1949-1951 Mercury "Lead Sleds" (old school custom cars)

YouTube ^ | Aug 14, 2020 | MyHotRodTV

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1949 -1951 Mercury Lead Sleds

MyHotRodTV

Within its era and beyond, the Mercury was popular with customizers. In 1949, Sam Barris built the first lead sled from a 1949 Mercury, became the definitive “lead sled”, much as the Ford V-8 (as the “deuce”) was becoming the definitive hot rod. The Mercurys were among the first models to receive an aftermarket OHV engine swap, since Oldsmobile and Cadillac developed the first high-compression OHV V8 engines in 1949, whereas Ford was still using a sidevalve engine.

Sam and George Barris also used the 1949 body style to build “the most famous custom car ever” the Hirohata Merc, for customer Bob Hirohata in 1953.

The 'Hirohata Merc'

Setting a style and an attitude, it had a “momentous effect” on custom car builders, appeared in several magazines at the time, and reappeared numerous times since, earning an honorable mention on Rod & Custom’s “Twenty Best of All Time” list in 1991.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r-pt6pM_qg

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Hirohata Merc: Custom Legend - Full Documentary

Historic Vehicle Association

The 1951 Mercury Sports Coupe built by Barris Kustoms, “The Hirohata Merc” is the embodiment of the custom car craze that became popular in post-WWII America!

This chopped Merc helped set the trend for many custom cars to follow and made an indelible mark on America’s automotive history!

Take a look as we dive into the world of custom cars and how this one chopped Merc made history in this single-part release of our docu-series “Hirohata Merc: Custom Legend”!

Hirohata Merc: Custom Legend - Full Documentary [33 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd5GfqfKnrg

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Here are a few of the many other famous cars built by the late great George Barris...

[ETL]

Sam was George's brother. He was the real master builder/engineer behind the builds. George was more the master designer, if I got it right.

[Red Badger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJvyPXPssg

[nicollo]

That photo from the Washington Mall (w/ Wash Monument) is from the Historic Vehicle Association, which places there specific automobiles of particular historic value once a year: https://www.historicvehicle.org/category/cars-at-the-capital/

Along w/ the Barris car, they also displayed the Gypsy Rose and the McGee Roadster: https://www.historicvehicle.org/gypsy-rose-famous-lowrider-goes-washington-d-c/

I helped out w/ the Taft car in ‘16. Was a fabulous event, as we brought in White House Transportation Agency soldiers who assisted w/ the presentation: https://www.historicvehicle.org/newly-introduced-legislation-aims-give-old-cars-footing-bridges-buildings/

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I looked to see if that was posted. Good job! Good tune!

[Red Badger]

Saw Steve Miller in ‘79..................

[Fiji Hill]

A Ford takes on a Mercury and they drag race down a highway. Both of these are from 1951.

Hot Rod Race (California version)--Ramblin' Jimmy Dolam

Hot Rod Race (Hawaii verson)--Tiny Hill & His Orchestra

[ETL]

That photo from the Washington Mall (w/ Wash Monument) is from the Historic Vehicle Association, which places there specific automobiles of particular historic value once a year

Thanks. I didn't know if that photo was for real or not.

[dakine]

Good as place as any to ask this question -

My Uncle who later built engines for power boats (he is in the Michigan power boat Hall of Fame) suped up a Mercury for my Dad in the 50s that my Dad always talked about ( Dad raced it on Telegraph and of course Woodward)

My question: What is the Max number of Carbs that could be put on the engine? Because my Dad used to always talk about he could see his fuel needle drop in minutes!

[Peter W. Kessler]

An absolutely fantastic video. I was unaware of the whole history of the Hirohata Merc, and the video lays it all out.

Rod & Custom covered the restoration. The car was beautiful to look at, but it was downright DANGEROUS to drive. Seems ol’ Georgie B took quite a few shortcuts getting the car to sit down low.

George Barris was a showman, a promoter; not a particularly great stylist. He hired great metal workers and painters, however. Sam Barris was the talent of the partnership. It’s sad he died so young.

[Ken H]

[BubbaBasher]

A flat-head Ford or Mercury might have 1,2,3, or 4 carbs in a row. A fuel injection set up would have 8 throttle bodies.

[thinden]

never heard of sam till today.

great info.

yes, they were masters of design & engineer the customs

thanx for dusting this off

[cyclotic]

I can believe that. When I was 16 my mom had a 73 Olds Custom Cruiser station wagon with a 454 engine. It literally got maybe 5 mph.

It was literally 1/4 tank to get to school and back.

[Repeal The 17th]

If I had money, I tell you what I’d do,
I’d go downtown and buy a mercury or two,
Crazy ‘bout a mercury, Lord, I’m crazy ‘bout a mercury,
I’m gonna buy me a mercury, and cruise it up and down the road.
-
Alan Jackson-1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0gfWZfVIY8

[Dr. Sivana]

I would like the Black Beauty (’66 Imperial), with built-in drone launcher (50 years ahead of its time, CCTV, bullet-proof body, infra-green headlights(?!), a straight-line speed of 200+ mph (per Kato) and fully-integrated machine guns.

I do hope Kato upgraded the 10” drum brakes.

[nascarnation]

Nice. Back in hs I worked in a gas station where the owner raced a Ford coupe with a flathead V8. Biggest issue was cooling because of how much distance the exhaust traveled thru the block. And if it overheated the block cracked between the exh valve and the cylinder bore. Hard to keep up with those Hudson Hornets.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Timeless

[cymbeline]

“What is the Max number of Carbs that could be put on the engine?”

150 weed eater carbs