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History 1951 Mercury History/Mystery Answered

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 51 mercules, Dec 18, 2011.

  1. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    scan.jpg Back in 2008 I put a thread on the HAMB"1951 Mercury History Wanted".Anthony White 00Mack recognized my 51 Merc from Car Craft July of 57.Phil Sauer was the owner when it appeared in Car Craft but it didn't say who built the car.A couple of days ago Phil Sauer posted on my thread "1951 Merc History" and said he was the owner of Shasta my 51 Merc he also posted on Facebook that the body work was done by Dean Jeffries & the pinstriping by Von Dutch.Here's a copy of what Phil said on Facebook;
    Phil Sauers &#8206;~> "SHASTA" was my 1951 Mercury "California-Lowrider".. 2 years of custom bodywork was done by "Dean Jeffries" starting in January1953.. Penstripeing was done by "Von Dutch".. Featured in July 1957 "Car Craft" Magazine -Here also an attachment of who Phil is.Thank you Anthony & the HAMB.<WBR></WBR><WBR></WBR>I e-mailed Phil for more info, I'm just wating for a reply.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
  2. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    Sounds like he has had a very rewarding life. I assume you will find out when he sold it, and why?
     
  3. This is great that you found this out,makes for tough choices when you think about what you want to do with the car in the future.
     
    51 mercules likes this.
  4. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Sure doe's!1st thing is getting running.
     

  5. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,305

    hombres ruin
    Member

    Save that pinstriping it's art history and worth alot
     
  6. Sledge
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,731

    Sledge
    Member
    from Nor Cal

    Cool, glad you found more history! It's still not running?? Man you gotta get on it! :D
     
  7. GaryB
    Joined: Dec 19, 2008
    Posts: 3,529

    GaryB
    Member
    from Reno,nv

    thats cool ,the car never left So.Cal.
     
  8. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    scan0011.jpg
    Here's a crappy pic of the dash.Now I know why the glovebox is missing.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
  9. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    I was out of work for 2 years and that really killed.Now that I'm back to work I'm starting to save some money again and hopefully I can get it running soon.
     
  10. That's really cool that your car goes all the way back to '53 and was worked on by the greats!!!
     
  11. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,305

    hombres ruin
    Member

    Look pretty well preserved . I would protect it like crazy it's an integral part of Kustom history. Where in SD was this find?
     
  12. I blew it up for you Greg...
    [​IMG]
     
  13. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    cool info, you really lucked out on this one....now get it running!
     
  14. Chevy54
    Joined: Sep 27, 2009
    Posts: 1,413

    Chevy54
    Member
    from Orange, CA

  15. bonez
    Joined: Jul 16, 2007
    Posts: 3,487

    bonez
    Member
    from Slow lane

    Hey now, that is superb! Glad he contacted you. .
    The California Lowrider name is pretty cool considerin it was 57.
     
  16. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Found it on e-bay.It was at a storage facilty on 27th st by General Dynamics.
     
  17. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Bob.Thank you.
     
  18. dullchrome
    Joined: Jan 15, 2009
    Posts: 987

    dullchrome
    Member
    from SoCal

    Wow, Nice to have the story that goes with the car...congrats !
     
  19. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Nothing yet:(
     
  20. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Today I got an e-mail from Phil Sauer to call him.So i called him.He gave more info about Shasta.The photo shoot for Car Craft July 1957 was shot at Griffith Park.He spent a day with Von Dutch and watched him stripe the dash and glove box.The glove box was striped with the Tree Of Life.Too bad it's missing.Dean Jeffries did the body work before and after the accident.The interior was done by a GM designer.Phil had a custom surfboard rack that was made to fit into the trunk to carry his boards.The car was designed by Phil.Phil put the car on blocks in his mothers garage in 1956 when he went to Hawaii to surf the big waves.Shortly after he got lost at sea for 71 days and came back to California, he sold the car.In 1960 he saw Shasta cruising down PCH, so he turned around and chased the owner down.The merc was pretty much the same,only a little higher.Phil resides in New York now and all the memrobilia is in California.If I get any more info.I'll update it.Thank you Phil.I enjoyed talking to you.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2012
  21. Cool story! I know you'll do it proud!
     
  22. captainjunk#2
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,420

    captainjunk#2
    Member

    coool story , a car with history , thats way cool
     
  23. 1950-mercury
    Joined: Mar 20, 2011
    Posts: 534

    1950-mercury
    Member

    That's awesome!!! That 51 has alot of cool history. Keep us posted.
     
  24. Cool story! Awesome for you and the car. So where was it for the last 50 years? And where is the glovebox door?

    -Shiny
     
  25. Cruiser
    Joined: May 29, 2006
    Posts: 2,241

    Cruiser
    Member

    Congratulations on owning the Merc and finding it's history a very cool thing.

    CRUISER :cool:
     
  26. Great story and what a heavy piece of kustom history to own dude. Get it back on the road asap. Someone out there has to still have the glovebox door......Would help to have a photo of it to go hunting...
     
  27. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    The merc was in a storage facility on 27th st in San Diego the last 40 years.I wish I knew where the glove box door went.Phil said he has pictures of it.So maybe when he gets to California in the next couple of months I can post a pic.
     
  28. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    Pretty cool Greg.
     
  29. How cool!! A) find the history and B) find out you have a Dean Jeffries and Von Dutch survivor. I imagine you had to change your pampers after learning that.....I sure woulda! :D Would be totally cool to see a picture of the missing glove box door.... :(
     

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