Henry Dominguez's 1951 Mercury

A construction photo of Al Ayala with Henry's Mercury. Henry got into custom cars from the car magazines back in the day like Hop Up and Hot Rod. In around 1952, he and his father were driving outside of LA, and they bought a 1951 Mercury; this was Henry’s first car. After seeing Bob Hirohata’s 1951 Merc in a magazine, he got inspired to get his customized. Henry’s father owned a grocery store, and they would travel back and forth to LA, and at some point, Henry got connected with the Ayala shop around 1954. When this photo was taken, the quarter panels on the car had been modified to house 1954 Packard taillight lenses. The photo was taken circa 1954 - 1955, and Ralphy came in right after it left the shop. Gil Ayala's 1951 GMC truck is parked behind the Merc in the photo. Photo from The Ralphy Morales Photo Collection.

A front end shot of the Mercury. When this photo was taken, the hood had been shaved, the headlights frenched, and it had been dressed up with a 1954 Pontiac waterfall grille. Photo from The Ralphy Morales Photo Collection.

Work in progress. Another photo of the Mercury. Photo from The Ralphy Morales Photo Collection.

Henry's Mercury in primer. Photo from The Ralphy Morales Photo Collection.

A photo of the Merc that Henry took while he was stationed in Washington in 1956. Photo courtesy of 46to64.

Henry's Mercury was a mystery until Ross Ruiz of 46to64 came across a video of Henry where he was talking about his old custom car. The video contained a small photo of the Merc that got Ross on the right track. Photo courtesy of 46to64.

A photo of the mercury developed in June of 1962. By that time, it had been painted a beautiful blue-green by the Ayala shop. In January of 2021 Danny Cuellar told Kustomrama that he and his dad were coming to California from Texas in 1959 when he saw Henry's Merc parked in Indio. They were stopping to eat when Danny spotted it. It was green in color. Danny was 19 years old, and he walked around it many times. He was driving his 1951 Mercury. It belonged to his dad, but Danny had already started customizing it. Photo courtesy of 46to64.

1951 Mercury owned by Henry Dominguez of Indio, California. According to Ross Ruiz of 46to64, Henry grew up in the desert in Indio. "He got into custom cars from the car magazines back in the day like Hop Up and Hot Rod. In around 1952 him and his father were driving outside of LA and they bought a 1951 Mercury, this was Henry’s first car. After seeing Bob Hirohata’s 1951 Merc in a magazine he got inspired to get his customized. Henry’s father owned a grocery store and they would travel back and forth to LA and at some point Henry got connected with the Ayala shop in around 1954. Al Ayala chopped Henry’s Merc, nosed it, decked it, lowered it via c notch, Frenched the headlights and added 54 Packard tailights and a 54 Pontiac grille. Henry went to Coachella Valley High School class of 1955."

Stationed in Washington

By 1956, Henry was in the military. He was stationed in Washington and brought the Mercury along with him. Henry told Ross that he owned the Merc for around five more years, and by that time, it had been painted a beautiful blue-green by the Ayala shop.

A Fond Memory

In January of 2021 Danny Cuellar told Kustomrama that he and his dad were coming to California from Texas in 1959 when he saw Henry's Mercury parked in Indio. They were stopping to eat when Danny spotted it. It was green in color. Danny was 19 years old, and he walked around it many times. He was driving his 1951 Mercury. It belonged to his dad, but Danny had already started customizing it.

Sold and Crashed

By 1962, Henry bought a brand new Chevy Impala and sold his car to a family member named Jerry Apodaca, and shortly after, it crashed. When Ross Ruiz interviewed Henry in 2023, the remains of the car were not known.