The car is being worked on as we type. Photos will be forthcoming, I am trying to locate two good single bar flipper hubcaps for the Merc. These were the 16" type, Dick has the ripple rings, but would like to find a couple of the correct hubcaps There are several pictures out there of these caps. The hood, and headlights are being returned to the original style, with the Mercury headlight bezels. The lead work on this car is unbelievable, Jimmy was a master with lead, he leaded in the lights, and the hood with Tex Roberts after the sale to Tex. (too the best of our knowledge.) Dick hopes to get the wheels shot with the Ruby Maroon, and the whitewalls mounted soon. Does anyone have a decent set of 40 Mercury outside door handles? These were also removed by Tex. Would like to get those back on the car also. I will be leaving for Hot August Nights in Reno, hoping to check their swapmeet. Work is progressing, but it takes time. Android314
The best I can come up with right now. Is it the one on the top right? (below) Its hard to tell from the photos I have. You most likely have access to better photos from Dick. And here is a photo of the door handle needed. (Paul Hofman/Rudy Merc)
Are you sure they still have a swap meet at Reno? The one that used to be in Reno for Hot August Nights has moved to Sacramento and is going on this weekend: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457306
bttt. You would think that with all the 1940 Mercury custom cars being built the last couple of years. Somebody must have a good set of outside door handles laying around... Or knows about a set that could help this Historical custom to get restored to how it looked in the mid/late 1940's... Android314, are there no better photos showing how the hubcaps look, than the scanned from printed material I'm showing?
Back To The Top for this one... Are there really no 1940 Mercury door handles out there???. Somebody must have hold on to the door handles they took off, this is for the restoration of a Historical Very Important Custom Car!!! If you have or know about a set, please PM Android314 I'm still working on better photos of the hubcaps, to show what is needed. Dick send me some recent photos of the restoration of the Summers Mercury. The car will be brought back to how it looked in the mid 1940's. The molded in headlights that where done by Jimmy in the 1950's are being removed and replaced with a chrome set of headlights buckets. The metal work on the car was flawless according to Dick. And when Jimmy molded in the headlight buckets he did it in such a way that they could be removed easily, no "damage" was done to the surrounding sheet metal. Almost like Jimmy knew the car would be restored back to "original" at a later stage. When Dick came across the Mercury for the first time in the early 1960's the car was painted maroon... again. When Jimmy initially built it in the early 40's he painted the car in a very deep maroon, as can be seen in the photo's Kevin Wright posted on his hamb thread HERE. Photo from the Kevin Wright Collection Later it was repainted in a green metallic, and after the fenders and headlights where molded to the body the car was painted maroon again. The photos below taken by Dick page show the stripped (partly) molded in headlights. And also show the maroon paint on the molded headlights. Photo from inside the fender Close up of the color The marking shows there the headlight to fender separation line filled in by Jimmy. More photos will be shown when the work continues.
WOW,, really Great to see this Custom Car icon finally being brought back to life,,, my hat off to such an "historic effort" ,, will be REALLY intersting to follow the built,, Thanks for showing !! ,,, and I DO hope some-one out here/there have the parts needed for the correct restoration/built,,,
I have a '40 merc custom that Doug Thompson shaved the door handles off of. It is a 4 dr conv.. If you still need door handles I'll dig mine out. I'm thinking that the fronts and rears interchange.
I'd say the hub caps are Nationals, like in the lower left corner. They show up now and then on Ebay, mostly for Chrysler wheels and occasionally for Ford wide-five. Only once have I seen a set for the '40-'48 Ford/Merc wheels, they seem to be the rarest. Someone in NorCal reproduced them a while ago, just a small batch, but they are just as rare as the original ones. I think Bob Benn has a pair of the repopped ones on his '36.
Rik,just saw your request...i will be gladly donate my 40 Merc handles to this historical car.Not sure if you guys already found em but mines are in good shape and still mounted in my Merc coupe... I will go the full kustom treatment and i have no use for em.Just be patient til i will be back home to take em off and ship em.. PM me for details, Sled
Bttt I'm assuming door handles are still needed?! I can't wait for more pics and progress. I wish I loved closer so I could help. If any parts are needed please let me know. This is on my list of favorite cars of all time!!
Yep,im already in touch with Larry (Android314) and he confirmed door handles and key locks are still needed,but i have them both...so they will be sent soon to him to keep this historical custom going the right way....
Rik,all fine here and scarfin stuff as usual in Mexico,cant get enuff...you know it! Hey,you need to be at the historical custom gathering in CA,no way our custom ambassor will be missing that one...the work you're doing is priceless,very much appreciate it..
Sled .... Cant say how much I APPRECIATE your offer, the cost of parts is allways a problem. The Summers merc has 32 roadster door latches grafted into the jambs but pal Gary Schible has sacraficed 2 4dr doors to provide the needed pices to graft in.....Film at 11.
Chrisman....i dont think I've ever seen a set of NATIONALS. Are they all one piece? I know Summers caps were 3 pc. center was 40 f0rd that he worked the letters out and mounted bars on, These were suronded by the ripple discs [they snap into the vents on 16 inch wheels] last is the ribbed trim rings. Thats what I did. I would like to know more about the nationals THANKS....Dick
Wow 1940 Ford Disks with the letters removed! Here are some photos of Nationals. TinWolf Collection They are two pieces units. The hub with the ribs is one pice, and the bar is the second piece. There were several versions of those with different ribs.
Rainguy,my pleasure..i dont think there will be a better cause for my stuff to be donated..welcome anytime. Actually i will be going home on next monday,and trying to get the parts out of the car asap for you guys...sorry for the delay but im running all over Mexico so i dont almost have free time for myself...just bare with me. If you need some other stuff just let me know cause i might have it...Will make some new detailed pics of my car,especially the parts you need so you can see the condition... Have'nt touched this one for long and have many parts stored wich i dont even remember ... Back too you soon....good luck with the project and keep in touch, sled
Got several door handles, many thanks to all who have responded. Will try to make the best pair, out of those generously donate. It is coming along, just slowed by time, weather, and health. We resently moved the Merc to an area Dick can access with his wheelchair. More headlight renovation picture hopefully soon. The hood is much more challenging. Stay tuned....Android314
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