The seller of this interesting car simply calls it the “Only One” and I guess it makes sense given that it’s a one off custom. It’s a rather strange mix of things, with the chassis and engine coming from a 1954 Mercury Monterey, while the custom body was built in the late ’70s. I see some styling influences from the third generation Corvette and even a little bit of Devin, but whatever it is, it’s very ’70s and very odd. For a one off custom, the craftsmanship is surprisingly nice though! You can find this… hot rod… one off… yeah I don’t know what to call it, but it can be found here on eBay in Keene, New Hampshire with a current bid of $5,700 and no reserve.

It would actually be rather fun to take a closer look at this creation, simply to see how things are put together. The seller has a binder full of documents chronicling the car’s construction. The builder eventually donated it to a industrial arts school, who used it as a teaching aid for about 10 years. It was eventually purchased by one of the teachers, who fully restored it. The all metal body looks to be in good shape, as does the engine and interior. The paint looks good as well, but the seller notes there are a few flaws.

The choice to use a ’50s powertrain seems like a strange choice given the styling of the car. Given the body shape, you’d expect it to have something more fitting of a sports car, but the old 265 V8 has been reworked and should offer decent power. It has pistons, rods, crank and heads from a 1957 Ford V8, which yields an increase in displacement to 272 cubic inches and a slight boost to compression. I’d have to drive it to decide for sure what to do with it, but a modern 4 cylinder would likely offer more power, better fuel economy and better handling as a result of reduced weight. Of course, you’d lose that great V8 sound and some of the oddball factor.

This really is a strange creation and I hate to admit it, but it’s starting to grow on me. I’d find a different set of rims, most likely steelies, get rid of the graphics and swap out the digital gauges for ones that are a bit more vintage. With a few upgrades and changes, it could be a real show stopper and a fun driver! So what do you think of this custom hot rod? Is it something you’d want to be seen in or is it just too odd looking for your tastes?