The MatrangaMercurycustom car , make from Nick Matranga ’s 1940 Mercury , was one of Sam and George Barris ’s first masterpieces , an innovative and influential machine that still inspire customizers today . Sadly , it only subsist in its finished course for about a class .
The car was started at Barris ’s Compton Avenue store in 1949 , but was in the plant for over a year , enduring a match of workshop relocations as Sam cautiously plan the major alteration and worked on the details .
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The standout feature of the Matranga Mercury is its beautiful top chop , measuring five inches in front and seven inches in back . Sam had previously chop the tops of Johnny Zaro ’s and Al Andril ’s 1940 Mercurys , so he had the functioning down to a science by the clip he did Matranga ’s railcar .
To void a " mail - time slot " coming into court at the front , the top of the windshield opening was extended into the cut - down roofline so it would match the height of the side window .
At the clip , hardtop rooflines were the in style styling innovation from Detroit . General Motors’Buick , Cadillac , and Oldsmobile divisions introduced pillarless hardtop soundbox styles in 1949 that were well - received by the public .
The Barrises and Matranga put their own twirl on hardtop styling by geld out the center threshold posts of the Mercury and replacing them with smoothly hand - curve 5/8 - inch communication channel neckcloth .
The custom side - windowpane trim complemented the graceful arc of the chop up top and entirely changed the character of the car . This trick would be copy legion time on other tradition throughout the years .
At Matranga ’s insistence , the Mercury ’s openhanded front end sheetmetal was leave unmodified save for dechroming . Both the front and rearward bumpers came from a 1946Ford . The rearward bumper guard were modified to house taillights formed from transparent scarlet Lucite .
All four fender were molded to the body , as was a 1946 Ford rear splash pan . Teardrop pilot skirts from a 1941 Buick were modified to fit out . A deep maroon lacquer paint job cease off the exterior .
The interior was every bit as dazzling . Glen Houser ’s Carson Top Shop did the upholstery in bloodless and deep blood-red naugahyde with black carpeting . The splasher was fully chromed , and Nick and friend Jesse Lopez form dash inserts from red plexiglass . Thesteeringwheel came from a 1950 Mercury .
Unsure of his time to come , Matranga sent news back to the States for Barris to sell the car . The new owner was allegedly street rush it on a rainy night in early 1952 , lost control condition over some railway tracks , and hit a telephone celestial pole . The proprietor walked aside , but the Matranga Mercury was add up .
commit its outstanding design and short lifespan , it stands to reason that the Matranga Mercury would be re-create . heap of beautiful Matranga - inspire Mercurys have been work up over the year , but most agree that the most precise clone was created by the tardy Duncan Emmons .
That car is shown here in front of the NHRA Motorsports Museum . Duncan had the expert assist of Bill Hines , Joe Reath , Eddie Martinez , Red Twit , Richard Graves , and his son Duncan Jr. , in making this excellent re - creation of tradition history a reality .
