Btt.I just realized it's been a year since I started this thread.I thought maybe some newbie's on here might have some more info on my merc.I did finally got a chance to talk to Barris if he knew anything about the car.He said it looked familiar but he didn't remember because they did some many cars.I did find another shot of it in Car craft January 1957.I also found out in the 30th anniversasry issue of Car Craft from 1983 the car was wrecked in about 1956 and the car was rebuilt.Prior to that I don't know what it looked like,I did see a merc that looked a lot like with a 54 grill in Car craft mag from 55.I also met an old surfer and hot rodder at a car show who mentioned there was a Phil Sauer who had a line of surboards called "Boards by Phil" surboards to the stars.I don't know if it's the same guy.I pretty much exhausted all my leads,but I'll keep trying.For those of you who are tired of seeing my car or thread.Sorry.Thanks.
mann,, that is so cool you got this merc. im so jealous...im dying to see it run under its own power and at a show though!!!
Thanks.It's killing me just seeing it sit there.If I could sell something,maybe then I could get it running and take it to a show.I can't wait either.
Would be nice to locate that flattie that was in the article pic, although the Hemi is nice. I don't think Phil Sauers that owned this car is the same guy as the surf board dude...He was from Downey.
Have you contacted Bailon to see if he built this car or knows anything about it? Cool car...hope ya get a chance to get it running and drive it some.
GREG.. This is PHIL SAUERS.. Yes -> I am the Surfer-Dude that put together your "SHASTA".. I still have all the original papers & lots of photos too.. Your welcome to contact me.. OK ?? Enjoy your day.. PHIL ->http://www.SurfboardsByPHIL.com
I haven't talked to Phil yet!I went to his facebook site and he states the body work was done by Dean Jeffries and the pinstriping by Von Dutch.
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. This post was from another thread 12-18-2011 I started. 1951 Mercury History/Mystery Answered
Definitely a piece of history....Waaaaay kool!Great find, Good Luck Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Here's a couple more pic's I acquired last year from Peterson Publishing Co. They are from the photo shoot for Car Craft July 1957 at Griffith Park. The test sheet and a pic of Phil Sauer. All the pic's from Peterson Publishing are archived now.
The Jalopy Journal
