Phildaupho

Thanks Richard - I always enjoy your insightful and educational posts.

Great looking Cobra and I really like your photos

For the most complete collection of photos of virtually the complete history and every component of the McMullen Hi-Boy Deuce Roadster check out TOM McMULLEN'S ROADSTER album | LOUD-PEDAL | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

Yes I like the look too. Maybe one of the most attractive flat paint jobs I have seen. Being over a great looking body sure is an advantage.

Thanks guys. I am amazed and grateful at how popular this Ranchero is.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your comments. This model does show that a presentable conversion can be done relatively easily from the Del Rio Ranch Wagon however close does not count when it comes to an actual model car kit. These days a new kit has to be virtually perfect to pass scrutinizing. The back window and surrounding area would probably be the most difficult for Revell to get right. If Revell did offer a Ranchero kit, I am sure it would be very popular.

Thanks Claude - I am running out of ignition wire and green was all I had left so it worked out well.

Thanks Lee

Thanks everyone. I am very pleased how the Ranchero turned out.

I have always liked ’57 Fords. Family friends got a brand new two-tone yellow and white 2-door hardtop which was probably the best-looking car I had ever seen up to that point. There was a full range of cars from Ford in 1957 including a couple of new and unique versions – the retractable hardtop and the Ranchero. It was the Ranchero that has always been a favourite of mine. I remember as a kid dreaming about owning a ’57 Ranchero which of course would have to have had some modifications. Although I have built a few ’57 Ford models in the past, I had an urge to build a model something like the one I dreamed about all those years ago. When Revell released the ’57 Del Rio 2-door Ranch wagon there was a great deal of hope that it might be followed by an up to modern standards Ranchero kit. With all that Revell has gone through over the last few years the chances of that happening are very remote. One day late last year with nothing better to do I had an irresistible urge to convert the Del Rio Wagon into a Ranchero. Modifications I made - Cut roof near the b-pillar with a bit of a cut back to the pillar - Sanded off the raised contour on the remaining part of the roof - Separated rear window from removed roof and glued it to the new roof ending and b-pillar - The rear bulkhead of the passenger compartment was made from the cut off roof - The interior side panels were cut to have separate sections for the interior and pickup bed - The inner side panels and tailgate panels were glued to the body - A new pickup floor was fabricated from smooth and grooved Evergreen styrene - The forward bulkhead of the pickup bed was made from various elements of Evergreen styrene with everything faired in with putty - A small shelf was added below the inside of the back window - Separated the wheel tubs from the floor pan and attached to pickup bed floor. The tubs were faired in with the floor using putty and a styrene molding was added where the wheel tubs meet the side panels PAINT is Tamiya TS-26 Pure White and TS-60 Pearl Green from the spray cans without clear DECALS for the most part are from the kit. The door panel decals did not fit properly because the cut out for the armrests are misplaced. I also used some Ranchero decals I had made up for a previous built. The gold in the side trim is gold Bare-Metal-Foil rather than the provided decals. Modifications to create my dream Ranchero - Removed front gravel pan from the frame to paint body color which may not be correct but I prefer it that way - Added a stick shift and a tachometer - American Torque-Thrusts and tires from Revell ’32 Ford - FE engine from AMT ’60 Ford with Thunderbird enhancements including three carbs - Removable bed rails from AMT ’59 El Camino The Workbench thread for this build

Very sharp looking and super well built

The auction sale price with buyers commission $2,145,000 !!

The sale price with buyers commission $4,070,000 !!

I just watched the Hirohata sell. The bidding started at 400000. The reserve was 1000000 and it sold at 1950000 !!

Excellent quartet of awesome looking Gassers. I like em all but especially the Shoebox Ford

A very attractive 1951 Merc traditional custom [pictured below] failed to reach reserve today with a high bid of $65000. It is a more recent custom and of course does not have the provenance of the Hirohata. The Hirohata was for sale privately for many months represented by Wayne Carini who I am sure approached all the likely buyers. At the auction on Saturday the Hirohata will have a reserve so it may not sell. If it does sell at or above the reserve, it will be big money. That being said, the family does want to sell the car. Wayne Carini is a wise and realistic man when it comes to car values so the reserve must be an amount he feels is achievable with a hope of exceeding. I am guessing the reserve is between $500,00 and $750,000. It is going to be fascinating to see what happens.

Check out this YouTube video in which Chasing Classic Cars' Wayne Carini who is representing the car at the Mecum Auction gives a great walk around of the Hirohata Mercury

Hard to beat the looked of a chopped and channeled 3-W Deuce. Very interesting seeing the two versions. Excellent use of the recent Model A chassis and Hemi engine to enhance the old Deuce Coupe body.

You are doing a great job so far on your classic Deuce. Maybe you should plan a trip to Victoria in July for Deuce Days and the Deuce Days in Scale Model Car Show !!

Fantastically cool concept excellently executed.

You are the Pro-Touring Master. Can hardly wait to see this awesome Camaro Under Glass.

Thanks guys - Maybe this will stimulate more builds of the Vette-Agin. A very cool model could result from adding body parts of 1/24 '57 Corvette.

Thanks Alan - I bought my first Danbury Mint model recently - an Auburn Speedster - a car I have always admired. I started building an Auburn model from a Lindberg re-issue of the Pyro list. It was such a poor kit that I ended up throwing it in the garbage can.

Thanks Steve - I hope to start painting the body this coming week.

The Hirohata Merc is going to be auctioned Saturday January 15, 2022. Check out 73 photos of what the car looks like now. It is going to be interesting to find out how much it goes for and where it ends up. I am going to record the auction coverage. It is on Discovery/Velocity in Canada and Motor Trend in USA. The auction can be also be viewed on-line. All cars being auctioned have a great set of photos which can be very helpful for model car builders. 1951 Hirohata Mercury Custom | S152 | Kissimmee 2022 (mecum.com)