Edward Meritai

Edward Meritai's 1950 Ford. Restyled by Monego's Body Shop, the build was completed in 1958.

Edward Meritai of East Paterson, New Jersey was a body man who owned and operated a body shop. He was known for buying smashed panel trucks, fixing them, and selling them back to the stores. He bought approximately 20 of them over the years.

Meritai lived near Ray Soff, approximately two miles away. Ray's friend Ernie, who was 82 in 2018, went to high school with Meritai.

The 1950 Ford

Meritai's 1950 Ford was built at Monego's Body Shop. There was a dispute about whether the car was originally a coupe or a convertible. A magazine article stated it was a coupe that was converted, but Meritai insisted it was purchased as a convertible.

Photos of the Ford were taken in front of a house at 18 Washington Street. Ray discovered that his friend Bob Lindner, who had lived in the house since the 1970s, was living in the same house where the photos were taken decades earlier.

Edward Meritai's Cars

Edward Meritai's 1950 Ford