Bitchin..... still amazes me how a guy could own such a historic car for so long and keep quiet about it....
That was the very Car that inspired me to buy my 50 Merc when I was a Sophomore in High School. That Merc was the New Hot Custom at that time. The other Merc customs being done at that time had my full attention but this one really Tipped me over. I had to build one for myself. How naive of me to think I could do that but I was in Lust. That car still inspires me and I still have my Old Merc. Lucky for it I never got out the Hacksaw back then. I have however done several practice runs on other cars to gain the Skills I didn't have at that time. I'm getting close but doubt at this time in my life I'll ever actually Cut my top. I have loved having my Merc all these years and maybe some time soon it will go back together for the 3rd time and slide down the road again. Till then life is just a Dream.
Very kool story. After recently seeing the documentary about the car, this just adds to the story that much more. Thanks for sharing!
Before social media and internet, just keeping to oneself wouldn't be very difficult. I imagine Jim probably wasn't trying to keep it a secret, he just didn't mention his old custom at home in the garage.
To this day when I think of a true traditional Custom the Hirohata Mercury is what I envision, to me it is the Americas Most Beautiful Custom. HRP
"To me, this is the kind of stuff this joint is all about." Couldn't agree more. Thanks for this. (And thanks for not posting your buddy's birthing pics.)
Wow! Now I'm curious as to what other cars were hiding under the car covers. Especially that "fad T" with slicks.
If you are a Hirohata Merc fan, I highly recommend picking up a Danbury Mint 1/24 scale version off of eBay. They are very nicely detailed, and can be had for around $200. I know that sounds like a lot for a model, but it's (IMO) the best custom ever built. I've got one, as well as a Kookie Car, McMullen Roadster, and California Kid. Cars we could only dream of owning.
according to the magazine articles written at the time the car was found, The T was a car that Jim Mcneil built himself in the sixties
If I remember correctly there was also a 28-29 roadster pickup sitting outside of the garage. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wow! Great read, Waiting for base to dry was perfect timing to read... Before started, put my feet up... Which is exactly the way the read start's..
I always thought it would have been fun to just have got it running and drive it all over in original unrestored condition.... same with the Kookie car. could you imagine driving that car into a big show before it was known by the masses to even exist. now it looks just like the clone, a person with enough money could build 100 of them just like it.
Here is more of the history describing the resto, after being hidden for so long. https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-p...rt-to-restore-the-legendary-hirohata-mercury/
That's a fantastic story Ryan on a fantastic car! Too bad the clone wasn't painted as the Lime Gold version. Would really look cool to see them parked side by side. BTW, have the original and clone ever appeared together?
Undoubtedly the best custom ever , it was a hard act to follow knowing you could never build the most wonderful custom ever you could only ever be second best