The car was originally customized by Ziggy, who sold the unfinished car to Jimmy Vaughan. Jimmy brought the car to Gary Howard who did the fine tuning, painted and all other finish work on the car.

The Chassis was built by P&J out of Danbury Va. The body is a 1949 4-door Mercury because I have little kids who ride in the back. Motor is Chevrolet Big block 502, transmission is a 700R-4. Rear ...more

end is a narrowed ford 9 inch. We had to move in the rear fender wells to get the tires to fit under the car. It sits on air bags. I purchased every 49 hubcap on ebay until I got a set of 4 perfect ones. I think three of them were never on a car. I got wide white walls all the way around.
We used a steering column out of a 51 because they didn't have automatics in 49 and I wanted to retain the stock appearance inside and a column shift. I found a Mercury accessory steering wheel as well.
Others worked on the car before him but, Gary rounded all hood corners, rebuilt the inner fenders to provide a clean engine compartment extended the doors ever so slightly for a cleaner fit. He frenched the headlights Door handles are gone as well as the chrome except the belt molding below the windows. We used stock 49 taillights. Gas filler is through the drivers side tail light. It has 51 fender skirts which Gary
flush mounted. Front bumper is made from three 49 merc bumpers to get it completely smooth. Rear bumper has exhaust pipes cut halfway in and a Chevrolet license surround. Grille is a Desoto. The interior appears completely stock except for AC vents under the dash. All
accessories are controlled off of original dash controls. Gary block sanded the body for 4 years before he was satisfied that it was smooth enough then painted etc.