Buddy Alcorn's 1950 Mercury

The Buddy Alcorn Mercury is a prime example of an early 1950s West Coast custom car. Initially transformed by the Ayala Brothers in 1952, it underwent further refinement at Barris Kustoms in 1955. This iconic vehicle, renowned for its tapered fastback profile, deep purple lacquer, and intricate modifications, epitomizes the golden era of custom car design. Its journey from a stylish street cruiser to a revered classic car showcases the evolution and craftsmanship of the custom car culture.

An early construction photo of the Mercury taken around 1952. The Merc was originally restyled by the Ayala Brothers for an undisclosed owner.

The Mercury was skillfully reshaped, boasting a chopped top—4 inches in the front and 7.5 inches in the rear. This alteration created a tapered, almost fastback-like slope, lending the car a striking profile. The Ayala Brothers equipped the car with full Fadeaway Fenders, lending it a sleek, streamlined appearance.

Buddy Alcorn, a resident of Dominguez, California, acquired the custom in 1955 and promptly took it to Barris Kustoms for further enhancements. This photo shows the Merc as it appeared after it had been given the Barris touch.

A photo of Buddy Alcorn and the Mercury taken in front of Lynwood City Hall. In 2016 Bill Farley told Kustomrama that he believed the blonde in the photo was Buddy's sister Donna. Photo by George Barris.

Another photo from the Lynwood City Hall photo shoot. Bill Farley, a contemporary of Buddy, fondly remembered him in a 2016 interview with Kustomrama. According to Bill, he came from the Long Beach area but not within the city limits: "We lived in the small community called "Dominguez" that is now Carson. Buddy was basically a milkman. A very hip milkman. I was in high school when Buddy bought the car. Buddy was in his 20s. He was a few years older than me, and I rode in the Merc a few times. Dominguez was not a large community at the time, and the gearheads kind of knew one another." Photo from The Junior Conway Photo Collection.

A photo of Buddy's Merc from The Bob Stephenson Photo Collection. This photo appeared in an ad for Barris Kustoms in the souvenir program from the 1956 Norwalk Motorcade. Photo from The Bob Stephenson Photo Collection.

At Barris Kustoms, the Merc received a 1952 Ford rear bumper, complete with molded-in rectangular exhaust outlets and adorned with 1955 Pontiac license plate guards. The taillights were also swapped and upgraded with 1955 Plymouth units.

The Merc's side trim was a creative amalgamation: a 1955 Chevrolet trim spear, an inverted 1953 Dodge piece, and 1954 Mercury trim teeth outlining air scoops.

Ron Dragoo's 1954 Mercury at an outdoor car show in the 1950s. In this photo, the Merc is parked next to Buddy's Mercury and Louie Bettancourt's 1949 Mercury. Photo from The Ron Dragoo Photo Collection, provided by Bill Layman.

A rear end shot of Alcorn's Merc at the same outdoor car show. Photo from The Ron Dragoo Photo Collection, provided by Bill Layman.

Style-Setting Californian. The Alcorn Merc was featured on the cover of Rodding and Re-styling February 1957.

1957 marked another pivotal moment for the Merc when Buddy traded it for Dick Jackson's 1957 Ford. Jackson, who ran Advanced Custom Paints in Compton, California, infused new life into the Merc with a two-tone paint scheme, pinstriping, dual spotlights, and Oldsmobile Fiesta hubcaps.

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Dick's Mercury next to Junior Conway's 1950 Ford outside Barris Kustoms.

A photo of Dick Jackson with the Mercury.

A photo of the Merc that Jim Potter shot. Notice the "For sale" sign in the rear quarter window

Dick Jackson ended up selling the Mercury so he could acquire a 1957 Ford Thunderbird. The Merc ended up in a used-car dealer's lot, and it passed through various hands before eventually landing with Bill Hines. In 1972, Hines' son traded the Merc for Ron Jones' 1932 Ford roadster. By this time, the car was in a state of disrepair, and the exterior and interior were in pretty bad shape. Taken in 1972, this photo shows the car on a trailer behind Ron's car.

When Ron purchased the Merc, it was in a state of disrepair, and the exterior and interior were in pretty bad shape.

The Merc's salvation came in 1998 when Kurt McCormick discovered and purchased its remains from Ron Jones. By then, the car had been exposed to the elements for years.

A photo of the Merc taken at David Conrad's place around 2000. Conrad completed the restoration after Jimmy Hervatin had done the metal work. Photo courtesy of David Conrad.

Photo courtesy of David Conrad.

Photo courtesy of David Conrad.

Photo courtesy of David Conrad.

In 2002, the project reached completion, and the Buddy Alcorn Merc, a veritable phoenix risen from its ashes, once again graced the roads, a shining example of custom car artistry and history. Photo courtesy of David Conrad.

1950 Mercury - Barris Kustoms

1950 Mercury originally restyled by the Ayala Brothers at Gil's Auto Body Works in 1952. Originally styled for an undisclosed owner, the Mercury was skillfully reshaped, boasting a chopped top—4 inches in the front and 7.5 inches in the rear. This alteration created a tapered, almost fastback-like slope, lending the car a striking profile. The Ayala Brothers meticulously rounded the hood and deck lid and equipped the car with full Fadeaway Fenders, lending it a sleek, streamlined appearance. Stripped of emblems, molding, and handles, the Mercury embraced a cleaner, more modern aesthetic. The front was enhanced with drenched 1952 Mercury headlight rims, while the rear was adorned with custom-crafted quarter panels and taillights from a 1952 Oldsmobile. The final touch was a deep maroon paint job, enveloping the car in a rich, luxurious hue.

Buddy Alcorn's Vision: Barris Kustoms' Refined Restyling (1955)

Buddy Alcorn, a resident of Dominguez, California, acquired the custom in 1955 and promptly took it to Barris Kustoms for further enhancements. Bill Farley, a contemporary of Buddy, fondly remembered him in a 2016 interview with Kustomrama. According to Bill, he came from the Long Beach area but not within the city limits: "We lived in the small community called "Dominguez" that is now Carson. Buddy was basically a milkman. A very hip milkman. I was in high school when Buddy bought the car. Buddy was in his 20s. He was a few years older than me, and I rode in the Merc a few times. Dominguez was not a large community at the time, and the gearheads kind of knew one another." At Barris Kustoms, the Merc received a 1951 Mercury front bumper and a 1952 Ford rear bumper, complete with molded-in rectangular exhaust outlets and adorned with 1955 Pontiac license plate guards. The front was updated with a narrowed 1952 Oldsmobile grille, and the taillights were swapped for 1955 Plymouth units. The Merc's side trim was a creative amalgamation: a 1955 Chevrolet trim spear, an inverted 1953 Dodge piece, and 1954 Mercury trim teeth outlining air scoops. Modified 1956 Mercury hubcaps with bullet centers added to its allure. The entire body was sandblasted for a mere $25, then resprayed in a captivating deep purple lacquer. Bill Farley believed the interior, a testament to luxury, was the handiwork of Tony Nancy; "It was nice. All custom knobs inside were made of laminated and polished plexiglas. Both doors had microswitches installed. Buddy had his engine worked on by Walt Richter, who later retired and was a chief mechanic on Guy Lombardos Class O hydroplane." According to Car Craft July 1957, the Merc housed a 3/8 by 3/8 296 cubic inch full race flathead in 1957.

A New Chapter: Dick Jackson's Touch and Subsequent Owners (1957-1998)

1957 marked another pivotal moment for the Merc when Buddy traded it for Dick Jackson's 1957 Ford. Jackson, who ran Advanced Custom Paints in Compton, California, infused new life into the Merc with a two-tone paint scheme, pinstriping, dual spotlights, and Oldsmobile Fiesta hubcaps. However, the Merc's journey was far from over. After a period, Jackson sold the Mercury to acquire a 1957 Ford Thunderbird. The Merc ended up in a used-car dealer's lot. It passed through various hands, eventually landing with Bill Hines. In 1972, Hines' son traded the Merc for Ron Jones' 1932 Ford roadster. By this time, the car was in a state of disrepair, and the exterior and interior were in pretty bad shape.

Resurrection and Restoration: Kurt McCormick's Revival (1998-2002)

The Merc's salvation came in 1998 when Kurt McCormick discovered and purchased its remains from Ron Jones. By then, the car had been exposed to the elements for years. Undertaking a comprehensive restoration, McCormick aimed to return the Mercury to its glorious second iteration under the Barris Brothers. The restoration was a labor of love and dedication, painstakingly restoring each detail to its former glory. Jimmy Hervatin did the metal work on the car, while David Conrad was responsible for the restoration. In 2002, the project reached completion, and the Buddy Alcorn Merc, a veritable phoenix risen from its ashes, once again graced the roads, a shining example of custom car artistry and history.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Car Craft September 1956
Car Craft July 1957
Custom Cars September 1957
Rodding and Re-styling February 1957
Trend Book 133 Custom Cars 1957 Annual
Trend Book 156 Custom Cars 1958 Annual
Custom Cars July 1958
Rod & Custom August 1958
Popular Customs August-September 1966

Sources

How Stuff Works - Buddy Alcorn Mercury
Rik Hoving Custom Photo Archive
The Big Book of Barris