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Elements: Flame paint jobs
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Elements: Custom 1940 Mercury
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Another “car of note” from this year’s Goodguys PPG Nationals, is this award-winning, Rob Ida built 1940 Mercury. It might just be the most elegant custom I’ve ever seen in the steel. This build embraces the european coach-built aesthetic of the ’30s and late ’40s. The bespoke roofline and hood give the car such a distinctive, streamlined look. There’s a lot of Talbot -Lago, Delahaye, and Delage influence in both the lines and the detail.
Oh, the details! Not only does it sport full wheel skirts on all four corners, the front skirts are articulated and move when the wheels turn. The custom hardware and trim elements are just too numerous to list. It even has custom luggage!
The power plant is just as impressive as the sheetmetal. It’s a supercharged modular Ford mill producing around 660 horsepower, and it’s detailed as beautifully as the rest of the car. The one thing that had me scratching my head was that it had a column-mounted gear lever and three pedals. So I had to ask, “is it a three-on-the-tree?” Nope, turns out is uses a modern auto box and has tandem brake pedals. Like I mentioned, the details!
Elements: 1958 – 1960 Thunderbird custom
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I've seen this car show up at a few local car shows, but I haven't had a chance to meet the owner. I love the 60’s custom look of it, but what really makes this car is the orange metal flake paint. I honestly don't think I’ve ever seen flakes this big in a car finish. It has a depth unlike any pearl or candy finish. I'm fascinated by it. I’d love to talk to the owner, or better yet the painter, and get the back story what it took to get this look. When it happens, I'll be sure to post a follow up.
1958 Chevrolet Biscayne DIY custom
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Some custom cars are crafted, others are built. This ’58 Chevy 2-door sedan is without question the latter. It’s a build-what-you-have, cut-off, bolt-on, and weld-up, street beast. I just love the presence of this car. Not only does it have the attitude with it’s looks, it sounds loud and amazing. I think of it as the automotive equivalent of a Social Distortion gig.
1941 Willys Americar gasser tribute
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This particular Willys is one of my all-time favorite hot rods. The concept, unexpected color, and amazing attention to detail make it a truly unique build. When I saw this car in 2013 at the Goodguys PPG Nationals, I had the opportunity to meet the owner/builder, Mark Renko. He showed me around the car and pointed out some of the car’s hidden features, like the routing of the HVAC and stereo. The beautifully adapted microphone gear knob and bass drum accelerator pedal were references to his other love of music and drumming. A year later, I learned that Mark had passed away the previous November. While I only talked to Mark for a few minutes, I found him to be extremely nice, infectiously enthusiastic about the car, and ridiculously talented. I was crushed to learn of his passing. I hope this car lives on to carry his legacy for as long as possible.