{"id":91311,"date":"2023-06-16T10:09:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T17:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=91311"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:09:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T17:09:22","slug":"wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.racingjunk.com\\\/news\\\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\\\/\"}' id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-91311 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-2-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-2-min-e1686935352244-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-91314\" data-attachment-id=\"91314\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-2-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-2-min-e1686935352244.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"640,377\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;click__begin&quot;&gt;Click Here to Begin Slideshow&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;History looks back on the 1950s as a nostalgic time in America\u2019s post-World War II&lt;br \/&gt;\ndevelopment. Riding on a wave of unprecedented prosperity, Americans exuded an  enthusiasm and confidence that was reflected in their music, entertainment, modern home amenities, freedom to expand to the suburbs and beyond, optimism in America\u2019s future, and of course, their car designs. Bigger was perceived as better. TV and rock n\u2019 roll were just in their infancy, sex was a private matter, humility and values, pride and loyalty at work, church and the concern for your neighbours was paramount. &lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Started by G.I.s returning from Europe was the passion for DIY hot rods and street rods. It was a fertile period when speed was king, cruising the boulevards and the emergence of drag racing clubs. One of the perennial favourite models to customize were the 1949-1951 Mercury models designed by Eugene Turenne Gregorie, more commonly known as Bob Gregorie, due to their slipstream shape and affordable price. Imagination exploded when Sam and George Barris got their hands on a 1949 Mercury and chopped its roof down since its two-piece V-windshield enabled the task to be much more feasible. With swooning curves and integral fenders, a fadeaway line was much easier to execute than on the lumpier pre-war Mercurys. Body seams were a snap to fill and finish. Of course the \u201cchop\u201d radically changed the streamline of the car by simplifying it, but it\u2019s not a simple procedure. You have to lean the A-pillar back, the B-pillar forward and the chop must be precise and proportionate. Other obvious modifi-cations that emphasized the resplendent, flawless curves, was to lengthen the quarter panels and lower the car to a ground-hugging height. All Mercurys relied on the proven Flathead V8 of its day which came in at 255 inches and produced 110 hp. The \u201951 Mer-cury was so successful that it sold more than 309,000 cars, highest by far of the three iconic post-war Mercurys (1949-1951). Viewed as a derivative of the more exclusive Lincoln styling the \u201951 Mercury\u2019s upscaled appearance ironically attracted a plethora of customizers armed with cutting torches and lots of candy-coloured paint.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;But when Bill Vanleur purchased his \u201951 Merc in 2000 it was hardly in stellar condition. \u201cThe car was original, but not running and very tired looking,\u201d remembers Bill. \u201cIt had lots of dents, lots of body filler and the paint was peeling off. It desperately needed a complete makeover.\u201d Bill\u2019s dedication and assiduous skill reminds me of the watch-maker, Greubel Forsey, specialist in the art of finishing. Sure you can get the factory-produced product, but Greubel Forsey make watches &amp;#8211; 200 a year &amp;#8211; by hand, illustrat-ing the humanity behind the art. Bill has the same vision. Though nothing is drawn on paper, he has this uncanny ability to see the end result. \u201cI have always liked Mercurys and I was looking to do up a custom car,\u201d confirms Bill. But what a project to commit yourself to. \u201cI guess I get my work ethic from my dad. He loved cars and worked in the auto industry for years. Our family car was never dirty and well maintained,\u201d says the affable Bill. \u201cI started with building model car kits, often taking them apart and some-time even putting them back together. If it moves and has a rumble, I\u2019m interested.&lt;br \/&gt;\nStill in Bill\u2019s procession are: a \u201933 Ford Coupe, a \u201935 Ford Pick-up, a \u201947 Studebaker Pick-up, a \u201964 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, and a \u201965 C10 Chev Pick-up.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Over the past 20 years, this has been a work in progress in stages, but has remained a true passion since day one in the confines of Bill\u2019s home garage. \u201cIt had been awhile before I chopped the roof down by 3.5 inches. I purged anything superfluous by shav-ing the body and removing all the chrome, emblems and door handles.\u201d He replaced the headlight with a set of frenched headlights sunken into the body for that seamless effect. \u201cI installed a 1950 Merc rear window and grille.\u201d As for the engine, if you can im-agine Queen Victoria doing the 100-metre hurdles, you\u2019ll understand how laborious the Flathead V8 felt. Bill upgraded the horsepower by giving it a 350 Chev embellishing power as well as presence. To compensate for the added muscle, an automatic over-drive transmission was required with a 10-bolt Chevy rear end. \u201cThe front and rear suspension was lowered with drop spindles and springs in the front (from Fatman Fab-rication) and lowering blocks in the rear.\u201d Also included were bubble fender skirts, front disc brakes and power steering, new wiring, gauges, new upholstery, and the fait ac-compli, rounded hood corners and custom pin striping by Mac The Knife. But nothing draws the eye like a stunning exterior (its second paint job since Bill has owned it) and I could imagine this \u201951 Mercury in a ZZ Top music video or a Stephen King movie. It\u2019s Hot Rod Black, almost a lustre deep-metallic blue under certain lighting, that gives the car a menacing stance. \u201cThe original colour was green, but thanks to Cars &amp;#038; Guitars, they did an amazing job in converting something ordinary into something extraordi-nary.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;John McGann, editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine suggests, \u201cI\u2019m well aware that I may find myself drowning in the looming tidal wave of electrification that seems poised to inundate us in the next several years, but for a car to be special, it needs personality; it needs to have a soul, and I haven\u2019t seen that yet in an electric car. Quick and fast is impressive, sure, but it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean fun, engaging, or soul-stirring, and a lack of those qualities is boring.\u201d Bill can concur but it also takes time, commitment and money. \u201cThe part that took the longest to restore was my bank account,\u201d he chuckles with a knowing nod. \u201cBut then, why do anything if the passion isn\u2019t there? There is nothing like driving a classic down the road with the windows down, listing to the music from the exhausts, tunes from the radio, and having your sweetheart by your side.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;click__begin&quot;&gt;Click Here to Begin Slideshow&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-2-min-e1686935352244-300x177.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-2-min-1024x768.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-91314'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"click__begin\">Click Here to Begin Slideshow<\/a>\n\nHistory looks back on the 1950s as a nostalgic time in America\u2019s post-World War II \ndevelopment. Riding on a wave of unprecedented prosperity, Americans exuded an  enthusiasm and confidence that was reflected in their music, entertainment, modern home amenities, freedom to expand to the suburbs and beyond, optimism in America\u2019s future, and of course, their car designs. Bigger was perceived as better. TV and rock n\u2019 roll were just in their infancy, sex was a private matter, humility and values, pride and loyalty at work, church and the concern for your neighbours was paramount. \n\nStarted by G.I.s returning from Europe was the passion for DIY hot rods and street rods. It was a fertile period when speed was king, cruising the boulevards and the emergence of drag racing clubs. One of the perennial favourite models to customize were the 1949-1951 Mercury models designed by Eugene Turenne Gregorie, more commonly known as Bob Gregorie, due to their slipstream shape and affordable price. Imagination exploded when Sam and George Barris got their hands on a 1949 Mercury and chopped its roof down since its two-piece V-windshield enabled the task to be much more feasible. With swooning curves and integral fenders, a fadeaway line was much easier to execute than on the lumpier pre-war Mercurys. Body seams were a snap to fill and finish. Of course the \u201cchop\u201d radically changed the streamline of the car by simplifying it, but it\u2019s not a simple procedure. You have to lean the A-pillar back, the B-pillar forward and the chop must be precise and proportionate. Other obvious modifi-cations that emphasized the resplendent, flawless curves, was to lengthen the quarter panels and lower the car to a ground-hugging height. All Mercurys relied on the proven Flathead V8 of its day which came in at 255 inches and produced 110 hp. The \u201951 Mer-cury was so successful that it sold more than 309,000 cars, highest by far of the three iconic post-war Mercurys (1949-1951). Viewed as a derivative of the more exclusive Lincoln styling the \u201951 Mercury\u2019s upscaled appearance ironically attracted a plethora of customizers armed with cutting torches and lots of candy-coloured paint.\n\nBut when Bill Vanleur purchased his \u201951 Merc in 2000 it was hardly in stellar condition. \u201cThe car was original, but not running and very tired looking,\u201d remembers Bill. \u201cIt had lots of dents, lots of body filler and the paint was peeling off. It desperately needed a complete makeover.\u201d Bill\u2019s dedication and assiduous skill reminds me of the watch-maker, Greubel Forsey, specialist in the art of finishing. Sure you can get the factory-produced product, but Greubel Forsey make watches &#8211; 200 a year &#8211; by hand, illustrat-ing the humanity behind the art. Bill has the same vision. Though nothing is drawn on paper, he has this uncanny ability to see the end result. \u201cI have always liked Mercurys and I was looking to do up a custom car,\u201d confirms Bill. But what a project to commit yourself to. \u201cI guess I get my work ethic from my dad. He loved cars and worked in the auto industry for years. Our family car was never dirty and well maintained,\u201d says the affable Bill. \u201cI started with building model car kits, often taking them apart and some-time even putting them back together. If it moves and has a rumble, I\u2019m interested. \nStill in Bill\u2019s procession are: a \u201933 Ford Coupe, a \u201935 Ford Pick-up, a \u201947 Studebaker Pick-up, a \u201964 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, and a \u201965 C10 Chev Pick-up.\u201d\n\nOver the past 20 years, this has been a work in progress in stages, but has remained a true passion since day one in the confines of Bill\u2019s home garage. \u201cIt had been awhile before I chopped the roof down by 3.5 inches. I purged anything superfluous by shav-ing the body and removing all the chrome, emblems and door handles.\u201d He replaced the headlight with a set of frenched headlights sunken into the body for that seamless effect. \u201cI installed a 1950 Merc rear window and grille.\u201d As for the engine, if you can im-agine Queen Victoria doing the 100-metre hurdles, you\u2019ll understand how laborious the Flathead V8 felt. Bill upgraded the horsepower by giving it a 350 Chev embellishing power as well as presence. To compensate for the added muscle, an automatic over-drive transmission was required with a 10-bolt Chevy rear end. \u201cThe front and rear suspension was lowered with drop spindles and springs in the front (from Fatman Fab-rication) and lowering blocks in the rear.\u201d Also included were bubble fender skirts, front disc brakes and power steering, new wiring, gauges, new upholstery, and the fait ac-compli, rounded hood corners and custom pin striping by Mac The Knife. But nothing draws the eye like a stunning exterior (its second paint job since Bill has owned it) and I could imagine this \u201951 Mercury in a ZZ Top music video or a Stephen King movie. It\u2019s Hot Rod Black, almost a lustre deep-metallic blue under certain lighting, that gives the car a menacing stance. \u201cThe original colour was green, but thanks to Cars &#038; Guitars, they did an amazing job in converting something ordinary into something extraordi-nary.\u201d\n\nJohn McGann, editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine suggests, \u201cI\u2019m well aware that I may find myself drowning in the looming tidal wave of electrification that seems poised to inundate us in the next several years, but for a car to be special, it needs personality; it needs to have a soul, and I haven\u2019t seen that yet in an electric car. Quick and fast is impressive, sure, but it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean fun, engaging, or soul-stirring, and a lack of those qualities is boring.\u201d Bill can concur but it also takes time, commitment and money. \u201cThe part that took the longest to restore was my bank account,\u201d he chuckles with a knowing nod. \u201cBut then, why do anything if the passion isn\u2019t there? There is nothing like driving a classic down the road with the windows down, listing to the music from the exhausts, tunes from the radio, and having your sweetheart by your side.\u201d\n\n<a class=\"click__begin\">Click Here to Begin Slideshow<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-the-exchange-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-The-Exchange-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-attachment-id=\"91312\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-the-exchange-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-The-Exchange-min.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-The-Exchange-min-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-The-Exchange-min-1024x768.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-1-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-1-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-attachment-id=\"91313\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-1-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-1-min.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1085\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-1-min-300x217.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-1-min-1024x741.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-3-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-3-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-attachment-id=\"91315\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/1951-mercury-3-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-3-min.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,988\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-3-min-300x198.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1951-Mercury-3-min-1024x674.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-3-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-3-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-attachment-id=\"91316\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-3-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-3-min.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-3-min-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-3-min-1024x768.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-surveillance-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-Surveillance-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&#039;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-attachment-id=\"91317\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wendy-and-bill-vanleurs-1951-mercury-passion-from-a-classic\/51-mercury-surveillance-min\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-Surveillance-min.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Wendy and Bill Vanleur&amp;#8217;s 1951 Mercury: Passion from a Classic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-Surveillance-min-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/51-Mercury-Surveillance-min-1024x768.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Over the past 20 years, this has been a work in progress in stages, but has remained a true passion since day one in the confines of Bill\u2019s home garage. 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