MERCURY CHARLIE'S T

This is Mercury Charlie's new T sitting on one of his double Z'ed frames. This is the same frame Charlie will be building for my T. The stance of this car is exactly what I'm looking to achieve.

THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE-- PARTS DROP

Well, I'm now just a few days away from heading down to Austin to deliver my drivetrain and suspension to Mercury Charlie's shop. It's basically the complete drivetrain my '29 roadster came with, which is a 1966 Buick Riviera 425/Turbo 400 combo backed by a 12-bolt I plucked out of a '67 Riviera from John's Auto Salvage in Seguin, TX. Given the size of the barge the rear came out of, it's a safe beat we're looking at rear end gears in the neighborhood of 2.75 to 3.0.  

 The front end is a vintage "Dago" dropped axle.  Not sure what the steering box came from,  as it was in the car when I got it from Ian Loska. The roadster as I got it from Ian is pictured below:

The next time I'm in Austin will be to take delivery of a roller. A Mercury Charlie double Z'ed frame with suicide front end and traverse sprung rear. The drivetrain will consist of my 425 Nailhead, Turbo 400 and 12-bolt. All suspension will be in place. Charlie should have the chassis ready for me in February. We've got a long way to go, but we'll at least I'll be a giant step closer.

Well, here's the body patiently waiting for its close up in my garage.
It sat in the corner of a restorers garage in AZ since the early eighties.

A fella's allowed to dream, right? Soon my dream will be a giant step closer to reality.

The wheels and tires will be robbed from my 29 roadster.

Here's the engine and pipes. A massaged 425 with a Schneider cam.

Here's the parts list for Charlie:

425 Nailhead

Turbo 400

12-bolt

Driveshaft

Steering box

Front drop axle front end with spring

Radiator

Grill Shell

Wheels and tires

A YOU TUBE TREAT

A KILLER INTERIOR

This info was pulled right from the net: 1970 Cadillac Chateau Mauve material repurposed for a 

'59 Caddy. Can you say badass? Can you imagine using a material like this on the interior of a T inspired by the Munsters?great colors.

Bold yes, but as you can see it works! As outrageous as you might think it is, it’s a factory ORIGINAL color on Cadillacs in 1970. This NOS fabric color is: Chateau Mauve.  For the men reading this, that’s a nutty mouthful to say purple. Todd explained when they initially laid out the fabric they’d bought it looked like a bad, “cheerleader’s outfit.” Maybe, but they stuck with it. Hats off to the designer with the guts to choose these great colors.

THE OVERALL LOOK FOR MY T

Picture a similar treatment with red or maroon accenting a metallic gray block.

One of our custom knobs, using a piece of jewelry we found at an estate sale.
I'm thinking of keeping this one for the T. 

This suede beauty was painted by Jeff Meyers. 

This a a good example of what a metal flake roof would look like with a suede body.

Here's a purple T with a severe chop. I'll go much darker on the color if I go purple
and no haircut for me, thanks. Mine's going to be a lowboy, but unchopped.

Button tufts are more seventies than sixties, but I like. 

Red is a pretty damn cool engine color. PArticularly dig the red carb bodies. 

This is the interior of Ryan Cochran's car. Tasty. 

Another color reference. See how nicely the red of the wheels and tail lights pop? 

Another classy use of a fifties type material, this one in a '59 El Camino by Fat Lucky's.

Another option that would work well with the glitter roof would be to incorporate it into the seating.
Note to self: A little goes a long way. 

Nice but even darker would really do it for me as far as the paint color for the body. 

Another cool reference for a knob would be an ornate door knob. This is also one of ours. 

Now this is the level of darkness I like 

This is a nice color, balancing somewhere between maroon and purple.  This is where I'm currently leaning. 

CHUNKY METAL FLAKED GREEN T

I saw this car on HAMB a few years back. We can debate the paint all day long but there's no denying how great it sounds. Click HERE.

MORE INSPIRATION- COURTESY OF PIPEWORX

Here's Matt's T sitting on a Mercury Charlie frame, which is the same set-up my T will have. He brought his car out for the Lone Star Round Up in 2010 to help promote Pipeworx, his fabrication and metal work shop. Proportionally, I think he's got it sitting just right and like his choice of wheels and tires, though there's no way I'd ever run fronts without brakes. Not sure what the car's status is these days, but it's a perfect example of how badass un unchopped T can look.

CHARLIE'S OLD T

Just came across this on the net. Charlie's old T sans BLack paint and Von Franco Flames.
http://youtu.be/YuennQtC3Yw

PERFECT STANCE

A gentleman by the name of Mr. Cheater on the HAMB posted this shot of his T
on a thread I started this weekend. His car sits exactly as I'd like mine to. I sent him a PM asking for the specs for his frame and he was good enough to share the info below. 

Here are the stats for my model t frame 14'' inch kick up in the rear on a 2x3 tube frame suicide front end with about a 6'' perch body is channeled about three inches over the frame. If you pm me your email I can send you some of my in progress shots. thanks -- MR. Cheater

A TIDY "T"

I came across this car for sale in a Google search.
Proof positive that sometimes less is more. Indeed. Interested parties can learn more about this beauty that is for sale in Oregon: (503) 231-1940. Enjoy.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?-- LURCH

Okay, so I've settled on a name for the T. It's going to be "Lurch". Why Lurch? Because it's an acknowlegment of what the car's build will be influenced by. Which for the record, is Mercury Charlie's old T, the Munster's and the Addam's Family and the 60's show cars. "Lurch" seems fitting. Now, lest you think I'm going to get too carried away, I assure you that a few carefully chosen tips of the hat to the Munster's Car is all it will take. Basically, we're talking about 60's show cars, George Barris and goth. Darks colors, crushed velvets, etc. Subtle funeral-esque touches without being totally creepy. 

Below are a few pictures and other reference points I'd like to pull from:

Dig the Keystone five-spokes. I'm toying with the notion of Cragar SS wheels on the rear of Lurch,
and perhaps reverse chromes on front. A little more "show car" versus classic and traditional.

To me, Charlie's old T was the epitome of cool. Note the white walls and chrome reverse rims, the suede paint and wicked purple and pinstriped flames by Von Franco. 

The Uncertain-T is another influence. Dig the vinyl roof and the engine/intake.  I know I do.

Here's the canvas I'm building from. You gotta start somewhere, right?

I've love this wagon's attitude. The metallic roof, the suede black paint, the chop,
the Radir wheels and whitewall tires. Very cool and goth.

Note the aggressive rake. Badass. 

Here's the type of paint and color I'm leaning towards. Wicked.

Dan Stoner's T was vertically sectioned by Tim Conder.
Another heavy influence. 

A NEW OLD STOCK BUICK SPEEDO

Here's a little something you don't see every day. A mid sixties Gauge with only 18 miles on it. 

And not just any gauge mind you, but a Buick Riviera gauge. I couldn't help myself. I bought it. Off eBay. Paid a hair under $200 with shipping.

 Now maybe that seems like a lot of money. Hell, it is a lot of money. But what a great centerpiece for a Tall T with a 425 Nailhead engine. Here's to keeping it in the family. 

NOTES:

Outer chrome bezel is 6" at widest outer edge

Mesurement of Speedo's interior Face 4&3/4"

Silver center section is 2&3/4"

Arm is sliver over silver section of speedo and bright orange/red over black outer section.

These look like they might be a nice match to the Buick Speedo.

LOWER THAN LOW (RUNNING BAGS?)

Instead of having the double Z’ed MC frame run a traverse spring rear and a traditional drop axle, I’m considering the possibility of running air bags.

I know, I know.  It’s not exactly traditional, so why do it? The appeal is to have a really, really low Tall T.  To me the lower the Tall T is, the better it’ll look. And if I’m going to have a custom frame built, why not take advantage of that by doing something really custom. The set-up I’m looking at is from Mike Waechter, owner of Customs, Castings and Composites in Friendship, Indiana. His number is 812 212-5845. It consists of a custom front and rear cross member. Bags are not included.

After talking to Mike, he mentioned that he built his T with the tanks incorporated into the frame rails, which saves space and really takes advantage of a custom frame nicely. Plus, he was able to downplay the bags to a great extent, by designing a pretty traditional looking untraditional set-up. The lowest Tall T around. I can dig it.

Since I haven’t pulled the trigger on purchasing the parts just yet, now would be the time to decide. To that end, I’m going to discuss this option with Charlie and ask him to discuss it with Mike @ Customs, Castings and Composites.  More on that later.

HAMMERNDOLLIE'S AIR RIDE FOR FENDERLESS RODS

Mike Waechter
Customs, Castings, & Composites
812.212.5845
Location: Friendship, IN   Price: $600   

Enclosed is an ad I just came across on HAMB from "Hammerndollie":

LISTING INFO:

For sale here is an amazing Airride set-up for your straight axle hot rod. This unti directly replaces your existing Front cross member and traverse spring with dual cantilever action air spring. This can be adapted to be used on the rear. 

IF you are running a Ford style axle with traverse spring. It might be time to start thinking about Air Ride. With this set-up mounted in a "suicide" fashion will give you up to 6" of travel! But can also be mounted "spring-over" and gain 4" of travel. Not only will the Acme Air Ride give you that TOO-low look, but also offers a ride quality incomparable to a traditional traverse spring. 

The cross member measures approximately 24" X 6.375" at the widest points (extended cross members available for $25 more)

The Air-spring is set up to directly replace 31" springs using your existing shackles!

Utilizes 2400# series airbags available from any air bar supplier (bags not included)

I have offered these in limited runs before with rave reviews. Now is your chance to see what you've been missing!!!

$600+ shipping!