04/24/2026
The story of this icon begins in 1952, when young Bob Hirohata commissioned the Barris brothers in California to customize his 2-door 1951 Mercury. The car underwent radical engineering and aesthetic modifications, which included chopping its roof and removing its pillars to make it completely streamlined, alongside integrating parts from Cadillac, Lincoln, and Ford vehicles, and painting it in a stunning green color. Thanks to this unprecedented innovation, the car transformed into a masterpiece that laid the foundation for the standards of custom car culture in the United States.
Despite the overwhelming success the car achieved and its collection of dozens of awards, its condition changed over the years as it passed between several owners. The car was involved in an accident that led to its deterioration, and its original color was changed multiple times until it ended up neglected in a garage. This legend was almost completely forgotten, until it was discovered by a sixteen-year-old teenager named Jim McNiel in 1959. Jim bought it for only $500 and used it for a short period before storing it and keeping it for decades.
In the late 1980s, Jim decided to revive the car, starting a meticulous and intensive restoration process that returned it to its original shape and color from 1952. These efforts were crowned with success, and its prominent historical value was recognized by its inclusion in the National Historic Vehicle Register in America. After remaining in the possession of the McNiel family for over sixty years, the car's journey culminated in 2022 when it was offered at a public auction, selling for a staggering sum of nearly $1.95 million, settling as a timeless symbol in the history of American car design.
