This Butler Rugard 1940 Mercury was brought to Westergard’s shop for customizing when it was nearly new. Rugard wanted Westergard to add a set of “fade-aways.” A fade-away is the continuation of the front fender line across the door and into the body at the base of the rear fender. Westergard must have talked him into doing much more, because the car has a chopped Carson top, 1942 Buick grille, Packard bumpers, rolled and pleated interior and fender skirts.

The car was shown at Sacramento’s Autorama in 1950.

Jack Walker found the car and has spent two years putting the car back to its original look. A flathead V-8 is under the hood once again, a ’42 Buick grille adorns the front and the bumpers are Packard. Dave Dolman of Nebraska did the body work and Bob Sipes of Pleasant Hill did the interior. Jack Walker’s car is as close as he could make it to the way it was when Harry Westergard finished it.