Car talk
I bought a ’51 Mercury, which has a six-inch chop on it. Normally the chop jobs you see on those cars is four inches. That means the windows you see out of are small and it’s really like a low rider type car. In the next week, it’ll get media blasted, where they take it down to the metal to find out what’s wrong with the frame. If you paint over Bondo and stuff like that from repairs that have been done in the past, a lot of times the paint job will crack, so they have to take it down to the metal. That’s where I’m at now. There’s really no interior, so I’m going to get to do the whole thing the way I want to. It’s going to be like building a house, but on a smaller scale. There’s a lot of detail — you’ve got to pick out your own gauges and shifters and paint color and decide if you’re going to do anything within the paint job and things of that nature.
If there are any car enthusiasts with any ideas or pictures of ’51 Mercurys or something they saw on a custom job, let me know. I’m also looking for some good websites to help with this.
Why this car? I like the look. It’s like a low rider car, and a lot of them have air ride suspensions, so when you park, they drop to the ground and they’re an inch off the ground. It’s going to be a pretty cool car.
I’m going to have to sell the Cobra. I don’t get to drive it as much. It has to be perfect weather to be able to drive it. There is a top for it but it takes away cool points when you put the top on.
The Mercury will be a fun project. As the process goes along, there’s a custom place near Vegas, called Findlay Customs, which is rebuilding the car for me. I’m sure they’ll send me a bunch of pictures over the year and we’ll update everybody.
— Reed
Reed Between the Lines 
Overhaulin’? Top Gear?
What color is this bad toy going to be?
Cool car! For me? Stringray Corvette; doesn’t get any better!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I know you have seen Overhaulin’ so you being an Athlete and all should be able to get a hold of Chip Fouse. Chip Fouse is a car God. He doesn’t usually deal with low rider type cars, but I am sure an old Mercury might be appealing to him. Never know you can try it. Good luck against the Marlins today Reed!
Oh Reed if you feel like making a generous charity of handing over your Cobra to me I would be so forever grateful!!!! HAHAHAHA!
fontenot is gonna need a couple phone books to see over the steering wheel.
Here’s a website that has a ton of pictures (I hope it’s what you’re looking for) : http://www.flickr.com/groups/737250@N25/
-Gillian
IDEA ALERT!!!! Dude, nothin says low rider like slaming the rear while crusin and throwing sparks. That’s bitchin….. Go Cubs Go!!
Reed…you would look good in any car you drive! See you Friday at Wrigley! Go Cubs!!! ~Nancy
This seems to be one of the coolest versions of your new ride on the net… Oakland classic job…
http://www.hotrod.com/eventcoverage/new_oakland_rod_custom_show_2001/photo_25.html
This one looks to have the sweetest paint job Nice choice Reed!!
http://iwatebuddy.livejournal.com/tag/***best+of+the+best***
Gene Winfield. google him, He is legendary, and he loves mercurys.
He still has a shop just outside Mojave CA, its a few hours away from Las Vegas.
http://genewinfield.org/
I used to read electric meters out there, and i would stop by his shop and be amazed at the projects he was working on.
Gene Winfield. google him, He is legendary, and he loves mercurys.
He still has a shop just outside Mojave CA, its a few hours away from Las Vegas.
http://genewinfield.org/
I used to read electric meters out there, and i would stop by his shop and be amazed at the projects he was working on.
Findlay Customs does amazing work!!! I hope you get an ESPY for play of the year because robbing Prince Fielder of a grand slam was the best catch I’ve ever seen!
take a listen to hawksley workman’s song, do not romanticize the automobile on his lover fighter cd…hawksleyworkman.com. it played in my mind as i read this blog…on baseball, you guys will soon click, too good a team not too. baseball is not life or death, simply entertainment.
take a listen to hawksley workman’s song, do not romanticize the automobile on his lover fighter cd…hawksleyworkman.com. it played in my mind as i read this blog…on baseball, you guys will soon click, too good a team not too. baseball is not life or death, simply entertainment.
’51 Merc, what a sick car. However you choose to restore it, I’m sure it will be amazing, you can’t go wrong.
Not sure how helpful this would be, but there was a great article about a custom job done on a ’51 Merc in Rod and Custom Magazine. Very classic finish. You should check it out.
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0606rc_1951_mercury/index.html
Keep playing hard Reed!
Wzup Reed?! 1st off sweet car I love custom low riders my friends have some and we always go to shows and picnics. I don’t know where your car is but if it’s in the chicago area check out tandrautobody.com (hammond,IN) this guy is good he was actually on that overhauling show and he restores alot of classic cars and can probably help you out. I met the guy once at a show out here in Indiana he seemed like cool peeps. I hope once your car is finished you can post some pics.Good luck Joe (Indiana)
I’ve grown up around hot rods and restoration…my dad has been doing it his whole life…& Daddy’s girl liked to hang in the garage too!!! Mercs are sweet rides and get alot of respect on the car scene. Don’t over do it though! Can’t wait to see the finished product!!!! Sorry to see the Corbra go…but your so right top on totally takes away the cool points!
The car a person drives speaks volumes about his personality. It would be interesting to know what kind of wheels some of your team mates drive. Does Ryan Dempster drive a restored Gremlin? Theriot probably has a beige minivan, and Mike Fontenot drives either a Silverado or a Ford 250, with a gun rack, and a trailer hitch.
Or perhaps I am completely off, but doing a blog about a players wheels would introduce the fans to their favorite players.
Reed, I have a theory for you: if you’re going to sell the car, you might as well show your good faith and give it to somebody in need. I am getting ready to start medical school, getting engaged in a week, and will have no money for anything. It would be fantastic to drive around a cobra. Maybe after I’m out of school and can give you a free surgery or something. Just food for thought.
Phillip
Reed,
I think you are gonna like the Mec way better than the Cobra. The Cobra is cool, but it isn’t a lead sled! I have been a huge Cubs for my entire life, and have been into hot rods, street customs, and street trucks since I could drive. I have owned several cars and trucks with air-ride suspension.
Check out: http://www.myspace.com/pindidit
My buddy, Pin Cushion built a ’49 Mec for Carey Hart. It is completly sick. Interior was done my my buddy Todd Jubert of The Interior Shop (www.theinteriorshop.com).
And, of course, you can bounce any ideas off of me, as I spend half my time in the custom car scene.
the car on this page is badazzz…
dude you should just media blast it all the way to the surface and leave it like that. for the interior, you should just leave it all broken up and everything so it would look like a rat rod..That would be SICK!!! that would be so much cooler than actually painting it in my opinion
Reed, I think you should keep the Cobra, slam the 51 Murc and setup a cooled garage for them all. And while your at it, get a Merc, as in Lambo. Hot August Nights are a great way to show off those cars. My car club Socal3s and some guys already in Vegas plan on being there in November for some racing at LVMS. Can’t wait till you get here to beat up the Padres..
You should just ditch both cars and get a flying Delorean. Then you could go into the future and find out when Dempster is ever gonna buy you dinner.
Two things come to mind when I read this post. 1) Great, here is another guy that is driving around and taking pride in a customized car that he had nothing to do with building, just paying someone with talent to do the work. Take a welding class in the off-season and do some of the work yourself and I will be impressed. 2) I think that there are a lot of people in the country right now that don’t really want to hear about how you are spending your excess money since so many of us don’t have any ourselves.
I’m a lowrider fan, a Merc’ fan, a Cubs fan, and a Reed fan, but come on… don’t be that guy.
Tron
floodgallery@buffalo.com
whoa dude, the cubs had almost an identical start last year and ended up winning 97 games. Granted, they didnt have the injuries that they now have, but they are still in good shape if Soto and Bradley can step it up, and if Fonty can get hot again. MLB players are people too and deserve to have activities in the spare time. How would you like it if your work RAN your life for like 3/4 of the year? Granted, Reed Loves playing ball, but its gotta be tough on his personal life to travel for half of the year.
Go Reed and Go Cubs
Hey Reed,
Hell of a choice on the ’51 Mercury. There is a company in Manteno, IL, which is about 45 minutes south of Chicago, called Rad Rides by Troy. These guys are absolutely amazing at doing custom work on old cars. The website where you can check out some of their work is http://radrides.com/ . I’ve personally never had work done by them but my fiance’s old man has seen their stuff up close. They do several shows a year as well in case you wanted to personally see their work. Hopefully you post some pics online of the car when you are finished. Look forward to seeing it.
Keep up the hard work for the Cubbies! It’s always good to see someone out there who is playing their butt off day in and day out. Now that’s passion.
Jason Goselin
Just don’t let Prince Fielder hop in your new ride or else the chassis will be dragging on the asphalt!
Just don’t let Prince Fielder hop in your new ride or else the chassis will be dragging on the asphalt!
Reed u should check out Midwest car exchange, my friends dad owns it. It’s awesome if u like cars u’d love it. It’s not to far outside the city, in alsip. Check it out and keep up the good work man your sick!
Hey Reed,
My wife (die hard cubbies fan) went me this post about your Mercury. My goal in life is to build a custom lead sled. Here is a site that i just found that has some cool Mercury Customs. Just do a find for “Mercury Custom” on the page as the links are about 2/3 down the page:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars-m.htm
Good luck on the build. Hopefully someday I’ll be able to build one of my own, but i have to finish my ’65 bug first 🙂
Shanti
Medford, OR
The fabricator and painter for Reed’s ’51 Mercury, would be my husband, Delray (Del) Gjestvang (Mr. Custom). This is currently his biggest project, and hopefully, they will let him finish it. Actually, he is the best car/metal fabicator /painter/restorer in Nevada. Why am I writing this? Because it’s always the shop that gets the credit, not the artist who actually does the work. Thanks, Reed for going in and giving Del a pat on the back occasionally. We all need that sometimes!
A pic will be posted on Facebook. Check it out!