Just moved over to Switzerland from the UK, but have a little old project in California...a 1950 Mercury Coupe that's undergoing a little customising right now. I've added photos of the car when I bought it last year, but for more photos and detail click on the link (or copy and paste it into a web browser) http://autopendium.com/vehicles/15-Mercury-Coupe
Welcome from Yucaipa, Ca. Love Mercs and Shoeboxes. Your Merc looks sharp. Whats your plans for her? Plan on shipping her to Switzerland when shes done? Look forward to hearing more about your car.
This Mercury Coupe was bought on ebay, from a guy just outside Detroit, November 2006. It has had a very mild custom done sometimes in the early 80's which including ripping the old powerplant out and installing a 351 Windsor, the usual stuff had been shaved off and a quick blow over in bright Yellow. As I had no where to store it there I had it shipped to a friends place in Los Angeles, and we have started the restoration/custom work to the car. The idea for the car is to do a very mild traditional custom, with nothing in or on the car later than 1955. Probably a maximum of 2" taken out of the roof (see blue tape in some of the photos), and painting it it's original dark metallic blue.
Back in April I went back to LA for a vacation, the night I landed I picking up a hire car (Ford F150 truck), a friend (Martyn) and I left his place around 11.30 pm for the 14 hour drive north to Oregon, that's was where my latest ebay purchased was located...a 53 Mercury flathead engine was. The flathead and transmission has had about $1200 spent on it's rebuild, and with only 10,000 miles on the engine and 3,000 on the trans it will be ready go once in the car. Did the trip there and back in one hit, only stopping for fuel and breakfast, so we arrived back in LA early afternoon and grabbed an engine stand from Pep Boys, before heading to Martyns garage to get it out of the back of the truck and to put it on the stand where it will stay until it's ready to be painted and go back in the car. With Martyn working on a 58 Buick Convertible almost full-time now, it takes the pressure off me to find the money to give him to work on the car, as I've just paid the tax man so I'm broke for a while. The trunk floor in my car is pretty rotten so I found what remains of a 1950 Mercury Coupe from Texas, so rust shouldn't be too bad. Whilst on my vacation I took lot's of parts to L&M striping in Van Nuys to be dipped. They include the hood, front fenders, front valance, hood catch and trunk deck. Am now $685 lighter I now but have all my parts looking almost like new..almost! Can't wait until the work starts on the car later in the year
Here are various photos as the car is being stripped down by hand, plus one of the new engine purchased on ebay.
Welcome from a former Londoner...in Nor Cal...with friends in Switzerland! Merc looks like a cool project.
I guess I've not worked how to upload a ton of photos up yet...so here are a few more of work in progress.
Thanks A32Flathead, looking forward to getting over again to LA in Sept to do more work to the car. Who know I might be over in LA this time next year as I've been offered a job there...so if things go well and the car is ready I'll have something to cruise around in. peter
Great looking car. Sounds like the rebuild will be pretty cool...keep up the good work....and Welcome to the HAMB.
Thanks for the words of encouragement 'Glenn33', I'll keep updating as and when we manage to find the time (and sometimes the money) to work on the car. I don't know whether this is the right section to post updates, but I guess I'll have to explore more of H.A.M.B. and find out. Once the rear end is sorted and the new trunk floor inserted it might be time to get the chassis dipped. I wasn't going to go the whole way but I'm almost there now, so I may as well go for it. Cheers
Welcome to the forum! The Merc looks real nice. I am sure that your plans for it will make it even nicer. Going to be a really sweet ride when completed.
Now that you've introduced yourself, why not start a thread about the Merc on the General Discussion Board. Once you get it going you can add updates as you complete work on it...good luck and keep us informed....
Hi welcome merclover. Nice to hear that a merclover comes to europe (switzerland). I`m not so far away from switzerland. Maybe 3 Kilometers??? And the best is , i`m also a merclover. 51 Mercury coupe!! Very good progress on your car. Have the same idea to chop i only 2" or so!! christian
Christian, any photos of your 51 Merc...hopefully Austria is kinder to Customised cars than Switzerland. I doubt I can bring my car over here as I've heard the Swiss authorities don't liked anything that's been customised or altered in any way. It has to be as it left the factory...how sad it that! Cheers Peter
Anyone know of storage I can rent for the Merc for a while, I have to move it from my friend place as it's taking up too much space when he's not working on it. He's based in Van Nuys, so any where in the San Fernando Valley area would be fine...as long as I can get it towed back to his place when work needs to be done. It's best if it were secure as I have too many parts with the car that might go missing if it were left outside. So if anyone can help or point me in the direction garage or storage space...maybe you know someone that has a spare space in their large garage that needs some extra money to cover the rent...it's a thought. Send me a pm.
I'm going through a similar restoration, I bought my '51 online and had it shipped to me. There were enough paint flaws that I decided to have my friend Paul redo the exterior. Hopefully the back of my car is now in primer and he will finish out the rest. I will be redoing the interior in the near future but since I don't have a vision yet I am holding off.
it's been a while since I've posted an update...so I've decided to start a new thread on the 50 Mercury as the body is finally off the chassis... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=733713
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