I was wondering if anyone has or is going to clone Gil Ayala's 40 mercury with the full fadeaway fenders and cad fish tails? I would really love to build a clone of it myself, but the cost of a 39-40 mercury coupe is just too high for it to come to fruition for me. Maybe there is someone else who would like to see one too. I know the fade away fenders would take some time as would the cad fish tails, but it would be really cool to see one done like this again, as it appears the original is gone. Matt
This is one of if not my favorite customs ever.I have talked about this car several times but much like your thread........it sinks quick on here.I don't think many people really like Gils old Merc.The car was as heavy as a custom that there could of been. Lets not forget,the car won best Custom in Oakland 1951 even beat out Sams newly finished 49 Merc.
I wasn't a fan of Gil's Merc because of the pics I saw of it in Hot Rod Magazine. While Gil raced it at the dry lakes it looked like a bulbous turd. Then I saw a pic of it finished it looked like a sleek classy panty dropper and I have liked it ever since. It definitely needs replicating. The world has too many Matranga Merc clones. 1940 Mercury Coupe - Ayala
Does anyone know what happened to Gil Ayala's Merc? did it get totaled? did it get parted out? is it resting in a garage of someone who doesn't know what it is? or did it go to a different country?
Man I would love to see this car recreated. It would not be cheap undertaking to do it right. The Merc is just the start of it you would have to drop some serious cash into recreating the race motor he had in the car as well.
In those days, there was no value to customs once they became a few years older. For example, I believe that the Hirohata Merc was on a used car lot for $400 or so in the early 60's. Unless someone just accidentally stored something like that, chances are that sooner or later it was re-done, driven til it dropped or wrecked beyond repair. The more famous or iconic they are, the greater chance that if they still did exist, someone would have found them by now. The Ayala Merc was head and shoulders above every other custom of that era.
I love this car!!! It would blow my mind if it is still out there. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Extremely classy custom. Maybe Rikster will chime in as I believe he had a thread on this one a while back. The fadeaways would be a major undertaking but would be the coolest....
That ride could never look bad it's a masterpiece. A friggin icon of kustom. His approach to this ride in its mods and style was genius. It is the ultimate tail dragger
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