Virgil Shuck's 1940 Mercury

An early construction photo of Virgil's Merc, taken after the top had been chopped. Photo courtesy of Roddy Moore.

An early primed version of Virgil's Merc. Photo courtesy of Roddy Moore.

A photo of Virgil's Mercury dated June 1959. This version featured a 1955 Chevrolet grille and a glossy paint job. Photo courtesy of Roddy Moore.

A rear end view of the glossy version of Virgil's Merc. Photo courtesy of Roddy Moore.

A photo of Virgil's Merc dated August 1959, by then the car had received a flame paint job. Photo courtesy of Roddy Moore.

1940 Mercury coupe owned by Black Diamond Timing Association member Virgil Shuck of Pineville, West Virginia. The Merc was built by Virgil and his father at Shucks Body Shop in Pineville. Shucks Body Shop was the hang out and meeting location for the Black Diamond Timing Association shot rod club of Pineville from the early 1950s thru the early 1960s. Virgil was a founding member of the club.^[1]

Started in 1957, the top on Virgil's Merc was chopped before the build was fit with a 1955 Chevrolet grille. Virginia custom enthusiast Roddy Moore believes the Merc received a 1956 Ford Cown-Victoria interior. A photo dated August 1959 shows it with a flame paint job. Virgil sold the custom in the early 1960s, and it eventually wound up in a junkyard in Christiansburg, Virginia. In the 1970s or the 1980s it was sold to Ohio.^[1]

Where is it Now?

Roddy Moore is currently trying to relocate this old West Virginia custom. If you know anything about it's whereabouts, please get in touch with us at mail@kustomrama.com.