Dean Jeffries' 1947 Mercury

An early incarnation of Jeffries' Mercury taken before the flames were added to the front end. George Egen snapped this photo during one of his California trips. Photo from The Ray Soff Collection.

This photo is taken outside the Barris shop in the summer of 1957. Photo by George Contaoi.

Notice the crazy head Dean painted on the hood. Photo by George Contaoi.

The deck lid was also decorated with a crazy figure, pulling his guts out with its left hand, and shuving a nail in his ear with the right hand. Photo by George Contaoi.

Here you can spot the Barris Kustoms' 1949 Ford in the back. Photo by George Contaoi.

A close up on the hood. Photo by George Contaoi.

Photo by George Contaoi.

Photo by George Contaoi.

Photo by George Contaoi.

A photo of the Merc from the 1958 Woodward High Shcool yearbook. Larry Nadrasik, who was a senior, owned the car at the time, and he can be seen under the hood of the car in the photo. Photo courtesy of 46 to 64.

Dean Jeffries 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing and Film is a book by the author Tom Cotter. The book was published in February of 2009 by Motorbooks. Click here to check price and availability on Amazon.com - Click here to check price and availability on eBay.

1947 Mercury convertible owned and restyled by Dean Jeffries of Lynwood, California. Dean bought the Mercury from his cousin after he had wrecked it. Jeffries' dad was part owner of a body and fender repair shop, and he repaired the car for him.

When Dean got the car, it was light green. At the time he pinstriped out of George Cerny's shop. Jeffries didn't like green cars, and repainted it white with flames and pinstriping. Dean also lowered the car, Frenched the headlights, and fit it with a 1955 Ford grille. When he got the car, it was already fit with dual spotlights. The hood featured four rows of louvers, which Jeffries trimmed with flames.

Sold to Jerry Halak

In 1957 Jeffries sold the Mercury to Jerry Halak of Toledo, Ohio. Jerry, who was a member of the Pharaohs car club, bought it while he was in California, and drove it back to Toledo.

Where is it Now?

In 1958 Halak sold the car to Larry Nadrasik who was a senior at Woodward High. In 2018 Kevin Roberts told Ross Ruiz of 46 to 64 that Larry moved to England, UK, and apparently brought the Merc with him. Unfortunately, Larry passed away in 1994, and nobody knows what happened to the old custom. Please get in touch with us at mail@kustomrama.comIf you have any additional information about the lost Dean Jeffries.

Magazine Features

Car Craft April 1956
Trend Book 133 Custom Cars 1957 Annual
Custom Cars March 1958