Customs Kross Kountry in a Kustom - dead on the road in central Oklahoma

As a big fan of the Hirohata 1951 Merc, I recently bought a used copy of the 2011 hardback book "The Hot Rod Reader" edited by Melinda Keefe and Peter Schletty. The book is a compilation of stories from other hot rod publications from the '50's to current times. As soon as I got the book home, I opened it immediately to page 277 to "Kross Kountry in a Kustom - Mile After Mile in My Modified Mercillac" by Bob Hirohata, originally printed in "Rod & Custom", August, 1953. I remember from back in the day that Bob and his buddy, Azzie Nishi, drove the famous custom Merc from southern California to Indianapolis to see the Indy 500 and show the car at the Indy "Custom Car Show". I bought the book to relive the story of that journey.

I was enjoying the incredible story but when I got to page 282, just as Bob discovered a crushed gas line that left them dead on the road in central Oklahoma, the story ended! I was stunned - how could the story end there? I know the original didn't. Was this crappy editing or was it someone's idea of a bad joke?

So my questions to this knowledgeable crowd -

1. Does anyone have a copy of this hardback 2011 edition of "The Hot Rod Reader"?
2. Does yours have the same ending for the Hirohata story?
3. Does anyone have a copy of this paperback 2016 reprint edition of "The Hot Rod Reader"?
   
4. Does this version have the same ending for the Hirohata story?
   
5. Does anyone know where I can find the complete story? I found this copy in an article by Ric Hoving but I the resolution isn't high enough for me to read it.

Thanks to anyone patient enough to read all this and to help an old timer travel back to the glory days of customs!

David Palmeter

 

Reminds me a long time ago I was watching an episode of Gunsmoke and they were fixin' to hang Doc, it was lookin' bad, they had the rope around his neck and everything. The next thing I know, it said "To Be Continued". Never saw the 2nd part.

 

Some years ago (the late) Rod & Custom was doing a series of articles on rebuilding the Olds 324. The first 1 or 2 appeared but never the rest of the series. I had always subscribed to the magazine so it wasn't a case of missing an issue. Very frustrating as I owned a motor that needed a rebuild.

 

Street Rodder did a build series of "ourlow1", a 32 Ford 4 dr. Sedan owned by Tom Mcmullen. Dick Dean did the work chopped, channeled and sectioned. The magazine never finished the series. Maybe the bill for all the metal work made Tom throw in the towel? Don't know if the car ever got finished?

I believe it was Popular Hot Rodding that had a build series of a (48?) Anglia that I don't believe was ever shown to completion in the magazine.

Then there's the song Bang a Gong (get it on) by T Rex. The last line of the song "meanwhile I'm still thinking"...always leaves me hanging. Thinking what? It's like they just got tired and quit recording. Like reading an entire book only to find that somebody tore out the last page.

 

Look at this on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152616950058

Rod & Custom Oct 1953 Vol 1 #6 Vtg Classic Car Magazine 1932 Coupe Ford Pinup


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Here's another one

Look at this on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/332262639166

Rod & Custom Magazine October 1953 V-8 Covered Coupe VG 060117nonjhe


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And another one. Three different copies. Three different prices. Hope this helps.

Look at this on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/382152469194

Rod & Custom Magazine V-8 60 Powered Cover Coupe October 1953 062317nonrh




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I remember the story on the chopped, channeled, and sectioned 32 Ford, at the end it just did not look good. I think that the front fenders were higher that the top of the car. Never got finish and I think that it was sold. In summary it takes more than just money and talent to come up with a good design and to follow through with it.

 

99.9% sure this is 'Our Low 1' at a body shop in Fullerton around 1983ish.

 

Thanks, GJ13, I sure missed the obvious answer to my problem! This $10 mag has been bought.

 

Let us know how the story ends. Or post a copy for us.
Thanks

Phil

 

Whoa, nice eyes Colin. That would have to be the stalled project. Right car, time frame and geographic location. I remember you posted those in the sitting and rotting thread.

 

I have the paperback and it ends with the discovery of the crushed fuel line on pg 282.

 

I am just crushed not knowing the ending - like maybe they repaired it and went on with their journey

 

Actually, as I remember it from back in the day, the gasoline caught fire and burned the Merc to a shell, so Bob and Azzie left it and went to live on a Choctaw Indian reservation. They started a business modifying Mustangs.....

 

They really did leave us hanging on purpose. Sux!

 

I'll put it up on my website and let you know.

 

It's HERE! Read the entire Bob Hirohata "Kross Kountry in a Kustom" story. None of that hokey ass chopping off the story in mid-disaster!!

 

For those of you who make it all the way through the Hirohata story, I left the classifieds as a bonus on the last page. If you hurry, R. Poole of Glendale has an "unusually clean" car like this that "runs fine" for sale for $40!

 

I saved a pic of the classifieds and showed it to a few friends. If you were around in 1953, you shoulda both those cars! both the Franklin and the Pierce. I wasn't.

 

Thank you for posting this, fantastic article....

 

I guess I have some reading to do. Way

 

Glad you guys are still enjoying the article!
When Bob said the Caddy engine was a tight fit, he wasn't kidding:

 

So what happened? , are they still on the side of the road?.

 

Waiting patiently for the rest of the story.

 

Sneak back up to Post number 18 and go clicky clicky on the link. All will be revealed!

 

Forgive me for saying this lothiandon, but you look a little pale.


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...........I may need to get out in the Sun a little more often.