1951 Lead Sled at speed
1951 Mercury Convertible restyled by Barris Kustoms for Fred Rowe of Los Angeles, California. Fred's Merc was nosed, decked, and shaved for handles and emblems. The modified doors and trunk were electrical operated by solenoids. The operating button for the driver side door was installed in the chrome rub strip. Chrome trim was installed along the bottom of the car to accent the chrome rub strip. Up front, the hood was peaked and the hood corners were radiused. The headlights were frenched and slightly tunneled, using the stock headlight rims. The ends of the grille bar were stock, while the center section was rolled from sheet metal and fitted with slotted teeth. In the book "Barris Kustom Techniques of the 50's Volume 3: Lights, Skirts, Engine and Interiors" George Barris says "We even retained the parking light" when he speaks about the grille bar. The stock front bumper was left untouched, just like the parking lights. In the rear, the exhaust was routed trough the rear bumper corners. The stock taillights were replaced with 1950 Chrysler taillights that were installed low, just above the bumper. Barris completed the build by chopping the windshield 4 inches. A beautiful padded top by Carson Top Shop was then made for the car. Carson Top Shop did also upholster the car in white simple tuck and roll with contrasting horseshoes in gray. The carpet was also gray, and a tarpaulin was used to cover the rear seats when the top was off. The body of the car was painted Burgundy Mist Candy.
Under the hood there were plenty of chrome and polish. The Mercury flathead was ported and relieved, and it featured Edelbrock finned aluminum heads and twin Stromberg 97 carburetors on an Edelbrock intake. Dual Appleton S-552 spotlights and fenderskirts were added as a final touch. The car rolled on Buick Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels that were fit with whitewall tires. The first version of the Merc was completed in 1953, and it landed the cover of Rod & Custom August 1953.
Fred's Mercury was another one of those customs which was modified as styles changed. Later on, the car received two scoops in the hood, and the original sidetrim was replaced with1952 or 1953 Buick trim spears. Small scoops were placed in the center of the curves in the sidetrim as well, and the bumper guards were sectioned. The second version was completed in 1954, and Rod & Custom April 1954 ran a Barris Korner tech article that showed how the hood scoops were made.
The second version of Fred's Merc appeared in the Universal-International movie Running Wild along with Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury. William Campbell played an under cover cop in the movie, who's ride was Fred's custom. The Hirohata Merc was the bad guy's car. The movie was released December 1, 1955
Around 1962 Anthony Gonzalis purchased the car for $900.00 from a used car lot in Southern California, showing how much value had dropped in a short time.
The car languished through several owners for years, before being completely restored to original specs, and sold in 2012 at auction for.............drum roll..........
$423,500 !!
AS ALWAYS....COMMENTS & INVITATIONS with AWARD BANNERS will be respectfully DELETED!
1951 Lead Sled at speed
1951 Mercury Convertible restyled by Barris Kustoms for Fred Rowe of Los Angeles, California. Fred's Merc was nosed, decked, and shaved for handles and emblems. The modified doors and trunk were electrical operated by solenoids. The operating button for the driver side door was installed in the chrome rub strip. Chrome trim was installed along the bottom of the car to accent the chrome rub strip. Up front, the hood was peaked and the hood corners were radiused. The headlights were frenched and slightly tunneled, using the stock headlight rims. The ends of the grille bar were stock, while the center section was rolled from sheet metal and fitted with slotted teeth. In the book "Barris Kustom Techniques of the 50's Volume 3: Lights, Skirts, Engine and Interiors" George Barris says "We even retained the parking light" when he speaks about the grille bar. The stock front bumper was left untouched, just like the parking lights. In the rear, the exhaust was routed trough the rear bumper corners. The stock taillights were replaced with 1950 Chrysler taillights that were installed low, just above the bumper. Barris completed the build by chopping the windshield 4 inches. A beautiful padded top by Carson Top Shop was then made for the car. Carson Top Shop did also upholster the car in white simple tuck and roll with contrasting horseshoes in gray. The carpet was also gray, and a tarpaulin was used to cover the rear seats when the top was off. The body of the car was painted Burgundy Mist Candy.
Under the hood there were plenty of chrome and polish. The Mercury flathead was ported and relieved, and it featured Edelbrock finned aluminum heads and twin Stromberg 97 carburetors on an Edelbrock intake. Dual Appleton S-552 spotlights and fenderskirts were added as a final touch. The car rolled on Buick Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels that were fit with whitewall tires. The first version of the Merc was completed in 1953, and it landed the cover of Rod & Custom August 1953.
Fred's Mercury was another one of those customs which was modified as styles changed. Later on, the car received two scoops in the hood, and the original sidetrim was replaced with1952 or 1953 Buick trim spears. Small scoops were placed in the center of the curves in the sidetrim as well, and the bumper guards were sectioned. The second version was completed in 1954, and Rod & Custom April 1954 ran a Barris Korner tech article that showed how the hood scoops were made.
The second version of Fred's Merc appeared in the Universal-International movie Running Wild along with Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury. William Campbell played an under cover cop in the movie, who's ride was Fred's custom. The Hirohata Merc was the bad guy's car. The movie was released December 1, 1955
Around 1962 Anthony Gonzalis purchased the car for $900.00 from a used car lot in Southern California, showing how much value had dropped in a short time.
The car languished through several owners for years, before being completely restored to original specs, and sold in 2012 at auction for.............drum roll..........
$423,500 !!
AS ALWAYS....COMMENTS & INVITATIONS with AWARD BANNERS will be respectfully DELETED!