Ford Motor Company introduced its upscale Mercury brand in 1938 to not only fill the gap between Ford and Lincoln but to compete with Pontiac and Oldsmobile as well. From the outset, the Mercury was more luxurious than the Ford, and although many of the styling elements appeared similar, the sheet metal was not shared, the Mercury was perceptibly larger and it benefited from a longer wheelbase. Mercury convertibles also had a more dramatically raked windshield that looked even better when customizers began to chop it. Jimmy Summers, one of the earliest custom practitioners in Los Angeles, built a chopped and channeled Mercury convertible from a nearly new car. Soon, other ’39s were customized, even before World War II, by several pioneer restylers including Charles Marr and Gerry Huth, who went on to found the Huth Muffler Company. This old-school-style 1940 Mercury Convertible was built in 1981 by Bob Johnson of Council Bluffs, Iowa. He carefully chopped the top 4 inches, slanted the posts slightly, added a one-piece padded Carson-style top and V-butted the windscreen glass for a clean, one-piece appearance. The car was nosed and decked, the hood was extensively louvered, the door handles were shaved, all the side trim was removed, and the radio antenna was sunken. Additional modifications included frenched headlights using ’52 Mercury headlight rims, elegantly molded rear fenders with ’41 Studebaker tail lights mounted horizontally, and a gas-filler door that was filled so the filler itself is located in the trunk. In classic “taildragger” style, the rear fenders have been enhanced with flared, teardrop fender skirts. Twin Appleton spotlights are the finishing touches, and the bumper guards were removed for a cleaner look. Flipper-bar hubcaps and wide whitewalls set off the custom paintwork. Proper ‘50s-style customs should be radically lowered, and this car is no exception. A 2.5-inch dropped axle and a de-arched leaf spring lower the front some 6 inches. In the rear, a C-ed frame, raised floor and a Mustang rear end with 3-inch lowering blocks and de-arched springs all combine for an impressive 11-inch drop. The extensive custom bodywork was done by the owner, along with Ron Moore. Moore painted the car Candy Wild Cherry with contrasting scallops. Bud’s Upholstery in Pacific Junction, Iowa, was responsible for covering the plush ’65 Thunderbird seats with wine velour, and this no doubt contributed to the car’s name: “Sweeter Than Wine.” While customs don’t necessarily need a powerful engine for cruising, this car is a pleasant exception. Under the hood lurks a 350 CI Chevrolet V-8 that’s topped with three Stromberg 97 carburetors and enhanced with many plated accessories. The transmission is a 350 Turbo-Hydra-Matic. Noted Texas-based customizer Lee Pratt wrote a feature on this car in Classic & Custom magazine in August 1981. Pratt wrote, “it’s easy to see that he (Bob Johnson) is one step ahead of most people, accomplishing both good looks and dependability …” Munz especially likes the ‘50s era, and he owns a number of modified cars that reflect the postwar period’s exuberant stance on rods and customs. Not surprisingly, this ’40 Mercury fits perfectly in the RVM Collection.
