Flamed 50 Merc Custom – a Day with El Diablo

This flamed ’50 Merc is a classic car with an edgy twist. Custom car enthusiast Chris Saint Clark sought out his dream car and put a little of himself into the rebuild. When a deal for another car fell through, all stars aligned when this Mercury came into his sights. It was the right time, right price, and the perfect condition to put in the work he envisioned.

Chris is a well-known tattoo artist in Nashville, TN; he was about to go on a European tour to promote his appearance on Inkmaster when the Mercury fell in his lap. Time was ticking, so he immediately began the transformation of what he named the “El Diablo.”

Previous owners had dialed the car in pretty well. A 3” chop, Fatman clip with air ride all the way around, disk brakes on the front and drums on the rear and a few other minor modifications were already in place leaving Chris with room to put in his final touches.

Volunteer Auto Body painted the ’50 Merc in record time, then it was ready to have the hot licks laid down. Putting in a quick call to his buddy “Hot Rod Walt” to see about flaming it, luck was on Chris’s side. Turns out Walt needed a feature car to paint on his TV show “Caffeine & Octane.” In just a few days the clear coat was put on and the flamed ’50 Merc was just about complete.

A few final touches were installed – Corvette red leather interior, Coker wide whites, 16″ OEM Steelies with ’56 Caddy Hubcaps, and “El Diablo” was ready to go. Finished in just the nick of time to be debuted at the Redneck Rumble in Lebanon, TN, it collected a Dirty Dozen award. An impressive turnaround for only a year’s worth of work!

Since the transformation, the “El Diablo” has not been a stranger to the roads. Traveling from two to three hundred miles to shows throughout the region, Chris shows off his ride as many places as he can.

The Chevy 400c.i. engine and 3 speed automatic keep the flamed ’50 Merc running like a dream. It has certainly gotten plenty of attention since it’s completion, being featured in Grease Magazine, East Nashville Magazine, posters, and several top picks at local shows.

The “El Diablo” even has its own line of tee shirts, stickers, prints and hats. To add to the car’s character, a custom painted Gretsch guitar accompanies it wherever it goes. Chris says he uses it to serenade anyone that rides with him.

You can’t go wrong with a Merc custom. This flamed ’50 Merc is the perfect example of a custom sled with classic lines and a color scheme that stops admirers in their tracks. Stance and flames will never go out of style!