I just did a blog about the Jimmy Summers 1940 Mercury. Dick Page has shared some great tories and wonderful photos - of which some have never been published before. This is part one of more on this fantastic early custom car that Jimmy Summer built for himself in 1946. Click one the photo below to see the blog.
Makes me think that I should continue building my replica Al Andril 1940 Mercury wich I bought from Kustomman!
I'm glad this thread came up again. Am I the only one that thinks some of these cars are "off" just a little? Some of them nail it to perfection, but then again some of them have really conflicting lines here and there. I gotta wonder if they look better in person than they photograph sometimes. My eye loves the pic of the 41 Merc in the pits at the drags. Some of the front facia treatments just flat don't get it on a few of the cars. Everything offered here for us to see is no doubt inspirational and maybe even a bit humbling to some of us. Still, not every idea on some of these cars is the right idea. I get the individuality and time period part of it and I mean no disrespect. Anyone else?
No, the guy that posted photos of the car rusting away in that field posted a comment a week or so ago. He mentioned that the current owner passed on a $35,000 offer!!! Sadly it does not look like it is being worked on at the moment.
Perhaps because they are early customs and the style had yet to be developed. And most of these cars where built without the help of the magazines that came around in the early 1950! The fact that - as you called it - some of them are "just a little off" makes these cars so interesting!... at least to me they are.
Here is a great photo of a 1939-40 Mercury convertible with a 1946 Chevy grille, from a recent ebay offering. Although the photo appears to be taken in the mid 1950's the car looks to have been done in the late 1940's with all the styling elements of that period. The grille styling is very similar to the Buddy Ohanesian Mercury. The heavy 1946 Oldsmobile bumpers is also some thing that we saw done a lot on the 1940's. George Barris used a similar set on his 1941 Buick. And the removal of the running boards was also typical for the 1940's... Apparently the car ran great to... lining up for a drag race... Great Custom, wish I knew something more about it
Here is another great photo from the Tom Nielsen Collection. A great color photo of Tom's 1941 Mercury Convertible. And even though the photo was taken in the early 1960's the car is still 1940's all over. I know most of them back then had fender skirts. But you saw them without... and this car sure has the right stance to go with or without skirts.
This photo from the Dick Page Collection shows Tex Roberts with his Jimmy Summers built Mercury in the early 1950's somewhere in South America. The car was metallic green then, but this was before Tex asked Jimmy to mold in the headlights. Originally built by Jimmy Summers in 1946 this sure is one of the best styled 1940 Mercury's
The new issue of Kustoms Illustrated #30 is fresh from the printer. Inside is a lot of great stuff. Part III of the Customs Then & Now exhibit at the 2011 GNRS, several fantastic feature cars including the John Saltman 1949 Studebaker cover car. I contributed to this issue with a nice article on the really great photos of the Wally Welch scrapbook. I hope you will all enjoy it. This scrapbook is filled with early Custom Cars. Here is a nice snapshot from the album that did not make it into the article. Wally's 1941 Ford convertible.
Rik your article in this issue is just incredible and please dont take this the wrong way but I think it might be one of my favorite pieces you have ever done in ANY magazine or book.Wally's article is just great and the photos are just so rich with history it just takes me to another place.I love how Wally raced his cars,obvious he was friends with the Ayala brothers since racing seemed to be their #1 priority over car shows.I love how you posted this picture of Wallys car with THE stance of all stances.Thanks Rik for a great article to read and thanks Luke for a stunning issue.Your magazine is getting better and better and im thankful to have been even mentioned in it.
Glad you enjoyed the Wally Welch Article Jeff. It was great to do... and there are several other photos from that album that are really great as well.. but I just ran out of space for the article. So some of them will be posted here, and on my site. Here is another one of Wally's Ford before the 42 Grille and other modifications. Such a great looking Custom.
It's interesting that with all the molding they did on this car that they left the trim on the fenders. Seems kind of odd for an Ayala car.
It could have been the owner either wanted the trim on the fenders or they couldnt afford anymore work.
That car is hauling ass threw peoples yards!!! Crazy kids!! Oh wait!! Its just park in the front yard. With that stance it looks like its hauling ass just by sitting there.
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