Features Kustoms blues? I need to see some kustoms....

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And it's a factory-issued dealer accessory option!

 

I'm just gonna go out on a limb and guess that they aired up the rear suspension so they can change a tire...?
Otherwise, I have no idea what's going on here.

 

The owner was/is a member here but can't remember his name. I think he was a bit confused as to what he wanted the car to be. I seem to remember his looking for advise on how to change it.

 

This is my friend Kevin Gallegos' '40 Mercury. He built this car at home mostly by himself. Kevin and his family are part of the few custom people left in Denver. We don't see many sleds around here these days.



This is Kevin and his son Zeke getting after it at the Rock & Rumble down south at PPIR. This is another car that was mostly homebuilt with one exception--it was chopped by the late, great Bill Hines at the Leadsled Spectacular in 2012 (I think)! Here's the video that the Gallegos family submitted to the KKOA for the KKOA's search for a car to chop at the Spectacular that year.



Zeke was a little guy then. Now he's all grown up and in college. Love the confidence he shows saying the car would be at the Spectacular completed the next year after the chop. It took a little longer than that, but it's all done now and on the road.

That's not all. Kevin's daughter Mia also has a Merc--a '49. A few years ago Kevin was short on drivers and he wanted to take his '40 and Mia's '49 to a big car show here in town. He called me up and asked if I would drive her car to the show for him. I was blown away. He said he liked the way I always drive like a grandpa. When I go to a show I like to ride in the back of the line, taking in the sights on the road and enjoying watching the line of customs ahead of me. I jumped at the chance as I had never driven a chopped car before. It's a memory I'll always cherish.



Incidentally, if you look close, you can see Mia's Merc peeking out of the garage in the first picture of Kevin's '40 on the grass.
Kevin and his family are true custom folks and great people! E

 

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That Merc hardtop is killer!

 

These truly are good people. I bought some parts from them while building my Merc several years ago and saw the video of Zach. I think Kevin has to be the all time Koolest dad there is! Great to see the style of these car continues through his children too!

 

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@straykatkustoms , love the beautiful blue 'Bird at the Price Tower and at the Traveler's Motel in Bartellsville OK. We also enjoyed being "travelers" when we rolled into Dewey for your show last Sept. Highlight of our car activities with so many things cancelled.

 

Kool pic Bill.... I wonder why I hadn't taken a picture in front of the Travelers sign? Just been here fifty plus years. I drive by it seems like everyday multiple times. Going to have to put that on my bucket list. Maybe I can get this one done.... Thank you for coming down to the Lead ain't Dead show. Your '54 is so kool and a purrfect example of a Mild Kustom. Great attention to detail..... Look forward to seeing ya in Salina.