Seems so difficult to decide on final paint unless you're a gazillionaire and can afford re-shoots. I think I'd like a little pearl in the Venus' light blue, but I just don't know if that would **** big time or not. I guess I could paint some partial panels and make a decision that way. (By the way, I was in U.K. last Sept. and shot over 16 hundred photographs of cars, finally editing down to about 900 or so...too damn many cars!) Patrick
Hey Bob here you go Year and Model Owner Customizer Year Built 1949 Coupe Sam Barris Sam Barris 1950 1949 Coupe Louis Bettancourt Ayala Bros 1950 Same Car John Zupan Barris 1956 1949 Coupe Jerry Quesnel Barris 1951 1950 Coupe Wally Welch Ayala Bros 1951 Same Car Repainted Barris 1953 1950 Coupe Ralph Testa Barris 1951 1951 coupe Bob Hirohata Barris 1952 1951 Convert Fred Rowe Barris 1953 1951 Coupe Frank Sonzogni Owner 1954 1951 Coupe Dave Bugarin Barris 1955 1950 Coupe Buddy Alcorn Barris 1955 Here is your cheat sheet for Mercs!! John
I didn't see those on B***'s build pic's either! When i saw them,I had to get a pic and post it. They remind me of those teeth on a back-hoe bucket! I'm sure he plans on chroming them.
The one thing that leads some to believe that Sam got his finished first is the fact that he used the '49 rear window where the Bettancourt Merc has a '50 rear window.
Story on the Bettancout car was it would have been done first but....they slowed down to finish another car and Sam got his done first!!! both are very cool cars!! John
It could have been but all of the pictures show it with the '50 window. I believe the original had '50 bumper overriders on the rear bumper as well. The slow down would explain them having access to these parts as well. It is interesting that they both did full fade aways on the cars as well makes one wonder if they were in contact with one another. Definitely two very cool cars by two great builders and like you said no way to ever know for sure which hit the streets first. Truth be told I guess it doesn't really matter. It's really too bad that the Betancourt Merc has not been found.
Ralph Testa's car is a convertible,NOT a coupe. http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/barris-1/ralph_test_50_merc/
Thanks for the pic Bob. Tommy Ivo often shows up at the Twilight Cruise at Pomona. I have a few photos of him with his Barstormer that I will share here soon. Interesting to note that even at age 70 or so Tommy pretty much still looks the same as he did when he was quite young. Ken
Sorry, I did not mean to put Bad Bobs pic with my reply. Obviously that pic is Bobs, not mine. That being said here is a pic I took of Tommy back in August at the Twilight Cruise in Pomona. http://www.pbase.com/xl1ken/image/83250772 I am trying to find the pic of Tommy with his redone and famous Barnstormer in my m***ive photo collection... stay tuned. Ken Ken
The parts, rivets, buckles, etc. are from Limeworks, and the leather must be bought and it all put together.
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