Customs ID this Joe Bailon '53 Mercury?

In the thread, The Shoebox Fords of Joe Bailon and George Gowland...Rikster posted this great photo of Joe and four of his cars.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47554&highlight=gowland

Miss Elegance, the chopped 50 Ford, and the Betty Elizabeth sectioned pickup are all well known and pretty well documented.

But what is that '53(?) Mercury in the right rear? Looks like Joe took a bottom bumper and flipped it to create the grille opening, like on the Jerry Sahagon Chevy.

Anyone know who owned it? I can't find another photo of it anywhere.
Perhaps an it's earlier or later version of a car like the Chaves Merc?

 

I don't know who owned it. But in the Custom Cars Annual of 1959 there is one more photo of the car... no name is given though.

 

Thanks, Rik. I'm missing that issue, so I'll look for it at the next swap meet.
I have been looking through all my period magazines and haven't found another photo.

The design is kind of gorpy, but very Bailon.

 

Maybe an early version of La Lancia. naaah

 

The car belonged to a person named: Jim Gentile. Spelling of the last name may be wrong. The car was called The 2 Faced Merc. He lived in the Bay Area. I seemed to remember it was painted yellow. Should be in a middle late 50'S car custom book.

 

Thanks, Chrisbob!

I Googled "Two-Faced Merc" and found it mentioned in an Ebay sale for the May 1955 Rod & Custom. Here is the cover and story. According to the article, the owner at the time was Jimmy Connors. Perhaps Gentile was a later owner?

There is also an article on the Betty Elizabeth car.

Scans from Ebay.

 

Rot'n Kustom, You may be correct about the owner. Jimmy Connors does sound right. When I lived in Oakland I remember seeing it around that area.

 

Figures I didnt know. Thats one magazine I never got my hands on or bought when I did.