John De Angelo's 1939 Mercury

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

The front was restyled by John Williamson. Williamson installed a 1946 Chevrolet grille using a round rod perimeter. The bottom bar in the grille was removed, and a 1946 Chevrolet bumper was raised 2 inches and installed along with a custom gravel pan. Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

John Williamson working on the Merc. Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

A 1955 Buick dash was narrowed and fit inside the car. Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

John De Angelo working the buffer on the roof. Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Jimmie Collins installing the headliner. Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

Photo courtesy of Jim Arkin.

1939 Mercury Sedan owned and restyled by John De Angelo of Palmdale, California. De Angelo's Merc started life as a 4 door sedan. Not interested in owning a stock 4 door sedan, De Angelo chopped the top 3 inches up front and 4 inches in the back. The whole trunk area and rear window area was reworked. The trunk area was leaned forward 4 inches and the rear window was raised 3 inches. During the chop, the car was transformed into a 2 door. The doors were lengthened 9 inches and the front fender wheel well openings were tightened 2 inches and re-radiused using round rod, making the fenders appear longer between the wheels and the doors. After De Angelo had worked on and off on the car for 10 years, he contacted John Williamson and asked if he could help him finish the design and fabrication. Williamson installed a 1946 Chevrolet grille using a round rod perimeter. The bottom bar in the grille was removed, and a 1946 Chevrolet bumper was raised 2 inches and installed along with a custom gravel pan. Around back, a 1946 Chevrolet bumper was installed with another custom gravel pan and 1939 Mercury taillights sculpted. Custom taillight lenses were installed along with a 1949 Chevrolet license plate surround. The running boards were covered with 1940 Ford rubber and 1952 Ford quarter panel stainless trim. Flush skirts were made from square tubing and BMW aluminum hood skins. Up front, the headlights were frenched. Williamson did also reshape the door tops, unweld the running boards in order to return them to a more original look. Inside, a new dash was built from a narrowed 1955 Buick dashboard. A tan and maroon vinyl interior was made by Jimmie Collins. Both De Angelo and Jimmie were members of the Tyrants of San Fernando Valley car and motorcycle clubback in the 1960s. More interested in enjoying the car then showing it, the interior was fit with a custom center console, Cadillac front seats and a Thunderbird back seat. DeAngelo and Williamson ran 1x4 ducting under the floor to route air conditioning to the back seat area. A fresh Chrsyler wedge engine with a mild cam, finned valve covers, a 4 barrel carb, stock mufflers and dual exhausts rests under the shaved hood.The deck lid and doors were also shaved for chrome, handles and ornamentations. De Angelo and Williamson did all the bodywork, with De Angelo providing the final touches and laying on a custom Midnight Maroon paint job. The paint was mixed by Williamson and De Angelo to keep the early 1949 to 1952 theme going.