“NOT ONLY DID THE BARRIS CREW AGREE, BUT THEY ALSO DECIDED THAT HIROHATA’S CAR WOULD BE USED TO SHOWCASE THEIR BUSINESS SKILLS AT THE 1952 MOTORAMA CAR SHOW TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER.” Not only did the Barris crew agree, but they also decided that Hirohata’s car would be used to showcase their business skills at the 1952 Motorama car show to be held in November. It took 97 days to complete this effort, and the result was unlike anything that had been seen before. With George’s design work, Sam Barris first removed the B-pillars and then welded the top frame of the doors onto the roof, creating the first-ever 1949-1951 Mercury hardtop redesign. With 4 inches removed from the roof height up front and 7 in the rear, the car took on a very streamlined appearance, especially with the stock rear window raked over to match the roofline changes. A further A-pillar change and curved channel door framing resulted in a fresh door shape, and a butted, V-type windshield finished the cab changes. Next came George’s decision to lengthen both the front and rear fenders, adding in frenched, current-year Ford headlights and Lincoln tail lamps. The effort became more seamless by removing the factory chrome trim, door handles and drip rails, rounding the decklid and extending the filled, peaked hood down into the grille, which was created by splicing three 1951 Ford grilles together. Selecting 1952 Buick Riviera side spears with customized door skins and fender skirts gave the car a dividing point, and functional brake scoops and rear lowering blocks for a pavement-blending, down-low look all helped to finalize the outside changes. Metal work credit goes to Sam Barris and Frank Sonzogni, with each working on one side of the car to finish it for the event. George Barris then sprayed the body in a tellingly different two-tone green: pastel Ice Green (known as Sea Foam) on top and darker Organic Green below the trim line. Inside, the upholstery was completed by the famed Carson Top Shop, which used white and green Naugahyde to roll and tuck the seats, headliner and kick panels. Custom plastic dash knobs fabricated by Hirohata himself proved so popular that Cal Customs eventually reproduced them, and Von Dutch himself came in to do pinstriping on the Merc, complete with a one-of f icon figure on the glovebox he signed and entitled, “This is the City.” Once delivered, Hirohata added whitewall tires, Cadillac sombrero hubcaps and twin Appleton S-552 spotlights. At its public debut late that year, it became the Class Winner at the Petersen-hosted Motorama, garnering feature stories in Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, HOP UP and even on the cover of Motor Trend. 62 // MECUM.COM
