Customs chopnweld's '51 Merc wins GG 2013 Custom of the Year!

Congrats to fellow HAMBers Nick (@chopnweld) Rogers and Bill (@slixauto) Ganahl for winning the "Goodguys 2013 CUSTOM OF THE YEAR" award!

Here's the press release from the Goodguys website:

Nick Rogers' 1951 Merc wins Goodguys 2013 Mother’s Custom of the Year​

Nick Rogers (left) and Bill Ganahl were all smiles this afternoon on a sunny day in
Pleasanton after winning the Goodguys 2013 Mother's Custom of the Year Award!​

Nick Rogers' radical 1951 Mercury custom has won the Goodguys 2013 Mother's Custom of the Year award. On a sun baked afternoon in Pleasanton, California at the Goodguys 31st All American Get-Together presented by Specialty Sales Classics, Rogers' sleek candy blue Merc beat out a stellar national field of customs, collecting its second major award this spring. The car also won the coveted Custom d'Elegance crown at February's Sacramento AutoRama.

Built by Bill Ganahl's South City Rod & Custom, Rogers' Merc started with humble beginnings. "I wanted a thirty thousand dollar flat black Merc custom," he said ..."That's how we started out. But once things got rolling and Bill and I began to collaborate and dream, the project took on a life of its own. I've never really done things half speed so it's not too surprising we went all in. We saw the possibilities of what it could be and Bill was the man to take it there" said Rogers, a financial advisor on the San Francisco peninsula.

Ganahl, a second generation hot rodder, spent many years as an apprentice working long hours at Roy Brizio Street Rods, honing his craft. He was introduced to traditional hot rods & customs at a very young age growing up in Southern California. His daily driver to and from Brizio's shop all those years was a '50 Ford sled. Indeed, it's as if he was born to build THIS car. He'd be the first to admit however, he had a lot of help along the way.

Upon first glance, the Merc's perfect, radical 4-inch chop grabs you and won't let go. The top and forward-slanted B-pillars were artistically executed by Matt Townsend (Townsend Customs & Hot Rods). With that critical step done, Ganahl added the evil '53 DeSoto grille, '50 Merc rear window, '49 Merc dash and laid in the '55 Ford side trim featuring Packard spears. The rich, mile-deep candy blue House of Kolor paint was sprayed by Joe Compani.

The engine bay, long ignored by most custom stylists is just as beautiful as the car’s sleek exterior. Ganahl hand fabricated a complete set of engine compartment panels to house the painted and lettered "Chevrolac" (Chevy small block with custom made Caddy valve covers). Underneath it all is a full Art Morrison chassis. And get this ... it drives just as well as it looks, requiring nothing more than a "pinky on the steering wheel" according to Ganahl. He should know ... he DROVE the Merc 60 miles from his shop in South San Francisco to Pleasanton for the show! We're guessing the ride back home across the San Mateo Bridge was a sweet one with the Custom of the Year trophy riding shotgun on the period-perfect blue & white tuck & roll upholstery.

When reflecting after the big win, Ganahl summed up the project simply, saying "We tried to build a classy, subtle Merc custom that didn't have flaws. One that could be driven long distances. That became the ultimate focus of this car." Mission accomplished Bill!

As for the car's plans? "Oh I've got big plans for the car," said owner Nick Rogers. "I plan on loading up the family, and cruising the El Camino to go get ice cream."

Fellow finalists for the Goodguys 2013 Mother's Custom of the Year Award included John D'Agostino ('40 Cadillac), Tony Cuevest ('49 Merc), Don Kirk ('40 Ford) and Jeff James ('54 Chevy).

 

More pics from the Goodguys website:

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Matt did a lot more than a chop on this car! Congratulations to everyone involved...it is a beautiful Merc

 

Awesome!!

 

I didn't think this was that difficult......Here's the press release from the Goodguys website:

 

Absolutely awesome, congrats!

 

Very nice car........congratulations.

 

That car is about as close to perfect as you will ever see. Outstanding job to everyone involved.

-Abone.

 

Congrats!

 

Simply perfection, nice work.

 

beautiful. gives me motivation for my '49

 

Congrats! Beautiful car.

 

Beautiful.

 

Stunning work!!!

 

Beautiful car,,congratulations to all involved in building this Mercury! HRP

 

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttt

 

I could look at pictures of that car all day. If I had to choose between spending an hour looking at all of the subtle details of that Merc, or an hour looking at all of the subtle details of a Victoria's Secret Angel.... That would be a tough decision.

 

A perfect custom, well deserved.

 

Well deserved, congrats on the win. That is fast becoming one of my favorite Mercs.

 

Well deserved. TO ALL!

 

Congrats! Beautiful Merc

 

Rolling Art....Great Job Nick!...Congrats!

 

Congrats. Its a beautiful car. Swooooopeey lines.

 

Timeless...really nice!

 

There were seriously a dozen cars that would have been contenders any other year. It was really difficult to get the group down to five and DAMN hard to get consensus on a winner. All five were absolutely in the running and the group of us had to meet several times to finally crown the winner.

In the end, I think the right car won, even if just by a nose.

 

(@Bad Bob) Rhoades -

Did you even read the Goodguys press release? ... IMHO, Matt (@slddnmatt) Townsend was prominently mentioned in the press release:

While I have "no dog in this fight"*, I'm am curious why in every HAMB thread with a pic or mention of the "Ruggiero Mercury", you insist upon pointing out that Matt hasn't gotten proper credit for his contributions to the build?

I can appreciate the fact that you are sticking up for your friend Matt, but frankly, your posts come off as just a "Whiner" on the Internet.

Why don't you instead take the opportunity to enlighten the rest of us about Matt's part in the build? ... Perhaps post a link to Nick's One of the great car builders/custom shops thread ... or a link to the Nick Rogers 51 Mercury album on Matt's "Townsends Customs & Hot Rods" facebook page?

Maybe there is more to this story than I (or others on the HAMB) know ... but until someone tells me different, I'd have to assume that Nick has paid Matt for all of the services that he performed during the early stages of the build ... and that neither Nick nor Bill have any issue with Matt publically taking credit for his contributions to the build.

I wonder if the welders & fabricators @ Art Morrison Enterprises, the bodymen & painters @ Compani Color, the upholsterers @ Plante Interior Co., the machinists @ Gonsels Machine Shop, the polishers & chromers @ Sherm's Custom Plating, the automotive glaziers @ Theisen Bros Glass Co., or Jack Stratton (exhaust) are offended that they weren't given any mention in the Goodguys press release?

* NOTE: I don't know Nick (@chopnweld) Rogers or Bill (@slixauto) Ganahl personally ... nor do I know who wrote the Goodguys press release [though it might have been John (@John D) Drummond or (@KIRK!) Jones] ... I just really like the "Ruggiero Mercury" and thought it would be cool to share the news of its recent accolades with the rest of the H.A.M.B. community!

 

He's mentioned. The writer can only go by what he's told. If he did more work, hopefully it will be on the tech sheet.

 

I would love to see that car in person. work like that inspires me. Congrats is well deserved.

 

Beautiful!

 

What a beautiful work of art