why not "Gasserize" a 50's Merc...?

Here is a page on the history of the gas cl***, http://g***ermadness.com/Gas_Cl***es/index.htm

They weren't all AA/Gas Willys - there were weight breaks that gave smaller engined and heavier cars a cl*** to race compe***ively in as well.

Check out the weight breaks listed in the fifties section - the only one where you wanna run the lightest car you can find is A/Gas where the weight break runs from 0 to 8.99 lbs/cube.

All other cl***es from there down have a minimum weight that is based on the size of your engine. So you could put a 283 Chev into a car weighing 3962 lbs and be at the top of E/Gas. As long as your combination was better than the other guys in E/Gas, you could be the national record holder.

When you look at it like that, there is no reason why a 49 Merc coupe wouldn't have been raced back then.

 

I wouldn't do it. i think it looks dumb, but that's just me.

 

So . . . what kind of trad g***er would you build so that you wouldn't look dumb?

No open checkbook dream stuff here, got to stay on a bit of a budget.

 

i'm not a person that says it has be a leadsled, i just thing it would look kinda goofy body style wise for a g***er.

 

Build it like Johnny Rocca's "Ironhorse" and "Dark Horse" Merc Pro Mods. They are the best! Think of it as a Funny Car from the Fifties. Truly an awesome car! I have a CD from his sponsor Prolong that has the sound of the car from the time it starts, stages and runs. I crank it up and it sounds like you are along for the ride right in the car. Here is a link to a bunch of pictures of it totally out of control. Check out page 1 in Martin, Michigan.

http://www.usaracing.com/photos.php

 

Okay photo shoppers, How bout an experiment.

G***erize a merc, radiused wells, whitewall slicks. nose high on an axle, fenderwell headers, tank in the grille, Super long ladder bars!

Not much larger than a 57 Chevy, just looks more bulky, like a bigger shoebox Ford. Could be interesting.

Dave

"**** Stogie" now that's funny

 

Here is one that KIRK posted from Billetproof.

 

You don't "g***erize" a Merc for the same reason you don't "kustomize" a 32 Ford.

Come on, we've all seen Cobra...that movie must have made baby Jesus cry

Merc = Sled...the way God intended

 

Thresher....Nice shot of the 56 Chev and 57 Ford. That Ford rules. I can see why they outsold chev in 57!!!

 

Dayum you're quick, guiseart! It looks good, even as a 4x. I prefer a milder nose-high at***ude, and squatting in the back. I'm glad you did it, even if just to piss off the lead sled purists.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

I think instead of an anachronism of a G***er you should set it up as a poser Figure 8 Racer

The curent "fad" of building "street rods" that look like jacked up (off?) G***ers has already gone on longer than the actual first time around g***er "fad".
Get over it before you **** up yet another scarce old car.

 

Come on, we've all seen Cobra...that movie must have made baby Jesus cry


The sled in Cobra was completly redone and use in Gone in 60 Seconds .(the Cage remake) Its now in the Peterson ba*****t .

 

Aw C'mon now, The resto guys think any mod or hole drilled is ****in up a scarce old car.

I personnaly go a bit off center on my choice of car because I know I will cut it up. Not sure I would do it to a Merc though, but someone always will.

Dave

 

Are those pics of Ironhorse right before it got wrecked? I read about the big wreck, never saw footage. Afterward it was chopped, had spots. Too cool.

 

Amen.

 

Not a g***er,but race version....this should stir the pot.





EVIL

 

....and right after it was done the guy mysteriously dissapeared and rumor has it he's buried with Jimmy Hoffa!

I know, you could build a merc g***er threewindow and kill two manias with one stone.

 

Ain't this hobby all about individualism?[/quote]

I think it was...until everyone decided to follow the "traditional" fad ( yep, I said fad!) to the letter...thus taking all innovation, and creativity out of the hobby. Is this o.k.? would they laugh at me? did they use grade 8 bolts in 1952?!

geeez...starting to sound like a bunch of restorers...

build that g***er...

 

G***ers were being built for racing WELL into the seventies...they had at least a ten year span at the track, and then the "Street Freak" thing...( of course, this imo, paralleled the "pro-street" craze...you know: Built to look fast as F$#%@^! armed with a tired, low compression small block, sporting gravity defying induction, though, for some reason...) I personally would not build one for the street, unless it was going to at least go 12.50's at the track, 'cuz I find that if you are that far ahead of all the critics...you can't really hear their b.s.

 

I think it was...until everyone decided to follow the "traditional" fad ( yep, I said fad!) to the letter...thus taking all innovation, and creativity out of the hobby. Is this o.k.? would they laugh at me? did they use grade 8 bolts in 1952?!

geeez...starting to sound like a bunch of restorers...

build that g***er...[/quote]HAHAHA....well said!

EVIL

 

Cause they look so much better low