The Post-War Custom Car Craze Begins... [PIC]

Bob Hirohata was an interesting guy. Despite being interred with his family during WWll, he enlisted in the post-war US Navy. When he got out in 1952, he saw one of Sam Barris' chopped '49 Mercurys and with his family doing well with parking lot facilities, bought a '51 Mercury and commissioned the Barris Brothers to give him a full custom hot rod.  The Barris boys looked at this build as a chance to showcase their work at the upcoming Motorama Expo which I guess was the equivalent of today's SEMA extravaganza. The icons of the craft all got involved. George designed; Sam and Frank Sonzogni did the metal fab (each one did a side!), the Carson Top Shop did the interior and Von Dutch, the pin striping. They finished the car in 97 days The car was the hit of the '52 Motorama and later starred in the teen car movie,"Running Wild" with Mamie Van Doren. This car, fully restored to original, will be auctioned off in next few months through Mecum. They did a great write up on the car's history you all should read:

https://monthly.mecum.com/2021/10/26/the-hirohata-merc/?utm_campaign=Weekend%20Driver&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=179355350&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_sUN4o4wSOGwNA1dVlk0x-atlSnZLHTehwZ2y4LvQ2NUfaiNg4jtR0o6cd5vLcPWEhc0htV8hwAzOI39yST6GoMQDi-g&utm_content=179355350&utm_source=hs_email

DM did a great job on this iconis 'lead sled" with an unusually large parts count for its era. I was impressed with the PE 3D cloisonne Barris coat of arms on the fender.