a thunk that there'd be an unsolved murder in the backstory too.

 

car has been the model for kustoms for YEARS./. i must have 30 pics of it

 

Another Texas Blake, you is ig'nant.

 

The only thing I ain't ig'nant about is the fact that I is ig'nant. That's what I'm trying to fix right now.

 

You really didn't know the Hirohata Merc was famous?

We have soooo much to catch up on. LOL

I remember when it was rescued / revived sometime in the early '90s. It was huge news!

 

A lady I work with's dad rode in it back in the '50's...

I wonder what ever became of it...

Sam.

 

SOme of us young ones need to be caught up. Thats why I love reading on this board. So many different backgrounds

 

Not in Mustang Monthly.

<- hangs head in shame. I'm trying to atone for my sins, one ig'nant post at a time.

 

Do not ever, EVER mention that magazine here again. Unless it's a story that starts, "my wife forgot to get toilet paper again.."

 

LOL, it's not like I was extolling the virtues of said publication, er.. toiletry.

 

Now might be a good time for a HAMB handle change... only 17 posts... the whole 'ig'nant' thing... maybe change yer name and do another intro.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAA.....NOOOOOOB!!!!...lol...Hey, did anyone ever see that movie with the yellow hot rod in it??...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

I don't know that it was revived but there is an exact copy around here that was big news when it was built in the '90s. Belongs to a guy named walker.

 

This newbie may not be as up to speed as most of us, but he does have taste. It coulda been a picture of the "Cobra" Merc.

Welcome, newbie!

 

Everybody has to start somewhere.

 

i'm sure i heard on here that the real merc was restored, though i did see the clone at the leadsleds in lancaster, OH a couple years ago. one of the HAMBERs there had the opportunity to see it and another very famous custom of the period on the road stopped at a stop light, one in front of the other... but no camera....

 

Yes, the real one was restored. Im not sure what volume, but there is like 10 pages on it in a Rodders Journal from years back, Ill have to take a look. No offense, but I am only 26 an have known about the Hirohata Merc for years......welcome aboard, sit back and learn!!!! =)

 

Point taken.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52704

None taken, and thanks. I'm only 29, and could probably school most anyone here on cl***ic Mustangs. (that is not bragging, btw)
I'm just here to broaden my horizons.

 

They even make Hirohata SHOES that resemble this Merc!!!

 

Good man.

I love this place, and the great conversation. Sometimes the *ahem* local boards forget that they are about CARS. There are no better cars on the internet than here.

 

Good book.

 

That's the one.

We'll see how "Dean Jeffries adding pinstriping to a scalloped F-100" does tomorrow.

 

It was restored...

Jr. Conway (yes THAT Jr. Conway) painted it.

I talked to him when it was on it's way over for paint.

I think Winfield helped too...

 

Where did you pick that up at?

 

Half Price Books. Though it wasn't used, and there were plenty of copies. It's one of a series of "ICON" books that are all the same format. Approximately 5.5"x8". Half of them were in the Art section, and the other half were on a Pop Culture display in the middle of the store. $7.98