The Ultra Modern Merc: Leo Lyons Custom Mercury

7 Important History / Milestones  The most radically customized ’49-’51 Custom Merc built in-period  Took the builder (Leo Lyons) 10 years from design to completion  Legendary west coast customizers George and Sam Barris were involved with each phase of the build  The renowned metal shop “California Metal Shaping” designed and built significant components of car (roof/roofline, doors, hood)  Ford Motor Company was involved in supplying parts due to initial plan of 10 identical cars – even though just the prototype was eventually built  There was no “donor” car - all body panels were new and supplied by Ford to build the car including the chassis and brakes  This was an award winning cover car – magazine cover and feature photography by George Barris  It appeared on cover of Petersen Publishing’s Magazine “Custom Cars” in February, 1960  Recognized in Petersen’s “1961 Custom Cars Annual” in a two page article as one of the most significant Custom Merc’s built to date  Given its debut in late 1959, it was the last significant Custom Mercury built in the ‘50s.  RECENT: Missing since 1964 - 50 years  RECENT: Debuting at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the “Mercury Customs” class