1956 Ford Thunderbird - Surfin' Bird - Bill Cushenberry

BARN FIND - Bill Cushenbery's Surfin' Bird. This 1956 Ford Thunderbird custom was built by Cushenbery Custom as a Los Angeles Boss Radio 93/KHJ give away car in August 1966. For the contest this original give away custom was painted metallic blue with pearl white upholstery on 1966 mustang bucket seats and had blue shag carpet. Some time in it's life it was repainted red. Over the years the seats were removed and misplaced. It now has black 1968 mustang bucket seats. The headlights are mid-sixties full size Pontiac units, and the taillights are 1966 Mustang. The car came with period custom made "nerf" bars. The radio station stated that the car was "Cobra-Powered", and they also valued it at $8.000.00 (1966 dollars). It had a worn out 289 & a 4 spd in it when found 20 + years ago which was then removed soon after. Through research, about 5-6 years ago I found out that this car was a radio give away car done by Cushenbery Custom. Atfer this discovery I put a 56 Thunderbird 292 & a 4 spd OD trans in it. Car still has the 289 motor mounts, if someone was inclined to put a 289 back in. Car does run, drive, and stop, but has not been licensed for many years. It has a clean Washington state title. Copies of the original ads by 93/KHJ BOSS 30 radio station are pictured. Always thought I would do something with the car, but never got around to it so it's time for someone else to do something with it. Bill Cushenbery was known in his day as one of the best metal workers in the southern California custom car community. This car is a fine example of his superb metal work. He used very little filler in building the custom panels for this car.