In this industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glitter of shiny new kustoms that hit the scene. Occasionally though, a car comes along with a backstory that would make Hollywood green with envy. A car so cutting edge for its time, it stands atop the crowd for decades to come. One such car is the Hirohata Merc.

Bob Hirohata purchased his near-new low mileage 1951 Mercury after he got out of the Navy in 1952. Shortly after the purchase, Bob took his new ride over to Barris Kustoms of Los Angeles, California. George and Sam Barris had previously customized a 1949 Chevrolet for Bob. When he dropped the car off, Bob had a short list of specifics: chop the top and change the side windows to have the hardtop look. He left the rest of to George and Sam to work with. Knowing this would be a radical kustom, Bob was still surprised when he picked up the rod three months later. Every panel, every conceivable accent was modified. “Bob could have sworn it wasn’t the same car…” says Kustomrama.com.

The ’51 Merc went through quite an overhaul. A 4-inch front and 7-inch chop to the roof was completed. The stock rear window was retained but slanted down heavily for a clean blend to the custom built roof sheet metal. A V-butted windshield was snuggled in to help with the blend versus trying to adapt the original glass. Hirohata’s car was the first chopped 1951 Mercury and the first hardtopped 1949-1951 Mercury.

Multiple car design cues and pieces came together to build this beauty. The rear fenders were stretched and fitted with frenched 1952 Lincoln taillights, the front fenders were extended 4-inches for proper visual balance and set up with 1952 Ford headlight rings. The front grille was built using three ’51 Ford grilles so that it would wrap around underneath the frenched in headlights.

Every bit of chrome trim was pulled from the car. Various corners were rounded, the hood was filled, peaked and extended into the grille. Factory style lines on the sides were filled and the entire side panels reworked to better flow with the style of the Buick Riviera trim spears that were grafted on. Functional side scoops using bits from a ’52 Chevy grille were added in to help with brake cooling after custom built fenderskirts were flush mounted in the bone stock Mercury wheel opening. After all the sheet metal was ready, the car was painted in a Seafoam and Organic Green two-tone.

The barely used interior was also attended to. Rolled and pleated white and green Naugahyde spilled out from the headliner, seats, and door panels. A custom green carpet kit for the trunk was designed and installed then accented with white rolled and pleated leatherette on the side walls. The dash was painted and then was pinstriped by none other than Von Dutch himself. Von Dutch pinstriped a figure named “This is the City” on the dash. Hirohata even custom built plastic knobs for the interior that ended up being such a hit, Cal Customs put them into production.

The Iconic Merc before being restored in 1988.

The suspension was dropped to give the car some extra attitude. Chopped coil springs, flattened leaf springs, and a combination of lower blocks brought the Merc closer to earth. Eight days before Hirohata was to leave for the Indianapolis Custom Show, he decided the flathead engine wasn’t cutting it anymore and smashed in a brand-spanking-new 1953 Cadillac overhead valve V8.

An amazing car such as this never just hits a few shows and then fizzles out. Reportedly, the Hirohata Merc has won 184 awards through its life. At least 26 of those where while Bob Hirohata owned it. The car changed hands a couple times, various modifications were made through its tenure, and then eventually it was stored away. The late 80’s rolled around and the Hirohata Merc was dusted off and restored to its original glory.

Through its life, this Mercury has been in at least 17 magazines, not including any coverage of car shows that it happened to get a little spot light from. So many years and so many stories just compound the fact that the Hirohata Merc is gorgeous car that will hopefully never be moth-balled again. Photos provided by Kustomrama.com.