Projects Accidentally Bought a 40 Merc Coupe

Wow, 4 pages of this thread and the car hasn't even gotten off the trailer yet!
You now need to "accidentally" back it off the trailer and get started on this build. I'll be following along

 

The car you were admiring was the Rudi Rodriguez built 'Nachtfalter' (German for moth). It's a beautiful car. Maybe the best chop on one of these yet.

https://realcustoms.blogspot.com/2011/01/nachtfalter-rudy-rodriguez-built.html

 

I agree it is my favorite '40 Merc Purrfection

 

I've watched a few videos lately of guys chopping tops, and it's pretty daunting. The one skill or tools I don't have is how to make new sail panels. I've seen many guys instead of puzzle piecing together the back of the roof just making a new piece with a pullmax or yoder. Even if I had those tools the skill in using them would be far off for me. Here's a cool video from Bello chopping a 37 Ford. Not exactly like a 40 Merc, but a similar process.

 

Yea, I like this car ALOT! Pretty sure this is my goal to shoot for as far as just overall look.

And, I’ll unload it off the trailer soon especially now that you guys are starting to give me a hard time.

Oh, I did finally make contact with the guy that bought the garnish moldings and a few other of the pieces for the car at the auction, so am hoping we can agree on a price for those soon.

And, thanks again for all the comments and inspiration! I’m pretty pumped about building this car!

 

Found another hood yesterday with all the missing trim I need. Sounds like the guy also has some other parts, so seems I should be able to piece this car together little by little. It's nice to have so many friends in this car world to contact to make connections to find stuff that might otherwise be nearly impossible to find. I have to admit that I was somewhat concerned buying the car without some of the parts, but pretty sure I can get there using lots of connections.

 

Well, that is a better suggestion than @Tman had as far as keeping the Camaro wheels... Pretty sure it will have full wheel covers of some sort maybe even sooner than later on the rollers. I'm going to check out some parts tomorrow morning that a co-worker wants rid of and in that pile of parts is a set of wide whitewalls among other things.

Also, it is nice to open the HAMB and see this pic often. Helps with the motivation to regularly see a chopped Merc.

 

Well...I guess this is progress?

 

Next...rearrange the shop and organize because this is a huge mess.



Also, anyone recognize this as the CE parallel leaf kit? Appears to be a manufactured bolt-in kit as best I can tell.

 

Whatever that kit is from, it ain't gonna get your rear end down enough to be cool. I've seen kits (maybe Weedeter?) that put the parallel springs inboard of the rails, which allowed everything to sit lower back there. Your current setup would require 8 inches of lowering block.

 

Jeff it looks like the one that i have under my 39. Was made by 40 ragtop down.

 

Ok, sounds like I am going to need to fab some stuff to move it all up. I really didn’t look at it all too hard yet.

 

I’m thinking I will likely start over on the mounts and make it all right.

 

A little alignment issue will be hidden by the skirts, but a height issue won't.

 

I’ll set the car at the ride height I want.
I’ve even removed suspension parts and set the car at the ride height needed.
Take measurements.
When you know the tire height you plan to use, divide that measurement in half for a close spindle and axle centerline location.
then you determine the mods needed for it to sit that way.
Saves time in the long run

 

Looks like there are no spring pads on the axle yet, so should be easy enough to get things where they go and design and build nice brackets. That’s when my engineering degree and the fact that I have access to a whole prototype shop with a waterjet, brake, machine centers, etc. sure comes in handy for this stuff.

 

Three single hitters. A Corvair, a 4-dr Edsel and a more door Buick. Along with a couple 3 pickups. Then you hit a grand slam with a 40 merc Coupe. Who would of thought while I`m munching on popcorn.

 

@Weedburner 40 , any rear suspension suggestions?

 

Lol...I don’t know. Most of the others ran and didn’t need near as much work. But, yeah, I finally found something I don’t mind putting in the work to make nice knowing it will be kool when done.

 

May as well sell all the other cars, they will only stand in the,way and tie up valuable resources and time as you pursue the holy grail of cars.

 

I will have some cars for sale soon, but won’t be getting rid of all of them. And, most of the cars are actually my boys. Silas is trying the sell the Edsel and his El Camino that we can’t talk about here. I need to sell Samuel’s (or I guess now my) vette that I took in on trade to help him buy a newer car. Oh, and that boat in the shop will be in the house garage soon since it is just in the way. The boys two pickups will stay since I hope to eventually finish each of those with them. My Fairlane is my one keeper even if everything else had to go. And, everyone needs an old pickup, so I plan to keep the GMC. I am debating what to do with the Buick though.

 

We have a parallel leaf kit for those Mercs!

 

You're an ambitious fella. It's gonna be worth the work though. This is gonna be good!

 

Chop Chop.

 

what happened to the chopped shoe box

 

I assume you mean the one my son had? If so, he sold it a while back when he wanted a pickup instead. It is actually for sale again locally and I toyed with buying it back since I wanted a kustom. But, seems I found one I will like better in the end.

 

The whole squadron in Oklahoma…

Hello,

I saw my first 39-40 Mercury Coupe back in 1958-59 at Lion’s Dragstrip. It was bright orange and had the similarities of a 40 Ford coupe. It was chopped and looked mean.


Orange/Red Mercury Coupe that was filmed at Lion’s Dragstrip in 1959-60.


The tall cab profile needs a little lowering. But not too low, so your son can also drive it comfortably.
Your son is big, so he may not fit in the Mercury Coupe if it is chopped too much or sectioned, too.

The bones are there for customizing that Mercury Coupe. The photos of the full custom red coupe is a little far out there. There is no resemblance to the original Mercury Coupe style and profile. It looks like a 41 Chevy fastback.

Here is my drawing of the stock coupe with a mild chop. Then added full skirts.

Jnaki

But on the other hand, if a full custom is where you are headed, how about a section job in addition to the chopped top?

So, if you want something different and a full blown project, a cool Nomad style station wagon from the coupe would work for your family, if you could get it away from everyone… YRMV

latest look for 39 Mercury Coupe to station wagon. yrmv
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/friday-art-show-4-22-22.1262051/#post-14459176