mongooz
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The Hirohata Mercury amazed and delighted the folks who spotted it cruising the streets of Los Angeles, appearing at countless car shows, and starring in the Hollywood B-movie, “Running Wild,” with Mamie Van Doren, shown here with one of the car’s creators, George Barris.
The Merc that set the Custom world on fire is going under the hammer in Kissimmee on January 15th. The time is right to take a closer look at this famous ride.
The Hirohata Mercury, arguably most famous custom car of all time, owned by one California family for 59 years, is about to be offered for sale. Custom car enthusiasts can’t wait to see the result. Will it be the “Million Dollar Merc?”
If ever a single car has come to define its genre, this 1951 Mercury hardtop, built by George and Sam Barris for Los Angeles custom car enthusiast Bob Hirohata, is it. Hand-crafted in mid-century by the Barris Brothers, who were some of the best talent in the business, and featured in countless magazines (not to mention it was a scene-stealing Hollywood B-movie star), this stunning car was highly acclaimed in its heyday. Then its first owner was murdered in a drive-by shooting, and the obsolete custom fell into disrepair and disappeared for a time. Decades later, it emerged as the centerpiece of an exhibit at the Oakland Museum and, after a serious re-restoration, it starred at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
[there is WAY too much story here to post it all, but it IS a good read about a famous car and those that built and owned it]
read more:https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/car-of-the-week-the-hirohata-merc
