Photoset reblogged from with 23 notes
In 2006, Rudy Rodriguez began the transformation of a near perfect low mile 1940 Mercury Coupe. He wanted to build a show car that borrowed the styling cues of the great European auto makers of the time yet remained uniquely Mercury.
Almost every panel of the car was modified or reworked. The roof was almost totally hand made. The side window area including the rain gutters were extended so they do not look too small as it goes this low. The window frames were made from two complete sets of originals and were made to look factory stock.
The bumper brackets were chrome plated. The grille was chromed and each fin was hand painted flat silver. The hood latch was hand made and the bullnose was reworked to fit the hood perfectly. The hood emlems were removed. The moldings that hold the rear view mirrors on an original were replaced with hand made ones. The front window stainless molding is one piece.
The door handles are described by Rudy as, “…little sculptures that fit the car perfectly, they give your eye a nice place to rest as it moves down the side of the car.”
Rudy decided before the build even started, that the car would be done in green leather. It reminds him of the interiors found in the Bugattis and Delehayes from Europe. “They always went to extremes with their interiors and they made as much of a statement inside as outside.”
Here, with the door open, the door garnish moldings can be seen totally altered from stock with wing window removed and chrome plated. The stainless window frames are attached to the door as from the factory with the jewel molding remaining on the body of the car.
The stock three speed steering column was chrome plated. The 1946 wheel has a Ford horn ring and a modified Mercury horn button. The dash plastics were custom made out of resin and chrome plated. The radio was removed and all interior window garnish moldings were custom fit and chrome plated. The headliner is vintage Mercedes-Benz black wool.
The Bottle Green leather was matched with German square weave carpet with leather piping. This photo shows the chrome threshold molding and door jamb details.
The stock Mercury Flathead powers this car. The Columbia two speed rear end is c-notched into the frame with a three position spring settup for ride height. There are no airbags.
The trunk is opened by a latch under the rear bumper. The green leather was used in the trunk as well as custom fit to the support openings on the bottom of the deck lid.
The rear bumper is a heavily altered 1940 front bumper with the bumper guards moved and the over rider bridge totally reworked to fit the 1940 California license plate perfectly. The rear bumper brackets were chrome plated and the inside of both front and rear bumpers was painted flat silver for contrast.The rear deck lid handle is the hood handle from a 1952 Porsche.
Paint by Hotrods and Hobbies
Leather Interior by Bill’s Auto Upholstery
Chrome by Buena Park Chrome
Glass by Pomona Glass Company
Wheel design by Kevin Lee
Owned by Paul Hoffmann
Special thanks to Pete and Derek at C.W. Moss
http://fullertonfabrications.com/oh my..
Source: jalopyjournal.com
Audio post reblogged from mlle ghoul's fairy tales from the shadows with 58 notes - Played 190 times
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]“Sally’s Song”, Fiona Apple
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition)
Source: ghoulnextdoor
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