The Ultra Modern Merc: Leo Lyons Custom Mercury

67 In Their Own Words John Spradlin Remembers… The following story was written by John Spradlin who contacted the authors after learning that the car he remembered in its youth had been found and restoration begun. John was kind enough to document his memories of the car and how he came to know it in the late 1960s and early 1970s. John Spradlin & Dale’s Custom Cars of San Bernardino, California When I was Fourteen Y.O. I saw a RODDING & Re-styling magazine on the shelf at the grocery store. It featured a light blue custom car on the cover. After opening the mag. I looked at & studied the car. It had most every custom trick then done. Anyway, I fell in love with the car. Later I found that the "Leo Lyons Custom" was a local car (San Bernardino, CA.). The car faded from my memory for years until approximately 1968. There was a particular used car lot on Baseline Rd. in San Berdoo ( as some called the town), that sold mild custom automobiles. "Dale's Custom Cars" sold pretty neat mostly Chevy cars. I used to check it out as I went into a Gun Shop across the street from "Dale's". One day, I noticed a familiar color & shape car sitting on the line. I thought, "hey" "I remember that car". I went over & looked all around it. To me, it looked every bit as nice as it was in that car mag. Very low to the ground, Skirts, Blue & White Tuck & Roll upholstery, and a Buick 322 V8 & Dynaflow automatic transmission. It was a little 'shop worn' at second glance, as I walked around I noticed (?) a hole??? cut in the hood right over the carb. intake. It looked stupid and a great way to add water to the engine. So I went over to the office and asked for details & price. I was given no more details on it, but the price was: $700 (or $800) my memory fades. Anyway, I took it out for a ride and it was slow!! I allowed for it because of the Heavy Leaded body work and the Dynaslow, (that's what we called the old Dynaflow trans). It rode softly, like a pillow. As far as all around driving, the car only needed care when traversing certain driveway entrances, but not all. This car was built without air bag suspension. I kept watch every time I could create a reason to pass by the lot. It sat for quite a long time which surprised me. I couldn't see why people didn't understand what a treasure the car was. Many months later, I saw the Custom sitting high on a ramp or mount. It had become an advertising 'gimmick'. It sat up there for a long time, then, one day, it disappeared. I never saw it again. Until now. Dale Martin advertised the cars on the lot daily, it seemed. He concentrated mostly on Chevrolets. Buying & selling mild customs that had the common touches. Nosed, Decked, Pinstriped, T&R upholstery, Special wheels, mostly chrome. After the customs became a little more scarce, he 'built' his own. He had a paint shop that had a few colors that he sprayed each car. The one that stands out for me is "Cinnamon". He had a Green, Blue and Brown. All the cars that he had built were painted one of those colors. It seems like a miracle to see that the Leo Lyons Custom is being restored. Oh, I would like to drive it again. John Spradlin—May 13, 2015