One old timer that stopped by the shop called them beer can tailights. Thought about running them on the 39 I did but man they are weird. Neat car, love the stock dash!
I remember that car too! Glad to see it went to a guy with great taste. Considering your other Merc.....Lucky dog!!!
I think there needs to be a limit to how much cool **** one person can have! I can't wait to see what it looks like when you finish it.
Hey Kevan, I just about fell over when I first saw this old '39 Merc custom for sale at the '08 LA Roadster Show. It is one of the coolest survivors I've ever laid eyes on. Michael Lightborn brought it to the show that weekend to sell for the owner he had recently brokered a deal for. Michael told me that day he had located and bought at least two cars somewhere in Texas for an undisclosed client. One of the cars was supposedly a super famous old hot rod that I have yet to see surface. The client wanted the hot rod and had no interest in this old custom. The deal could only go down if the cars came as a packaged deal. So Michael brought the custom out to the LA Roadster Show from Texas to sell for the owner. He said the car had been driven from California to Texas back in the "Old Days" (probably by a serviceman) and ended up sitting for a really long time where it was found. I tried to get the car mid day and offered to trade my Starliner plus Cash but the owner only wanted "Cash." I talked to him at the end of the day and he still wasn't interested in a partial trade. I got his card and called him on the following Tuesday to find out our buddy Squeak had bought it at the very end of the show. The next time I saw it was at Squeak's shop up on the rack and he told me you bought it. Good to see it's moving along. Such a neat car with a mysterious history! I took this photo from earlier in the thread, but that's still the image of it that was burned into my brain. It sure looks a **** ton better with the skirts and wheel/Tire/hubcap combo you added! -Aaron
Love your Merc. I remember it from lars also. Hell, shackles were the only way my friends could afford to lower the old Fords. I remember taking the 6" off the rear and putting them on the front around 56 or so. NICE car.
Also Kevin did you know that 39 and 40 mercs have a 2 inch thick spacer block riveted to the rear crossmember between crossmember and spring. Check it out quick way to drop it a couple inchs.
I spend a large part of my life working with and for GAYLORD, He was THE first to do the "padded soft tops" back in the late 40's. The Carson bros worked for him for a short time and then started their own gig. "Carson Tops" have become synonymous with the padded soft tops even though they may have been Gaylord tops. Anyways, I am still in touch with Gaylords son and I sent him your pics to show his dad to see if he can help ID your ride. I'll let you know when I hear back. PS, I love the car just the way it sits, congrats!!
Awesome. I have a few pairs of those tail lights. 1 year only. My grandpa had a 39 for a while. Good luck!
I have never heard this before, great information, maybe we should start calling them Gaylord tops....(I think that Rikster has a folder on Gaylord on his website)
Man, What an amazing car to have and get to mess with. Im curious about the famous old rod part of the story too...hmmmm. Nice to see things moving along.
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