Leading the brand-new Hot Wheels “mainline” cars coming out for 2024 is an all-new, approximately 1:64-scale casting of the famous 1951 Mercury custom built in 1952 by Sam and George Barris with Frank Sonzogni of LA’s Barris Kustoms for owner Bob Hirohata. It was not the first bathtub Mercury Club Coupe to get the top-chop treatment—heck, Sam Barris had already chopped the top on his own 1949 Merc before he dropped the Hirohata’s top—but it is believed to be the first 1951 Merc to get a top chop (1951 Mercs had a unique roof that differed from the otherwise-similar 1949 and ‘50s Mercurys). With its innovative hardtop-style side window treatment on a chopped top, unique trim components and numerous other modifications, the Hirohata Merc quickly became the quintessential lowered custom Merc. In the decades that followed, its swagger was copied over and over on Mercurys across the United States, from its Buick side trim to its simple “floating” grille bar to its frenched ’52 Lincoln taillamps in extended rear fenders—all before James Dean appeared on the big screen in 1955 with a mildly customized 1949 Merc coupe.

A Merc becomes famous

Americans became well-acquainted with Bob Hirohata’s Merc through many magazines of the day. (It’s so famous, it’s still appearing in magazines, including Old Cars.) The Ice Green and Organic Green Transparent-painted Merc plastered the covers of the March 1953 issues of Hop Up and Motor Trend. Later that year, in the October 1953 issue of Rod & Custom magazine, Hirohata’s cross-country road trip from California to the Indianapolis Custom Show in the Merc gained the car more attention. Shortly thereafter, it hit the big screen with an appearance with Mamie Van Doren in the 1955 motion picture “Running Wild,” now repainted in a “gold lime mist” color, as Hirohata once described it.

Hirohata sold the car in 1955 or so and it passed through a few other owners. It also received at least one more color change before Jim McNeil bought it in 1959 or 1960. McNeil drove the car until 1964 and then parked it until one-time Rod & Custom Editor Pat Ganahl tracked down the thought-to-be-lost car in McNeil’s garage during the late 1980s. Ganahl gathered many leading and legendary customizers to restore the car with McNeil, some of whom had originally worked on the car, and it was beautifully restored. The “Hirohata Merc” was sold at Mecum Auction’s 2022 Kissimmee sale by McNeil’s family a few years after his 2018 death.

Hot Wheels’ First ‘Hirohata Merc’

Shortly after the “Hirohata Merc” was restored in 1997, it was featured in numerous publications (again). At the same time, it was crafted as a true 1:64-scale model in Hot Wheels’ Legends series as part of a set that included three other Barris Kustoms: the “Ala Kart,” Elvis Cadillac and another Barris-kustomized Merc coupe. The set was expensive at $119.96 (or four monthly installments of $29.99 each), but the scale cars were crafted to such a high quality they transcended being toys. The tiny bumpers, grille bar and side trim were separate chrome-looking pieces; the Lincoln taillamps were transparent red lenses; and the Sombrero wheel covers were authentic and even chrome-looking. The interiors and chassis were likewise extremely detailed—much more so than a standard $1 Hot Wheels car swinging on the pegs of the local Kmart. These cars couldn’t be bought at the local Kmart or Target store, either, but had to be ordered by mail.

The Hot Wheels Legends Series marked the pinnacle of the level of detail that Mattel would instill in its pocket-size Hot Wheels cars. There were other four-car sets in the Hot Wheels Legends series and even 1:24 and 1:64 pairings of an individual car, such as a custom 1949 Mercury in both scales, and the ZZ Top “CadZZilla” custom 1948 Cadillac fastback in both scales.

When the Hot Wheels Legends series ceased, the toymaker’s “Hirohata Merc” casting continued on in its 100% Collectibles line and then its Kalifornia Kustoms series, each time with a unique paint scheme that never appeared on the actual “Hirohata Merc.” The 100% Collectibles and Kalifornia Kustoms series priced cars at about $10 each ($20 for a set of two), a much lower price point than the Hot Wheels Legends’ $29.99-per-car price point. These series are now out of production, and along with it, Hot Wheels’ original “Hirohata Merc” casting stopped being cast.

Getting personal with the ‘Hirohata Merc’

Already a fan of the “Hirohata Merc,” I was literally giddy when I saw Hot Wheels first offering the Hirohata Merc in 1:64 scale. The moment back in 1997 when I began seeing magazine ads for the Hot Wheels Legends Barris Kustom Series, I traded my hard-earned greenbacks for the two-tone green Merc and the other three cars in the set. Writing a check for the full $119.96 was a bit painful—that was a lot of bread for a college student like me— but when the set arrived, there wasn’t a moment of regret. I very well remember the summer day the set containing the tiny “Hirohata Merc” arrived. I was sitting in the shade of my parents’ garage during their garage sale when the delivery driver pulled up. We rarely received packages, so I knew what he had to be delivering. Sure enough, the package had my name on it and I immediately tore into the box. The set has since held a special place in my embarrassingly large toy car collection. On one of the occasions where I saw the “Hirohata Merc” in person, George Barris was present and I had him sign the acrylic cover to my Hot Wheels Legends set, although the signature faded with time. My colleagues have joked that items with Barris’ prolific signature are probably worth less than those without it, but it holds a special memory for me. I’ve since collected Hot Wheels’ “Hirohata Merc” in nearly all of its other appearances (100% Collectibles, Kalifornia Kustoms, etc.).

‘Hirohata Merc’s’ triumphant return in 2024

The new “Hirohata Merc” Hot Wheels car is a big deal, because it’s only the second time the famous car has been crafted in 1:64 scale, and it will be widely available wherever mainline Hot Wheels cars are sold (those cars priced at about $1.25 at stores). At that low price point, the new “Hirohata Merc” Hot Wheels car is much more financially available to all car enthusiasts, regardless of age and income, especially when compared to the previous and more detailed Hot Wheels Legends “Hirohata Merc” that retailed for almost $30 in 1997 money. While hanging on pegwall displays at Target, Walmart and grocery stores, the new Hot Wheels “Hirohata Merc” casting will bring custom cars (or kustom cars) within reach of young and old, and most importantly to the hobby, expose more people to that legendary car and custom car culture in general.

Hot Wheels’ new 2024 “Hirohata Mercury” was designed by Mattel designer Brendon Vetuskey, who is said to have worked with legendary retired Hot Wheels designer Larry Wood in creating the new mainline version for 2024. Wood reportedly loaned Vetuskey the resin model that he used to create the earlier Hot Wheels Legend “Hirohata Merc,” and that model was 3D scanned for the new mainline edition. But make no mistake, these are truly two different 1:64 models of the same car from the same company.

The 2024 “Hirohata Merc” Hot Wheels mainline casting lacks the separate chrome trim and other highly detailed components of the Hot Wheels Legends version, as well as even several tampos (Hot Wheels’ “decals”) for the taillamps, window trim, grille, etc. The only tampos on the car are those for the Barris emblem on the front fenders and the headlamps.

Construction of the new mainline Hirohata Merc is also different than most other Hot Wheels, and rather ingenious. The new Hirohata Merc is built in such a way to keep the cost of production low while offering an impressive amount of detail in a $1-or-so toy. The upper Ice Green portion of the toy’s metal body has been cast as one part, with the lower Organic Green part of the body cast as part of the plastic chassis. Wedged between them is a silver tampo that adds silver to the swooping Buick side trim that divides the two greens. The dual spotlights are formed as part of this silver-plated interior pan and poke up through holes in the hood. The bumpers are also formed as part of the silver-plated interior pan and are wedged between the body and base. This method of construction keeps the new Hirohata Merc toy car within the five main components incorporated in a mainline Hot Wheels car (body, windows, interior, chassis, wheels), thereby allowing Mattel to keep this mainline Hot Wheels toy cars at such a low price.

Fans of this new Hot Wheels car will reportedly see two different-colored versions; the Ice Green and Organic Green version pictured here (the Hirohata Merc’s original and current paint scheme), and the Gold Lime Mist upper body as the car featured in “Running Wild.”

The Hot Wheels 2024 “Hirohata Merc” mainline car pictured here is probably an early production version that wasn’t completely assembled; it’s what Hot Wheels collectors call an “unspun” or “unriveted” version without the rivets installed to complete the assembly process. The car was also not fitted with the production wheels, but instead has Real Rider rubber tires and chrome five-spoke wheels that will not appear on production versions. The production version will likely come with plastic whitewall five-spoke wheels with black wheel spokes (WW5SP). Watch for it to swing on pegs at your local Hot Wheels-selling retailer in the Rod Squad series in late winter or spring 2024—I know I will be hunting for it.

UPDATE: The Hot Wheels casting of the Hirohata Merc in its original sea foam green upper body color and darker green lower body color debuted in early to mid 2024 in Case Code G and followed up in Case Code H. The later, lime green version appeared toward the end of 2024 in Case Code M and N. To end 2024 and lead into 2025, Hot Wheels put its own spin on the Hirohata Merc by coloring the body metallic purple with a white base that extended up the body sides, beneath the ’53 Buick side trim, to give it a two-tone look again. The purple version appeared in 2025 Case Codes B and C, and the version in some B cases was a Super Treasure Hunt with Spectraflame purple paint and silver wheels and Real Rider rubber tires (type WWMD). 

Angelo Van Bogart is the editor of Old Cars magazine and wrote the column “Hot Wheels Hunting” for Toy Cars & Models magazine for several years. He has authored several books including “Hot Wheels 40 Years,” “Hot Wheels Classics: The Redline Era” and “Cadillac: 100 Years of Innovation.” His 2023 book “Inside the Duesenberg SSJ” is his latest. He can be reached at avanbogart@aimmedia.com

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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?”

Before we speculate on that question, let’s examine the car, the culture and legend.

The Basics of a Custom Legend

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.

The Culture Behind the Hirohata Merc

When World War II ended in 1945, pent-up demand for new cars drove America’s automobile industry to convert, in record time, from producing war materiel back to building civilian vehicles. Deprived of their formative years, returning GIs with saved-up combat pay demanded new wheels right away. So did the gas-rationed and war-deprived civilian population. To quickly meet demand for the 1946 model year, Detroit’s automakers offered what came to be known as “warmed over” 1942 models: prosaic cars with stodgy styling barely changed from their prewar counterparts. Kaiser-Frazer, Nash, Studebaker and Hudson were among the first to offer completely new sheet metal in 1947. General Motors, Chrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co. followed suit in 1948 and ’49.

For enthusiasts who hadn’t the means to purchase a new car, restyling an older model or scratch-building a sports custom was a popular alternative. Customizing, known earlier as re-styling, had begun before the war by a few West Coast shops and builders. There was Jimmy Summers and Link Paola in Hollywood; Neil Emory and Clay Jensen, owners of Valley Custom, in the San Fernando Valley; and Harry Westergard in Sacramento. They were joined by Gil and Al Ayala in East Los Angeles, and the prolific Barris Brothers, Sam and George, in Lynwood. Even before custom cars were featured in Robert E. Petersen’s Hot Rod Magazine and its companion, Motor Trend, Dan Post’s “Blue Book of Custom Re-Styling,” and a pamphlet from Pennsylvania speed merchant Ed Almquist, taught budding builders customizing techniques.

The fundamental premise of customizing was simple, although not everyone got it right. Most production cars of the late 1940s were staid, bulbous and dull. The period’s best auto writer, Ken W. Purdy, called them “…turgid, jelly-bodied clunkers.”

Customizing techniques such as lowering and de-chroming, applying metallic paint in deep tones, reshaping fenders, altering grilles, top chopping and even sectioning (excising a strip of metal from the center of the body for a lower silhouette), soon became popular nationwide. After a fender was reshaped, or a hood or decklid ornament was removed, the hole-filling and finish work were done by tinning and smoothing over holes and joints with melted lead filler, hence the term “lead sleds.”

Customizing techniques, done well, could positively transform the look of an older model, making it appear streamlined, more attractive and more modern. Often, engines of customs were modified, improving performance. Adapting trim, fender skirts, grilles, hubcaps and bumpers from more expensive brands made low-priced Fords and Mercurys appear sleeker. Soon, people began customizing brand-new cars.

When Sam Barris chopped and lowered his nearly new 1949 Mercury coupe, he transformed a chunky design into a dramatically modern show car, beginning a trend almost overnight. For 1951, performing what today we’d call a “facelift,” Ford Motor Co. stylists extended the rear fenders and redesigned the grille on the 1949-’50 Mercury for an more distinctive silhouette. Customizers immediately began work on the “updated canvas” that was the 1951 Merc. Around the time Sam Barris’ chopped-and-lowered 1949 Mercury coupe appeared on the cover of the December 1951 issue of Motor Trend, several more “hammered” coupes emerged, and the radically chopped-and-lowered 1949-’51 Mercury became a poster child for the burgeoning custom car movement. Countless artisans modified Mercury coupes, but only a few cars achieved lasting fame.

The Definitive Custom Mercury

This “hardtopped” 1951 Mercury, known as the “Hirohata Merc,” has long been considered the definitive early lead sled. Putting it another way, there were and still are a lot of Mercury customs. But the Hirohata Merc is the best one, and then there are all the others.

The Hirohata Mercury won its class in Bob Petersen’s 1952 “International Motorama,” and it was featured in Rod & Custom magazine in 1953, when its owner boldly drove it cross-country from Los Angeles to a major hot rod and custom car show in Indianapolis. At Indy, the Hirohata Merc won “Best Custom,” of course.

It’s difficult to describe the stunning effect this radically restyled Merc had on the customizing community, let alone the people who saw it cruising the streets of Los Angeles, appearing at car shows, and starring in the Hollywood B-movie “Running Wild” with Mamie Van Doren in which it arguably upstaged the film’s “blonde bombshell” starlet.

In the 1950s, the sight of any “classic” chopped Merc, with its almost sinister silhouette, gliding along a darkened street — accompanied by rock ’n’ roll music on the radio and the not-too-discrete rumble of glass-pack mufflers — was enough to set a car-crazy kid’s heart racing. James Dean’s character drove a mildly customized, jet-black ’50 Mercury coupe in the 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause.” As a result, these cars became popularly known as “James Dean Mercs.” However, the tragically short-lived actor, who espoused bikes, MGs and Porsches, was never a custom car guy himself.

Building a Legend

The late George Barris told me that Bob Hirohata showed up one day at his shop with a barely used, black ’51 Mercury, asking to have it fully customized. He’d purchased the car from an older couple. “He wanted something different,” Barris recalled. Sensing an opportunity, George and his brother, Sam, were quick to comply.

On Hirohata’s Mercury, the headlamps were tunneled (customizers called the technique “frenching”), and the rear fenders received a molded set of ’52 Lincoln lenses. The hood was peaked, extended and rounded. A one-of-a-kind nose and horizontal grille were fabricated, which made the front end appear wider. The front fender openings were flared so the wheels could turn without rubbing. Full fender skirts with flared lower edges were crafted. Functional rear fender scoops were accented with 1952 Chevrolet grille “teeth.”

This car’s defining feature was its significant roof chop: about 4 in. at front and 7-in. at the rear. Mercury didn’t offer a pillar-less coupe in 1951, so the center post, or B-pillar, was eliminated by the Barris Brothers. New curved windows were constructed for a hardtop effect. Earlier, the Barris Brothers had similarly “hardtopped” Nick Matranga’s ’39 Mercury coupe, so they’d already experimented with this look. Barris’ radical surgery made the roofline appear cleaner, and updated the car’s appearance.

To break up its slab sides, the Mercury’s original designer, E. T. “Bob” Gregorie, penned a subtle reveal that gently dipped partway along the side of the car, reminiscent of the sheerline of a yacht. For a more dramatic accent, Sam Barris extended that reveal and affixed chrome trim spears from a ’53 Buick as a divider to separate the custom’s original shades of light and dark green lacquer. A matched pair of Appleton spotlights, tilted toward the hood, completed the modifications.

Pat Ganahl, author of “The American Custom Car,” wrote that, “the Hirohata Merc began the era of redesign and ornamentation that would soon get completely out of hand; (but) the Hirohata did it with integrity and some subtlety.”

Extensive lowering brought the coupe down to about a 4-in. ground clearance, enhancing its already ground-hugging silhouette. The front spindles and coils were modified; rear lowering blocks were fitted with longer U-bolts to hold them in place; the parallel leaf springs were de-arched; and a C-section arch was welded into the rear frame rails to ensure sufficient axle travel.

George Barris said the cost of the work was “about $3,500.” That was a lot of money in 1952! (It’s $36,500 in 2021 dollars.) To make the International Motorama date, the work was completed in just 97 days. Most radical Mercury customs in that era were finished in dark maroon metallic or dark green. With its pale-pastel, ice-green, light-over-dark treatment, the Hirohata coupe stood out from the rest. Bob Hirohata once told a Rod & Custom editor he was “shocked” when he got the bill. “I had to sell everything I owned and put my great aunt in hock to pay for the car, but it was worth it.”

A luxurious, green-and-white tuck-and-roll interior by Glen Houser’s Carson Top Shop was complemented with laminated, teardrop-shaped knobs in green and white plastic. Bob Hirohata made these himself, and the unique knobs would later be the subject of a magazine how-to feature. The trunk was upholstered by Gaylord, another noted Los Angeles trimmer. The timetable was so tight they needed two upholstery shops. Renowned pinstriper Kenneth Howard, better known as “Von Dutch,” discretely striped the dash panel and the glove compartment two years later.

For his cross-country trip, Hirohata replaced the stock flathead with a 1953 Cadillac V-8 that was installed in a week by Dick Lyon, of Lyon Engineering.

The Hirohata Mercury was featured on the covers of Hop Up and Motor Trend in 1953. It became a consistent winner with nearly 200 awards. Although other custom cars had begun to look excessive, even freakish, because car show judging awarded points for every modification, no matter how slight that modification was, that’s not the case here. Each element on this Mercury perfectly flows together.

Bob Hirohata occasionally drove his seminal custom to his job at the parking lot of the Hirohata Insurance Co., which his family owned, in “Little Tokyo.” He later offered the car for sale in a classified ad that appeared in the May 1955 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. The asking price was $4,900; the selling price was somewhat less. Sadly, Bob Hirohata was murdered on May 14, 1981; the “gangland style” crime was committed in his parents’ driveway, in Temple City, Calif. The case was never solved.

Rediscovering a Lost Custom

Over time, the car disappeared. But a few insiders knew where it was. During an extensive search for information, Rod & Custom magazine’s then-editor, Pat Ganahl, located and befriended the car’s longtime owner, Jim McNiel, who’d bought the historic Mercury custom for just $500 from a used car lot in 1959. He drove it during high school, dated Sue, his high school sweetheart (later his wife), in the car, and then stored it for decades, intending to, someday, restore it. It was presumed lost for all time. A few who knew where it was hidden tried to buy it, but McNiel said, “I just couldn’t sell it.”

Recognizing a good story when he saw one, Ganahl convinced McNiel to restore the Mercury, and he helped coordinate the painting with an all-star cast including George Barris, Frank Sonzogni and Hershel “Junior” Conway, most of whom had worked on the Hirohata car when it was initially built at the Barris Kustom Shop. Bill Lazerlere, a top LA detailer, helped with the finish work. Jim and Sue McNiel, assisted by friends, did the paint prep. Jim did nearly all the mechanical work and reassembly himself. Eddie Martinez redid the upholstery. Also of assistance were Jim’s son, Scott, his neighbor, Murl Redwine, and Chris Kaiser.

“Pat (Ganahl) kind of helped hurry the process,” McNiel told me. “I’d always had it in the garage. Then Pat showed up at the house saying he wanted to get Rod & Custom started, and they’d do a report every other month on the progress. I thought that’d be good. But I didn’t want to restore it. I wanted to preserve it.

“I always intended to do that, but it had to be after I’d raised my family,” McNiel added. “I decided, except for the paint color, which was the most recognizable feature, I’d do it the way it was when I got it. I wanted everything to be done right here in my garage — and except for the painting, it was.”

Fortunately, the car’s previous owners had kept the Mercury pretty much intact.

 “When I first got the car,” McNiel added, “the fender skirts were in the trunk. And it still had everything on it, even the Von Dutch striping, which was put on in ’55.”

With his wife’s enthusiastic help, McNiel, a talented mechanic and painter, painstakingly repaired the ravages of time that had resulted from the car’s 50-plus-year history. The pair uncovered the original Ice Green and Organic Green Metallic paint hues, buried under several repaints. Stan Betz electronically duplicated them, and PPG formulated the exact acrylic lacquer color, ensuring the team could refinish the car to look just the way it did in 1953.

When Jim removed the instrument panel to rewire the car, he found business cards for Bob Hirohata and George Barris wedged behind the radio speaker, which kept it from rattling. 

“I never touched them,” he said. “It was important to me that their hands put them there. I didn’t want to change anything that was a link with the builders. I wanted to feel their presence.”

Ganahl described Jim McNiel as the consummate perfectionist, noting: “All the car parts are authentic 1951 Mercury, and the engine parts are original 1953 Cadillac.” It’s hardly surprising that the restoration took a long time, but the results speak for themselves. It’s spectacular, and befitting for a car Ganahl called, “the most famous of the classic custom era, if not all time.”

Jim and Sue McNiel generously showed the Hirohata Mercury at many important events. But the big moment eluded them until 2015 when the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance approved a class of Mercury Customs — a first for the event. The Hirohata Merc looked presentable, but that wouldn’t be enough. And some damage had occurred when the car was shown in Sweden. McNiel didn’t have the means to fund another restoration, so the call went out for the old gang to reassemble one more time. Junior Conway, who’d arguably become the most acclaimed painter in the business, led the charge, culminating with a thorough freshening by Frank Sonzogni, Bill Lazerlere and others.

“I called my friends to help me and nobody said no,” Junior says. “Working on this car was an honor,” he adds emotionally. “Money couldn’t buy the privilege. Look what this car did for us.”

The result, perhaps predictably, was a coveted Best in Class win at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where a class of custom Mercurys was very well-received. That was followed by a 2017 display by the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Sadly, NcNiel and his wife Sue have passed on. Their son, Scott, has maintained the Mercury just as his parents did.

But circumstances change. Scott and his sister, Darla, have decided to sell their family’s heirloom.

 “After Pebble Beach, my dad said it was finally time to part ways and let the car go to its next caretaker.” The Hirohata Mercury will be offered on Jan. 15, 2022, at the giant Mecum Auctions Kissimmee (Florida) sale. “Darla and I want it to go to the right person, who will share it, or to a museum,” says Scott, “where people will be able to see and admire it.”

Excitement abounds, and the rod and custom car world is ablaze with rumors. Will this be the first seven-figure traditional custom car? (You really can’t count the “Batmobile,” which sold for much more, because it’s a famous movie prop). It’s impossible to predict. But this much is certain: The Hirohata Mercury has never been equaled, and it’s probably going to set a new sales record.

That’s a fitting tribute for this timeless custom car.

SHOW US YOUR WHEELS!

If you’ve got an old car you love, we want to hear about it. Email us at oldcars@aimmedia.com

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CARLISLE, PA – The Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s is in full swing, but just announced, former child star Butch Patrick will be on-site Sunday, June 6 to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos alongside the George Barris designed Dragula that was part of the CBS TV show “The Munsters.” His appearance time is planned to start at approximately 10 a.m. This appearance marks Patrick’s first-ever trip to the Carlisle Ford Nationals and the first time, believe it or not, in 60 years that he’s been together with this particular Dragula car.

As mentioned above, Patrick is best known from his work on the CBS TV show “The Munsters,” where from 1964-66 he played little Eddie Munster. He reprised the role for a 1966 feature film and also starred as Mark on the ABC Saturday morning series, “Lidsville” from 1971-1973. It’s his Munsters career that endeared him to millions though and it’s that role and its corresponding popularity that brings him to Carlisle tomorrow.

“I was just happy to be part of a TV show that has such a timeless following,” said Patrick. “People today really seem to enjoy nostalgic shows with real family values even if it’s a family of lovable monsters.”

In addition to Patrick himself, he’ll be positioned alongside the #1 Dragula, a feature car from his iconic show. This car and others of similar backgrounds are part of the first-ever Comic-Car-Con display within Building T on the east side of the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. This includes a ‘60s era Batmobile (with cos-play Batman), ‘70s era Starsky and Hutch Torino, 2000s era Mustang from Transformers and more. Some cars in the display are screen used, while others are replicas/tribute cars.

Patrick will have merchandise available for sale and is happy to sign autographs for fans. A fee will apply for both. Photo opportunities will also be available, including ones with the iconic Dragula as the backdrop.

Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com. While on the web, be sure to apply, register, or purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance of all events or call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.

Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of over a dozen annual collector car/truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA) and the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes automotive flea markets of varying size, multiple auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

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A bit of history behind a car fit for the “Chairman of the Board”

Virgil Exner designed a series of Chrysler “dream cars” in 1950 and in 1956 Dual Ghia began production using a Dodge Firebomb V-8 engine and Dodge chassis. The Dodge chassis were shipped to Torino, Italy, to be shortened and fitted with Ghia bodywork in convertible form, under the name Ghia L.6.4. Upon completion in Detroit, Michigan, Dual Ghia then hand-picked the driver, Frank Sinatra. After purchasing the vehicle, Sinatra later personalized it even further and hired designer, George Barris, to make cosmetic changes including flush headlamps, wire wheels, a stereo and CB radio. The $15,000 L.6.4 was one of the most exclusive cars in the world, with just 26 produced. Today, only 17 of the cars survive.

For additional event information, to buy tickets, or to apply for entry, please visit lasvegasconcours.com.

ABOUT LAS VEGAS CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE (LVCE)

In the inaugural year, the 2019 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance brings the historic automobile show to the Entertainment Capital of the World. Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance exhibits nearly 30 classes of rare and unique automobiles from around the world, most never before shown in Las Vegas. The four-day event will be hosted at some of Las Vegas’ most prestigious locations including,the Keep Memory Alive Event Center, DragonRidge Country Club at MacDonald Highlands and the iconic Las Vegas Blvd. Proceeds from the event will benefit the LVCE/ArtCenter Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit lasvegasconcours.com.

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Jacksonville, FL – It was done in haste. It was to be an alluring delivery system to introduce Jaguar’s brilliant new XK engine intended to power the substantial Jaguar Mk VII luxury sedan.

But the Mk VII wasn’t ready, so Jaguar Chief William Lyons and his men created a quick solution. They shaped it on a shortened Mk VII chassis, painted it bronze, named it the “Open Two-Seat Super Sports” and took it to the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show just to show off their new XK engine.

Yet the elegant new engine that brimmed with twin-cam competition-bred sophistication played a supporting role when Jaguar’s “Open Two-Seat Super Sports” took to the Earls Court stage and stole the show.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the speed record and the first race victory that set the Jaguar XK120’s course and gave it its immortal name.

On a super highway in Belgium the new Jaguar (with full windshield and top erected) recorded a top speed of 126.448 mph. With the windshield and top removed it was timed at 132.6 mph. The XK120 became “the fastest production car in the world” eclipsing the existing record by over 22 mph.

Perhaps the XK120’s most impressive number was the price tag: for 1,000 Pounds Sterling one could own the fastest production car in the world. The XK120 had no equal on the road or in the showroom, standing alone atop a short list of aspirational cars.

No one was immune to the XK120’s charms. Clark Gable got the first one to arrive in the United States. Then Gable had the legendary George Barris customize his second XK120 so he could drive in greater comfort.

Gable’s Barris-customized XK120 will be the “Hollywood Star” of the 2019 Amelia’s Jaguar XK120 class. The display will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the XK120’s coronation as the record-setting “fastest production car in the world.”

The XK120’s competition record is as eclectic as it is deep. The record-setting XK120 was converted to right-hand drive. The car then raced to the type’s first victory, winning the Silverstone One-Hour Production Car Race. Future World Champion Phil Hill won the first Pebble Beach Cup with an XK120 in 1950. Jaguar XK-power won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times in seven years from 1951 through 1957. In 1954, Al Keller’s XK120 coupe won the NASCAR road race at the Linden, NJ airport!

“Jaguar’s XK120 is a landmark car. It was the first sports car I ever rode in,” said Bill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “I was just a kid but the smell of the leather and the wood has stayed with me. The XK120 is simply unforgettable.”

The 24th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will be held March 7-10, 2019on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The show’s Foundation has donated over $3.45 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other charities on Florida’s First Coast since its inception in 1996.

https://www.ameliaconcours.org/

How much is it worth?
Find out in the 2019 Collector Car Price Guide.
Get your copy today!

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Rosemont, IL – The Chicago Classic Auto Show welcomes Grand Marshall Larry Klairmont to share more than 80 years of automobile expertise and an abundance of meticulously preserved cars from Klairmont Kollections. The Chicago Classic Auto Show will bring the entire classic car community together for a celebration of automotive history, exhibiting more than 600 automobiles on September 8-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

LeftField Media, producers of the acclaimed Los Angeles Classic Auto Show, will bring their successful show model to the Chicagoland marketplace featuring an expansive selection of classic cars and vendors representing auto detailing and restoration products and services, accessories, and memorabilia. Attendees will receive access to the event including the Celebrity, Restoration and Auto Detail stages, and exhibits such as the Grand Boulevard, the events ‘Concours d’Elegance’ will feature an  assortment of the finest and rarest automobile classics such as: Project Car, a ’67 Camaro built by owner of Flat 12 Gallery and Host of Top Automotive Podcast Skidmarks Show, Jeff Allen; as well as the Women ‘N Wheels Pavilion, where women owners can display their classics, and hear from a panel of leading women in auto.

“The famed Larry Klairmont is the perfect Grand Marshall for the first annual Chicago Classic auto show, due to the decades of experience he has as a collector and his rare collection of hundreds of outstanding classics; ranging from an original 1930’s Duesenberg to a 1918 Pierce Arrow,” said Mike Carlucci, SVP of The Classic Auto Show. “Klairmont represents the appreciation of the artistry and science involved in the production of the world’s best automobiles.”

From serving in World War II, to building a Chicagoland real estate empire, to amassing a world-class classic and antique car collection, Larry Klairmont is a legend in the automotive industry. His love of cars dates to the Great Depression, where at only 6 years old he knew every car make and model.

In his decades of collecting, Klairmont has seen the auto industry change, for better and worse. “Cars today, while efficient, all look alike. Classic cars of the past still have that original character and truly stand out for who they are,” said Klairmont. “I am honored to be selected as the Grand Marshal for the first annual Classic Auto Show and thrilled to showcase some rare gems from of my collection in a community of classic car enthusiasts like myself.”

During the Chicago Classic Auto Show, Klairmont will unveil his newest acquisition, the Golden Sahara, Jim ‘Street’ Skonzakes’ legendary custom show car derived from a 1953 Lincoln Capri hardtop owned by the famed George Barris, an American designer and builder of Hollywood custom cars. The Chicago Classic Auto Show will be the first public viewing of the automobile since Klairmont Kollections’ purchase of the vehicle from the Mecum Spring Classic May 2018 auction in Indianapolis for $350,000. Golden Sahara was featured in the 1960 film “Cinderfella” starring Jerry Lewis, it has a 24-karat gold pearlescent fish scale two-tone finish, gold bullet bumper, and autonomous remote-controlled acceleration, braking, engine start/kill and door opening, making it one of history’s most imaginative custom automobile creations. In addition, Klairmont will feature other vehicles from Klairmont Kollections and attendees will be able to meet Klairmont during the Chicago Classic Auto Show.

Tickets for the event are available for September 8 10am-8pm and September 9 10am-6pm, with 1 Day Admission for $20, 1 Day Child Admission for $6, 1 Day Student Admission for $10, 2 Day Admission Ticket for $30, and VIP Admission Ticket for $150. Event gear is also available upon ticket purchase. Purchases can be made through https://www.showclix.com/event/chicago-classic-auto-show. The Chicago Classic Auto Show anticipates an attendance of more than 25,000 attendees, bringing together classic car owners and enthusiasts who support the hobby.

About the Classic Auto Show

The Classic Auto Show events are presented by LeftField Media, a division of Clarion Events. Clarion Events Global Auto Portfolio produces events in the U.K., South Africa and U.S. including The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, Race Retro, Classic Car and Restoration Show, among others. LeftField Media is a boutique events company focused on developing face-to-face events in a range of communities rooted in contemporary culture and shared passion.

For more information, visit the Classic Auto Show’s website at https://www.theclassicautoshow.com/ or email info@TheClassicAutoShow.com .

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CARLISLE, PA – Confirmed for the annual event, running May 18-20 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds is a Jaguar XK120 formerly owned by Hollywood legend, Clark Gable. This Jag, one of at least four owned by Gable, was one of his favorites. Gable, being the perfectionist he was, sent it to the late George Barris to be customized and refined to his liking. This is quite historic as it is one of George’s first cars that he customized under the Barris name.

Fast forward to 2018 and the car is now in the possession of television personality and famed car enthusiast Joseph Limongelli. Having just arrived state-side, the car was rush delivered from Europe so Limongelli could allow it to serve as the centerpiece of the Legends of Design Display – Jags and Astons.

Like many of the Jaguars and Astons planned for display, this ride had its start in England. It was debuted by William Lyons, legendary Jaguar boss, at the 1951 London Motor Show as a way to test reaction to his first new, post-war sports car. The “test car” was a smashing success to say the least, with demand through the roof for this ride that was showcased to media at over 130 m.p.h.

As cars of this ilk sometimes do, it disappeared for many years, before being found in Dallas,Texas with its pieces and parts strewn across multiple boxes and bins. It took some time, but it was restored to the specifications while in Gable’s ownership. It has a pristine interior and retains many of the Barris touches and best of all, it’ll be available for all to see at the 2018 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals.

Complete event details, including specifics on this very special display are available now at www.CarlisleEvents.com. In addition, by calling 717-243-7855 or going online, enthusiasts can pick up single day or weekend passes, register for the event or gain general event information heading into the very popular May event!

Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of 12 annual collector car and truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA) and the SUN ‘n FUN Complex (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes four automotive swap meets of varying size, four auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract more than half a million enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available via www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

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From years spent as one of America’s most famous custom cars — touring prolifically around the country and drawing big crowds and media attention wherever it appears — to a sudden disappearance into the garage of its owner, the “Golden Sahara” is legendary. Now the George Barris custom will be up for bids at Mecum Auctions’ May 15-19 Indianapolis Auction.

Barris and friend Jim “Street” Skonzakes turned a ‘49 Chevy into a spectacular custom with glittering gold paint, a custom half-bubble top, a gold bullet bumper and countless other custom touches.

Barris dubbed the final product “The Golden Sahara,” and it made its public debut in 1954 at the Petersen Motorama held at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles. In 1956, Street commissioned the Delphos Machine and Tool shop out of Dayton, Ohio, to take the car to the next level. Bob Metz took the lead on the rework, altering the windshield, hood and roof, and adding stacked quad headlights with frosted covers. Further gold plating was added to the sides of the fenders, and the car was fitted with new twin-V tail fins and new bumperettes. Jim Rote was brought into the mix to design an electronic control system for the car that would allow for a plethora of steering options, including manual or standard. An electronic control system also included voice control and a remote that could open the doors as well as start and kill the engine; the same remote could even control the car’s acceleration and braking.

The car became even more famous after appearing in movies and on TV, but as the 1960s drew to a close, Street withdrew it from the show circuit. Without explanation, the car simply vanished from the public’s view. Until recently, the car’s whereabouts and condition remained a mystery. This May, the Golden Sahara will emerge still untouched from “Street” Skonzakes’ Ohio home, where it has been hidden.

For more information on the car and the Mecum Indy sale, visit www.Mecum.com

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The Midwest is full of tiny towns. Many of them boast not much more than a grain elevator, a place where farmers might gather for hot coffee in the morning and maybe a stop sign or two.

Yarmouth, Iowa with a population of 78 (by last count) is not an exception until you drive just out of town and come upon the Gabeline family operations. Not only is this a family with over 20,000 acres of farm land, but a trucking company and a string of grain elevators dotting the landscape. You know right away this is big when you see the huge company headquarters sporting dozens of overhead doors and the machine shed, all two and one-half acres of it. And that’s just the shed.

Patriarch Bob Gabeline, 86, died in September 2016 leaving a legacy of ag success, a hardworking family and an overwhelming collection of cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, pedal cars, parts…it’s just too hard to completely describe when you walk onto the property and see the massive lines of vehicles and wagon loads of parts.

On Monday, June 26, the monstrous task of completely liquidating this collection began with Sullivan Auctioneers of Hamilton, Illinois dropping the gavel for the first time and ending that day with only 143 of over 300 vehicles sold. Auction officials say over 2500 people from five countries and 38 states were registered to bid, many of those through the online auction site, Proxibid.

The first auction day was reserved for what were considered “premium” vehicles. Many of them could run under their own power and they truly represented just how eclectic Gabeline was when it came to collecting. Virtually all the 143 vehicles were sold to onsite bidders with the top bid coming from a 1929 Stutz Black Hawk Roadster, one of only six made and bringing $122,000 at the final gavel. Next in line at $82,500 was a 1958 Chevy Impala convertible, 348 tri-power, skirts, continental kit, white with red interior.

Next highest bids came with a 1938 Packard Super Eight 4 door sedan ($74,000) and then a 1956 Chevy 210 2dr hardtop, high end resto-mod with all the current favorites for these types of builds…LS drivetrain, independent rear, contemporary air, leather interior, polished billet throughout. All these cars reflected an incredible mix of Gabeline interests. From classics to hot rods, this was a collector that wasn’t deterred by vintage, era or approach. It could be something fully restored, completely original or heavily modified. It seems he loved them all.

Mixed in with the vehicles were some more contemporary machines…a 2003 Z06 Corvette coupe, a 1999 Ford SVT Lightning pickup and a 2007 Harley Davidson Electra Glide custom trike. The collection of vehicles seemed heavy on GM and Ford with the specific exception of a 1969 Dodge Dart that was built as a Car Craft Magazine Project/Giveaway Car and supposedly custom painted by the late George Barris. The car was showing a bit of wear, even with its 22,000+ odometer reading, and brought $50,000 at the gavel.

There was quite a collection of trucks and truck parts, which you would assume would be part of a trucking company owner’s interest and many of them still carried the Gabeline Trucking logo on their flanks. If you loved cab-overs, this was a particularly good place to pick up a nice specimen going back into the 1940s when Gabeline first got into the business. But he also was intrigued with fire trucks, tow trucks and tanker trucks in addition to all sorts of pickups, totally original to hot rodded to the hilt.

The second day brought out 169 vehicles, again a huge mix of makes and models, but none of these could run under their own power and the majority were either heavily rusted or just piles of parts.

These second day vehicles stayed generally under $10,000 with a 1957 GMC Cameo pickup bringing $26,000 followed by a disassembled 1936 Ford chopped top hot rod with no drivetrain getting $22,000. If you wanted something completely unusual you could bid on a Santa Fe Railroad caboose, several enclosed cab Cushman Trucksters, a 1955 Hudson Wasp or a complete 1955 Nash Rambler Country Club 2-door hardtop designed by Pinan Farina and sporting a continental kit, which brought a paltry $1200.

Dozens of hay wagons were used to display the piles of parts which ran the gamut from complete engines to stacks of original in-the-box Foxcraft fender skirts. There were probably some great bargains hidden in those piles, but for the most part buyers were going to have to purchase a lot of extra things to get hold of that one piece they were probably needing.

During the auction, an announcement was made several times throughout the day reminding buyers they would need to remove their purchases as soon as possible because the family intended to still plant the ground that was being used to display vehicles and parts and for the huge parking areas where they were transporting auction goers via tractor driven trolleys. Business needed to proceed, of course, and the family was moving ahead.

Bob Gabeline indeed had a deep passion for all things motor powered and you could see it throughout this mammoth collection. His family said he loved speed and lived life as fast as he could. Even in death Bob made it clear he wanted a fancy black and chrome coffin which would be carried by a bright red 1937 Ford funeral car. Two of Bob’s sons decided to provide their dad with one final tribute, drag racing the hearse and one of his hot rod pickups to the cemetery. And wouldn’t you know it. Bob got to the cemetery first.

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The most anticipated vehicle in this auction is the 1939 General Motors Futureliner Bus, which will cross the block Saturday, August 5 at 2:00 pm Mountain Time. This rare gem is one of twelve ever manufactured and is one of nine known to still exist. This Futureliner was fully restored by Dave Kindig and crew at Kindig-it Design in Salt Lake City, as seen on the TV show “Bitchin Rides.” Like the original, this restored version displays an Allison J-35 jet engine. GM Futureliners were a group of custom vehicles styled by Harley Earl for General Motors and the company’s 1939 Parade of Progress, which was launched from the 1939 World’s Fair. Each Futureliner was styled with Art Deco body work, red sides, and a white roof with large articulated chrome side panels. The massive vehicle is 33 feet long, eight feet wide, more than 11 feet tall, and weighs more than 12 tons.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share the 1939 General Motors Futureliner with collectors from across the globe,” said Mike Oberle, Owner of Motorsport Auction Group. “With online bidding provided by Proxibid, buyers anywhere in the world with an internet connection and a passion for rare vehicles like the Futureliner can bid with confidence, knowing their transactions are safe.”

Other featured vehicles sure to catch the attention of collectors across the globe include:

Lot 639: 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe created by George Barris and designed after the famous “1963 Asteroid”, this collector’s dream was owned by Dr. Stanley Gunn, the rocket scientist who helped Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, from 1967-2015. It was 34,179 original miles.

Lot 585: 1957 Chevrolet Nomad Custom Wagon designed by Joel Kowalski. This is a 1957 Nomad placed on a 1995 Corvette chassis, which was featured on the cover of Super Chevy Magazine in April, 2001.

Proxibid is the only online provider in the industry to offer a comprehensive risk management system designed specifically to facilitate high dollar transactions like the vehicles available in this auction. The site is 100 percent PCI compliant, which when combined with its enterprise-level technology and infrastructure, boasts a 99.9+ percent uptime, making it the most trusted place to buy and sell collector cars online.

About Proxibid

Proxibid provides asset owners of all sizes and buyers with access to the world’s most trusted online Marketplace and selling solutions for excess inventory. More than $4 billion in inventory passes through Proxibid’s marketplace annually in product categories that include heavy equipment; commercial and industrial equipment; real estate; fine art, antiques and collectibles and more.

Founded in 2001, Proxibid is headquartered in Omaha, NE with offices in South Sioux City, NE and London. For more information about Proxibid, please visit www.proxibid.com.

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