Tom Kowalski wasted little time carting the Mercury from his Colorado home to Hot Rods by Dean in Phoenix, AZ. It was a bold shop selection and Tom says he spent a lot of time “explaining to people that a relatively new shop run by a 35-year-old kid could make a {traditional} project like this come to life. “Seeing Dean’s previous work gave Tom all the assurance he needed.
Another factor in Tom’s favor was his own good taste and design sense. The modifications he requested included a host of classic treatments, starting with a tasteful top chop-2 inches in front, 3 in back, plus an additional inch in the crown-with leaned B-pillars and ’50 rear glass. The headlights were frenched using ’54 Merc rings, while the molded grille opening was filled with ’53 DeSoto teeth. Rounded front and rear hood corners and a reshaped ’53 DeSoto bumper completed the forward appearance.
Moving back, the signature Mercury “humps” were removed from the doors, leaving straight, graceful fadeaway fender lines. These were completed with ’53 Buick side trim capped with small rocker panel lights in handmade housings. Rounded door corners, molded quarter-panels, and flush-fit fender skirts smoothed things out further.
The aft appearance was refined using frenched ’54 Merc taillights and a bumper built from two ’53 DeSoto units. That bumper, and all other brightwork, was plated at Finishing Touch in Chicago. When Dean’s shop was done with the bodywork, Doug Jerger at Squeeg’s Kustoms loaded his gun with custom-mixed PPG bone white and candy red hues to lay down the fantastic finish.
While sparks and paint were flying in Arizona, Earl Floyd Engines in Portland, Oregon, was freshening up the 276ci Merc Flathead with new bearings and rings. The little mill was topped with Offy heads, finned aluminum accessories, Fenton headers, and three Stromberg 97s on an Offy intake before being delivered to Dean’s for paint and detailing. Earl also rebuilt the original three speed overdrive transmission.
Most of the car stayed true to ‘50s form, but a few chassis updates were made for safety and comfort. Dean’s crew installed a Jamco ball joint conversion kit, disc brakes, sway bar along with custom upper control arms. The frame was a C-notched before another Jamco sway bar and dearched leaf springs were installed in back. Tru Design built custom front wheels to accept Cadillac hubcaps, and Diamondback Classic whitewall radials were used all around.