Butler Rugard's 1940 Mercury

1940 Mercury Convertible restyled by Harry Westergard for Thunderbolts car club member Butler Rugard of Walnut Grove, California. The Merc is a celebrated custom car that represents the artistry and ingenuity of the early custom car movement. Its history is shaped by numerous transformations and the contributions of several owners, each adding unique chapters to its story. This photo shows the Mercury at the 1950 Sacramento Autorama.

The car as it sat in 1960 when Manny's daughter Marie Fernandez owned it.

The Mercury as it looked when Jack Walker and Ed Guffey bought it from Ron Marquardt. Photo by Chip Chipman.

Photo by Chip Chipman.

Photo by Chip Chipman.

The Mercury after Jack Walker and Ed Guffey restored it

Photo by Tom Strongman

1941-1948 Chevrolet taillights have been popular to use on hot rods since the 1940s. Today, a pair of glass taillights can easily be sourced from your local speed shop or Amazon.com. Click here to check price and availability.

1940 Mercury Convertible restyled by Harry Westergard for Thunderbolts car club member Butler Rugard of Walnut Grove, California. The Merc is a celebrated custom car that represents the artistry and ingenuity of the early custom car movement. Its history is shaped by numerous transformations and the contributions of several owners, each adding unique chapters to its story.

The Purchase and Early Modifications

Butler Rugard, a custom car enthusiast who had owned several customized cars before, purchased the Mercury in 1940. Long thought to have bought it brand new, new information from Jack Hurley suggests otherwise. In November of 2024, Hurley told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his father, Bill Hurley, worked for the Rugard family at their farm in Walnut Grove during World War II and frequently rode in the Mercury. According to Jack, his father recalled that the car was purchased as a used vehicle from the current model year. Rugard initially worried about the purchase, suspecting something might be wrong with the car since its original owner had kept it for less than a year. Despite these concerns, Rugard proceeded with plans to customize the Mercury, commissioning Harry Westergard to undertake the transformation.

There is no definitive documentation on the car, but it is believed that the Mercury's transformation began with minor alterations, such as the addition of fadeaway fenders, but grew significantly over the next few years. After the car was damaged in an accident, later owner Jack Walker believes that Rugard returned it to Westergard in 1942 or 1943 for extensive modifications. Westergard chopped the top, and Walker believes he crafted a removable padded roof using parts of the original frame and bows. The vent windows were shortened and fitted with custom moldings to align with the new roofline. The hood was peaked, and Westergard ran the upper beltline around the hood's perimeter. Along the way, he eliminated the flared humps of the Mercury hood and gave the nose a stepped prowlike protrusion, much like a period "Sharknose" Graham. A 1942 Buick grille replaced the stock unit, while the car’s signature tail-dragger stance was achieved by lowering the rear with a de-arched spring and long shackles. Additional custom touches included 1937 DeSoto ripple bumpers (later replaced with 1941 Packard units), teardrop fender skirts, 1941 Chevrolet taillights, Appleton spotlights, and a rolled-and-pleated interior.

The 1950 Sacramento Autorama

In 1950, Rugard exhibited the Mercury at the inaugural Sacramento Autorama. Its sleek lines, bold styling, and innovative customization made it one of the standout cars of the event, cementing its place as an early icon of the custom car movement. A photo of the car from the show was also included in a magazine coverage.

Sale to Manny Fernandez and Family Ownership

Rugard sold the Mercury to Manny Fernandez after owning it for only a few years. Fernandez became the car's second owner, and it remained in his family for an extended period.

In Custom Cars August 1960, Butler Rugard's old Mercury was featured in the "Mail Call" section, offering a glimpse into its condition and ownership at the time. The car was then owned by Marie Fernandez of Walnut Grove, California. The letter was titled "Built by Dad...Owned by Dauthter," so Marie has later mistakenly been described as Rugard's daughter. According to Jack Hurley, Rugard had no children, and in reality, Marie was the daughter of Manny Fernandez, the Mercury's third owner. In her letter to the magazine, Marie provided several intriguing details about the car’s modifications and history. She mentioned that her father, Manny, had assisted Harry Westergard with the bodywork during its initial customization. According to Marie, the top had been chopped by four inches, and the removable white "Carson-style" padded roof was upholstered with leopard fur, adding a distinctive flair to its appearance. By 1960, the Mercury had been repainted black, giving it a sleek, updated look. The fender skirts, a hallmark of its original design, had been removed, and the car featured side pipes, which were in vogue during the era. Marie also highlighted several interior modifications, including a chromed dashboard and components sourced from Lincoln vehicles, such as the door panels and steering wheel. She noted that the headlights had been replaced with units from a Packard, further emphasizing the car’s evolving design as it transitioned from one era of customization to the next. This letter, and its inclusion in Custom Cars, provides valuable insight into the Mercury's condition and the influence of the Fernandez family in maintaining and updating the car, while also showcasing the trends of 1960s custom car culture.

The car stayed in the Fernandez family for at least two decades. During their ownership, the Mercury was involved in a major accident, which caused significant damage. When the car was repaired, Fernandez incorporated additional modifications, including a redesigned hood, further evolving its appearance. Jack Hurley, who first encountered the Mercury in the late 1960s or early 1970s, remembered seeing it parked on Front Street in Rio Vista, California, where it was owned by a member of the Fernandez family. At the time, Manny Fernandez Jr. was renting a duplex from Jack's parents at the corner of Front and California Streets, leading Hurley to believe he was the car's owner. However, upon further investigation, Hurley later suggested it was likely Jeff Fernandez, another member of the family, who owned the car during this period. Hurley recalled sitting in the Mercury as a young boy and pretending to drive, fascinated by its dramatic lines and custom features.

The Marquardt Years

Marie Fernandez eventually sold the Merc to Ron Marquardt, who owned it for more than 30 years. During his ownership, the car spent most of its time in storage. By the time Marquardt listed the Mercury for sale in Hemmings Motor News, it had been further modified with a DeSoto grille, tunneled 1940 Chevrolet taillights, tunneled sealed-beam headlights, a 283 Chevrolet engine, and early 1960s-style chrome reverse wheels.

Ron Marquardt bought the Mercury from Marie Fernandez. Ron owned the car for 30-some years. While he owned it, the car spent most of its time in storage. Ron later advertised the car for sale in Hemmings Motor News. Jack Walker found the car, and convinced his friend Ed Guffey to partner with Jack and buy the car. When Jack and Ed got the car ithad been painted white and restyled wth a DeSoto grille. The grille was likely installed after an accident sometime after 1960. The accident damaged both the front and rear. 1940 Chevrolet taillights and sealed beam headlights were probably tunneled at the same time. When Ed and Jack got the car, it was also powered by a 283 Chevrolet engine, and it rolled on early 60's style chrome reverse wheels. Jack determined he would return the Mercury to its configuration when, as photos attest, it was shown at the very first Sacramento Autorama in 1950.

Jack and Ed sent the car to Dave Dolman in Verdon, Nebraska to have the custom bodywork restored. Dave reset the headlights into the front fenders and the 1940 Chevrolet taillights into the rear panel as they appeared in 1950. Other finishing touches included 1941 Packard bumpers, teardrop skirts from Night Prowlers, and 16-inch Mercury wheels with Firestone whitewalls, Packard hubcaps, and trim rings. Uncommon Engineering in Indianapolis built a bored and balanced 1951 Mercury flathead for the car with a period-correct three-quarter cam, Offy aluminum heads, and triple carburetors. Sonny Rogers installed it along with the stock three-speed trans. The Merc rides on stock front suspension, while long shackles and a de-arched spring give it the '40s tail-dragging look. The original padded top was restored by veteran upholsterer Bob Sipes of Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Bob stripped the original down, repaired some of the chicken wire foundation and wood framework across the back, then re-covered it outside with early-style convertible top material and inside with wide-pleated Naugahyde. The white rolled 'n' pleated leatherette upholstery with black piping was in good enough condition to clean up and leave as it was. It took 2 years to restore the car

Sold to Greece

September 26th, 2009 the old Westergard Kustom was offered for sale without a reserve at the Icons of Speed & Style auction in Los Angeles, California. The car sold for $ 82,500 USD, and ended up in Greece, in Alexi Mougios posession.

Offered for sale by Coys

Saturday, June 15, 2013 Coys advertised the Butlergard Mercury for sale at an auction in Athens, Greece. Before the auction, the Merc was estimated to sell for between €80,000 and €100,000. The car did not sell at the auction, and Mougios kept on to it for five more years. In 2018 Mougios sold the car to John Anastasopoulou of Patras in western Greece. Anastasopoulou owned it for about a year before he sold it again.

Magazine Features

Custom Cars August 1960

Sources

www.rodcustom.automotive.com
www.auto.howstuffworks.com
public.fotki.com/Kustombuick
www.tomstrongman.com