I was told it was wrecked. I know there is a clone. However, I thought Rodders Journal did a feature story onthe (still existing) original a couple of years ago.
Hirohito was the Japanese emperor during WWII. Bob Hirohata was the one who had Barris customize his Mercury. Yes, it does exist and was restored by some of the original craftsmen for the 50th GNRS. Still owned by Jim McNeil who bought it in 1959 (for $500.00).
Last I heard the original had been modified over the years and was currently being redone to the original look/specs...but I may be mistaken and/or thinking of a totally different car...
The original is alive and well, saw it last September. Here is the post with pics: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71346
Obviously you've been listening to the wrong people! It was parked in a guys garage while he did the family thing...then he restored it.
an acquaintance of mine jim mcneil bought the car off of a used car lot on atlantic blvd. in L.A. back in the late fifties and drove it around for a few years. he took his wife (then girlfriend) to the prom in 1964 with the car. shortly after that he parked the car in a garage for decades.less then 10 years ago the car was completely restored and looks as good today as it did in 53...maybe even better! dutch striped the glove box back in the 50's and it is still on there!
Thank you all for the update including the WWII Emperer mistake. And especially the photos. Hope to someday see it in person. jim
I must be thinking of a different car then...the one I'm thinking of was done in the mid-50's, changed hands and redone by (if I remember right) the same shop, changed hands and yet again changed form, then someone bought it at an auctionhouse and was restoring it according to the original pictures from the first build...now if only I could remember what the hell I'm thinking of, then we'd all be much better off...
Maybe you're thinking of Nick Matranga's 40 Merc hardtop built by the Barris Brothers in 1950. Lost to disaster by hitting a telephone pole. There was a beautiful clone of it built, it was on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona for a time. Also, the Hirohata was one of the cars displayed at the Peterson's Custom Car exhibit a couple of years ago.
I saw the car at the Oakland Roadster Show in 2000. It literally took my breathe away. Perfect balance. This is one of those cars that has to be seen to really be appreciated. Before I saw it, I am ashamed to say, I did not think that much of it, just another "old car". Wow, did I learn something. Those guys that made all those old rides really were looking to the furture. The Hirohito Merc will always live!
Well, it could be...provided that thousands of people say it and turn it into a commonly used phrase...otherwise it's just some idiot rambling after having been up nearly 30 hours...
I saw it before the interior was restored at the Oakland Museum Show - maybe that was 2000, I can't remember - there were many great old customs there including the Matranga Merc clone that was built several years ago. For me, the chance to see the Hirohata car was the draw and I spent quite a bit of time staring at the details. The door buttons stand out in my mind since they were integrated into the side trim. All of the details are so well thought out and executed on this car and the color combination is really inspired. I also had a chance to see the dash board displayed at the Laguna Beach Art Museum Show in '93? There was a bunch of Von Dutch stuff and "Kustom Kulture" type things at that show. At that time the actual Hirohata car was still "in hiding" and it was really cool to see the dash alone. Pat Ganahl covered the restoration really well and one of the old Rodder's Journals has a great article about the car before and during its restoration that he wrote. Even the pictures of it when Mr. McNeil pulled it out for the first time in the old gold paint are great. A great car with a really great story. Too bad Bob Hirohata was killed so tragically. Was that crime ever solved?
The Rodder's Journal #8 is the issue that covered the Hirohata Merc. When you say Kustom, to me, that's the car that comes to mind. I love the look of the old Barris kustoms, and the Hirohata Merc has to be as close to perfection as they get. (My $.02). How exactly did Bob Hirohata die? Can someone fill me in?
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