1952 Mercury - Ed Russell - Joe Bailon

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Ed_Russell%27s_1952_Mercury





1952 Mercury restyled by Joe Bailon of Bailon Custom Shop for San Francisco Kustom Kings member Ed Russell of San Francisco, California. The car is also known as the "Le Lancia". Joe did an extensive amount of work on the car. He extended the front end by shading the headlights, and he grafted fins to the rear giving the car a long and low profile. The hood was smoothed and a grille bumper was made from 1955 Buick, 1955 Chevrolet and 1952 Mercury parts. The extended rear fenders housed 1955 Packard taillights. Hand formed grille formed part of the deck lid. Joe painted the car in a Candy Apple Maroon called Futurama. After painting it he drove it down to Barris Kustoms in order to have their house striper Dean Jeffries apply gold scallops.[2]


May 29 - June 2, 1957 Ed's merc was shown at the first annual Napa Valley Rod and Custom Show.[3]


In 1958 Ed's Mercury was nominated as one of 28 "Top Customs of the Year" by Motor Life magazine.[4]



Magazine Features

Motor Life May 1957
Trend Book 156 Custom Cars 1958 Annual
Custom Cars March 1958
Car Craft April 1958
Motor Life July 1958
Custom Cars August 1958