SOBE IT

SoBe’s Dream Wagon Comes to Life with Boyd Coddington

When the SoBe Beverage Company wanted to have a custom beach ride built, it wanted one that would speak for the times, so the company decided there was one person to call. After all, Boyd Coddington is famous for his Hawaiian shirts, so that fit, and he’s also well known for his creative efforts when it comes to creating unusual cars, especially those from models that are not normally known for their popularity. Who better, then, to build its latest creation, a rolling billboard for SoBe? Certainly no one we can think of, so Coddington and his La Habra, California-based crew were given the nod and production began.

Power and Precision: Ethanol-Converted Big Block Engine

At the start of the program, much discussion was given to the car’s powerplant. It was felt that, to be in tune with the times, the engine should be powerful yet conform to our changing times. Seeking to fry those tires but also be politically correct didn’t create much of a challenge for Coddington. The crew chose an engine that would fill the huge engine bay of the Merc, a ’70s-vintage 460ci big-block Ford Motorsport engine. To add to that contemporary statement, they would convert it to run ethanol (E85), an alternative fuel that has been gaining acceptance across the nation. Certainly an ethanol-powered super rod would be unusual, and it’s quite a statement that Coddington and SoBe would be the first to pursue this endeavor.

Engineering the Monster Motor

Coddington handed the engine over to Ford Performance Solutions (FPS) of Anaheim, California, where the engine was punched out to a whopping 533 inches. To accomplish this, FPS added a nodular-iron crank and Manley H-beam connecting rods connected to a set of BBF-dished Probe pistons. Topping that off are TFS Blue Thunder CNC-ported cylinder heads, resulting in a healthy 10:1 compression ratio. Getting fuel into those large holes and handling the ethanol charge is a FAST ECU, throttle body, and fuel injectors. The throttle body sits atop an Edelbrock intake manifold. A Comp roller cam provides the valve timing to work with the controlled ethanol fuel delivery to positively affect the power of this huge big block. Lighting off that fuel delivery is an MSD ignition system, while getting the spent fuel out quickly comes down to the MagnaFlow 2-1/2-inch tube headers, coated muffler, and exhaust system.

Custom Details and Boyd Coddington Signatures

Adding even more eye candy to the already impressive engine package are custom Boyd Coddington valve covers, equipped with the SoBe logo machined right onto them. The covers pair up with a custom-made Boyd Coddington air cleaner. A Billet Specialties serpentine belt system ensures that everything is timed to perfection while looking custom. When all is said and done, the big engine produces big power, to the tune of 677 hp and 651 lb-ft of torque.

From Stock to Show-Stopper: Crafting the Perfect Exterior

Besides being known for top-of-the-line and creatively done custom rides, the Boyd Coddington crew is also known for doing the job quickly. This fine ride was built in only 10 weeks.

Transforming a Mercury Wagon into a Beach-Ready Beauty

So how did they take a stock, fairly well-beaten Mercury and turn it into the killer ride seen here? In keeping with the smooth image Coddington and his crew are known for, they removed anything they thought would detract from the lines of the long Merc. That meant the original door handles and most of the trim were removed. While any sled worth its metal has had its door handles removed, not all of them have custom handles built and put back on. The Boyd Coddington crew shaved off the huge grabbers, and in their place, they custom-built door handles that follow the lines of the side trim molding. The result is a car that you can still get into easily, but the look is pure custom. While the crew was at it, they smoothed the rear tailgate and also filled in the stock cowl vent. Although they wanted to retain the bumpers, the stock look wouldn’t do, so they also have been smoothed and shaved of all visible hardware.

Adding the Woody Look and Unique Custom Touches

Since this ride was going for the woody look, the crew then added cool sides that emulate the classic wood found on such cars. The ones that adorn the Merc are totally custom in both their design and application. One item not normally found on a woody is the BMW-style tilt hood, but it looks right at home on the Merc.

A Custom Paint Job in SoBe Green

Once the subtle yet cool bodywork was completed, it was time to add some color. Adorning the Merc is what Coddington is calling SoBe Green. It is a Deaver product that was specially mixed for the car and applied by employee Greg Morrell right there in the Boyd Coddington paint booth.

Luxurious Custom Interior with Unique Details

The interior is just as cool, and, again, the idea was to take the best of the stock interior design offered and then add personal custom touches as needed. The dash was smoothed and the door of the glovebox was removed. Also gone is the stock bench seat, and in its place a pair of bucket seats from a ’67 Cougar can be found. Speaking of found, the guys at Memory Lane came up with the rare Cougar seats. The rear seat is a custom unit made by Gabe’s Custom Interiors in Bloomington, California. It was the Gabe’s crew who also added the tan two-tone leather to all of the seats, custom-made the door panels, and installed the headliner and carpet. One cool touch is the SoBe lizards embroidered into the carpet and tailgate covering.

Enhanced Driving Comfort and Convenience

Other cool touches include the custom Boyd Coddington steering wheel with the SoBe logo on the horn button and the custom-made center console, which houses the controls for the Air Ride air suspension and Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit. Adding real cool to the wagon is a Vintage Air A/C system, manipulated with Custom Air Shop controls. The wiring was done by Wire One Hot Rods, while the stereo install was done by the crew at Advantage Auto of La Habra, California.

Cooler Features: The Built-In Drink Cooler

Did we mention there is a drink cooler? Found in the rear of the wagon under the carpet, this built-in cooler is never far from the refreshing side of a SoBe product.

The Smooth Ride and Killer Stance

The SoBe Merc rides on a cushion of air and will lay rockers at the touch of a button. To get that low-down look, the Boyd Coddington crew modified the stock front A-arms to accept the Air Ride bags and Monroe gas shocks. The stock Merc anti-sway bars have been retained. The rearend, however, is a bit more complicated. The back half of the SoBe Merc has been equipped with a Currie Enterprises 9-inch rearend that has been narrowed 4 inches to allow it to slip beneath the wagon. It is held aloft with a four-link system as well as the aforementioned Air Ride airbags and Monroe shocks.

Big Brakes for Big Power

To bring the big wagon to a halt, Wilwood disc brakes are found front and rear. Maybe we should say that huge Wilwood disc brakes are found front and rear. The front units feature 12-inch rotors with six-piston calipers, while the rear features 13-inch rotors with six-piston calipers. The combination provides plenty of stopping power for the big car. What Boyd Coddington masterpiece would be complete without a set of cool wheels? For the SoBe Merc, the Boyd Coddington crew made up a set of what they call the Bud Light in 17×8-inch front and 18×10-inch rear sizes. Wrapping the cans are 45-Series Goodyear Eagle tires.

Transmission Power and Performance

Of course, getting that much power to the Currie 9-inch is no easy task, so Coddington had Gear Star build a heavy-duty C6 transmission. It is equipped with a Gear Star 2,500-rpm stall converter, and it’s cooled with a Setrab trans cooler. A Powertrain Industries driveshaft keeps the twisting motion in line and hooked up.

A Ride That Turns Heads

With this ride, it would seem that the SoBe crew will be doing plenty of hooking up, and considering the way this fine Mercury woody has turned out, there is little doubt that wherever it rolls, heads will turn.