I just noticed this part of FTE, and was glad to see some interest in MH stuff.
I was lucky enough to get this '46 Merc about 19 years ago; it was built for a wealthy ornithologist/photographer, so it was never thrashed like most work trucks. He had it "camperized" by Coachcraft Ltd. with the roof rack, built-in ice box & water tank, cot stored inside the roof, aux. fuel tank, and a bunch of other state-of-the-art (for 60 years ago!) stuff. It's still got the original birch framing (new mahogany panels), and all the M-H components, as well as the ton-and-a-half non-synchro 4-speed. At the risk of pissing-off most of you, I have to disclose that the old tired flathead was replaced with a Corvette small-block back in 1961...SORRY!...but at least it was cleanly done by Tom Sparks, a well-known lakes & drag racer who had a shop near Coachcraft in Hollywood. Also luckily, I met the original owner's wife about 10 years ago - that's her on the fender in '47, before it was camperized.

 

All I can say is WOW!!!!

 

This Mercury was at the 40's Limited Car Show (held at La Palma Park in Anaheim) last June (2008).

This show was held on Sunday, the day after the F100 Western Nationals Truck Show was held in Yorba Linda.

There are more pics of this Merc taken by myself and other FTE members who attended this show in the SoCal Chapter Forum.

Coachcraft Ltd. was a famous custom autobody shop in West Hollywood. The owner, Rudy Stoessel, once worked for Bowman & Schwartz of Pasadena, who hand built custom bodies for Packards and Duesenbergs.

Besides being a pioneer in producing roof racks for all the station wagons and 1941/48 Chrysler Town & Country sedans, building campers from sedans and station wagons, Coachcraft built hundreds of cars for Hollywood personalities.

One car I recall seeing many years ago was a 1939 Studebaker Coupe Express, that Coachcraft converted into a camper for actor Preston Foster.

The back half of the body where the pickup bed once was, was hand made from wood resembling a station wagon. It had all the goodies, fridge, toilet, wash basin...even a shower.

What happened to this car...I dunno...it vanished from the scene around 1960.

 

Oh yes, I'm also familiar with your car. I've kept a picture folder of all the M-Hs I've come across and there are several of yours in there. Including the original pic with the gentleman's wife.

You've done a magnificant restoration of the car. As you say, finding any M-H is unusual, but to find one that hasn't been beaten within an inch of its life is unheard of. Mine were complete vehicles when I found them but far from serviceable. One is down to the frame and will now begin its rebirth. A few weeks ago I picked up my rebuilt axles and transfer case from Chuck Mantiglia.

I assume you're aware of the RM Auction that will be selling some of Nick Alexander's collection. Two M-H woodies are in the sale. Here's the link to the auction info.

RM AUCTIONS

Thanks for sharing. Stu

 

Thanks Stu!
Nick Alexander has become a friend of mine via our interest in M-H woodies - his shop is now restoring a set of correct '39 Standard hubcaps for my car. Sorry to say, I am very aware of the auction - it marks the end of the absolute best collection of pristine stock Ford & Merc flathead woodies that will ever exist. They are displayed in a 100 year-old brick building (or, as I thought of it, "church") in an industrial area south of L.A.; once every year the collection and restoration shops were opened up for an open house/swap meet and catered barbecue...one of the best early Ford V8 events ever! I have dozens of photos of it all, if anybody's interested.

 

I've seen many photo spreads on the annual show, both inside the building and outside. It looks like Nick owns the whole block in conjunction with his BMW dealership. Is that correct?

From the auction premium it looks like only a portion of the collection is to be sold, though. Is that correct? And why is he selling? Is he a victim of the economy like the rest of us? I see that some of the proceeds, though, will go to charity.

 

The dealership is actually a few blocks from the collection; and the resto shops are a block away. There are a couple of other busineses on the same block as the collection, so I don't think he owns that whole block, just the two properties that house the collection and the cars awaiting restoration. The main reason for the sale is because the city is forcing him to sell his buildings to good ol' COSTCO as part of a development. There are other (I assume) tax-related reasons why this is the right time to sell, but he IS keeping some of the absolute most pristine unrestored original cars. I think the whole operation should be air-lifted intact and dropped off at the Ford museum in Dearborn!

 

Wow, the rest of the story. I'll be watching the auction.

Back to your discussion of MH Merc's, a few years ago I thought I might be joining the M-H Merc family. This sorry looking Merc showed up on eBay and like a dope I danced around and missed out on it. It had the MH interior badges to show it was the real deal. Hopefully its new owner is doing it right. Stu

 

Quite the bizarre hybrid there! Who knows where it'll pop up next...?

 

My gut tells me there's a MH Woodie out there somewhere that didn't start life as one. Seems the sedans, even decent ones, get used as woodie donors. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more MH woodies today than when new. The VIN and MH plates wouldn't have differentiated body style to my understanding. Of course, the fact is that no MH started life as one. Stu

 

You'd be correct...and the list would include some very well-known ones!
Personally, I'd love to see such historic stuff restored to original. I've yet to see any other restored M-H passenger cars or sedan deliveries (I saw an unrestored '46 sedan once), and exactly ONE restored M-H pickup out here (southern CA) - this stunning '52:

 

Yes, I've got several pics of him in my file.

There's a very nice 40 sedan out there too. I believe I read that it's an old mining supervisor's car. Then there's Don Chew's prototype Ranger. It was built on a 42 Sedan Delivery platform. I know of several 50 through 52s that are restored or undergoing restoration. The most noted are Chuck's three. Here's the 40 and 42. Stu





It's the history of the vehicle, such as with yours, that really adds to the significance of the car or truck. I have a friend that has the first production 1950 Ranger undergoing restoration. He has, like you, all the documentation to show it was owned by a physician who used it to make his house calls in the northwest winters. You can't recreate that.

And here's a sedan delivery that is, or was, for sale at Volo. Stu

 

Thanks for those...I remember seeing both in EF V8 magazines many years ago, but they're better in color! By the way, the guy I bought the Merc from had plans to "restore" it by putting in the 2 rear seats, carpets, visor, bumper wing-tips, whitewalls, and all the other foo-foo crap people seem to think all "old cars" are supposed to have...eventually, he had to admit I did it right! Nice chatting with you, Stu...keep in touch.
- Dave

 

Indeed. Take care. Stu

 

Dave - Interesting timing. The '40 sedan is listed for sale in the July Hemmings. Asking is $64,000. Oddly it's listed by itself in a "Marmon-Herrington" section, not as a '40 Ford. It wasn't in the June issue. He says it, like yours, has full history, manuals, and provenance. Arthur Herrington even rode in it. Stu