Buck Gallegos' 1953 Mercury

The car as it looked in 1957 when Buck Gallegos owned it.

Dennis' Merc as it looked when it was featured in Trend Book 189 Custom Cars 1960 Annual. This version of the car was owned by Dennis Wilcox who was also from Pasadena.

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1953 Mercury restyled by Barris Kustoms for Buck Gallegos of Pasadena, California. When the car was featured in Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car from 1957 the front bumper was restyled and the grille surround was modified to house 1953 Studebaker grille bars. The car was nosed, decked and the door handles were eliminated. The headlights were frenched and the taillights were extended, frenched and tunneled to fit a pair of 1956 Lincoln taillights. The Merc also got lakes pipes. Inside the car was upholstered in yellow and white tuck and roll. The car was pinstriped by Dean Jefferies.

In 1959 another version of the Mercury was featured in Rod & Custom May 1959. This version of the car was owned by Dennis Wilcox, also from Pasadena, California. In Trend Book 189 Custom Cars 1960 Annual Dennis stated that the Merc was channeled 7 inches and the guards were removed from the rear bumper. This version of the car had also been restyled by removing the front bumper and molding the front gravel pan to form the lower portion of the grille opening. The Studebaker grille bars and lakes pipes are also gone. Electric locks operated the hood, trunk lid and doors. The car has been repainted and scalloped in Chinese Gold. When it was featured in Trend Book 189 Custom Cars 1960 Annual it also had a hi-fi phonograph installed.

Magazine Features

Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car
Rod & Custom May 1959
Trend Book 189 Custom Cars 1960 Annual