Patrick Farrell's 1949 Mercury

A Cavaliers group shot from 1960. "That was about half of the club at about that time, Patrick Farrell told Kustomrama in 2020. Patrick is at the bottom left of the photo holding a poster for an upcoming dance they were putting on at that time." Photo courtesy of Patrick Farrell.

A group of cavaliers members from the 1950s and the 1960s photographed in 2013. From left to right: Bill Muehlstedt, Terry Ackerman, Hayden Long, Jack Eslinger, Sam Wiggins, Byron Farrier, Patrick Farrell, Wayne McCaffrey and Phil Hainers. Photo courtesy of Bill Muehlstedt.

A photo of Patrick's old club plaque. In 2020 the Long Beach Cavaliers was still going, and Patrick and some of the old members got together with the current club members a couple of times a year. Photo courtesy of Patrick Farrell.

1949 Mercury 2 door sedan owned by Long Beach Cavaliers member Patrick Farrell of Long Beach, California. In 2020 Patrick told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that the Mercury was his first real custom car. He bought it in 1957. "Starting from the front end I frenched the headlights, molded in the grille opening, rounded the hood corners, shaved the hood added Appleton spotlights, shaved the door handles, filled in the gas cap opening, frenched in 1954 Chevrolet taillights set horizontally, "C" framed the frame so it was lowered to within 2 inches of the ground, added full-length side headers, flipper hubcaps, and a tuck and roll interior." It was the most bitching car at his high school Patrick confirmed in 2020]. The doors were operated by a hidden button under the wheel well.