The 1951 Mercury was sold at the Mecum collector car auction in Florida over the weekend for over $1 million more than the vehicle's pre-sale estimate.
The custom car scene in Southern California at that time was dominated by the Hirohata Merc, a two-tone green car that was commissioned by a Japanese American Navy veteran.
The 1951 Mercury is the highest-selling custom car that wasn't a movie or TV show car, according to the manager of valuation at the classic car insurer. The Hirohata Merc is relevant to us. A car that was custom made almost 70 years ago is still revered today.
The Merc is a car that few cars share. George Barris, who went on to design cars for TV shows such as "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Batman," was one of the builders of the car. It won many awards and trophies.
Scott and Darla McNiel, the son and daughter of Jim McNiel, who died in 2018, saved the car and restored it to its original glory before selling it. Ken Gross and Wayne Carini helped broker the sale of the McNiel siblings. The name of the buyer has not been disclosed.
The McNiels were long-term stewards of the car, and they wanted to keep their family connection to the Merc. Scott McNiel said that his dad's impact on the history and legacy of the car stays attached to it. It becomes just Barris Kustom and Jim McNiel when it moves away from our family, that's my fear.
This connection will continue. Mr. Carini said thatDarla kept a $10 bill from her father. Jim will always be a piece of the car because Darla and I hid $10 in the car before it went over the block.
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