The Ultra Modern Merc: Leo Lyons Custom Mercury

69 Part IV — Leo Lyons and the Giants Sam and George Barris In 1955, 25-year-old Leo Lyons sought the help of the Barris brothers in building his custom. Sam Barris took Leo under his wing and taught/tutored him on gas welding and other techniques to create the desired shape needed. Upon completion, George Barris did all professional photography work and stepped him through the show process in Southern California—including making Leo’s car—the Ultra Modern Merc—one of the feature cars of his 1959 Custom Car Show in Bakersfield, California.