Predicta - Darrill Starbird - 1956 tbird radical bubble top custom

Un petit post sur la voiture d’où vient mon pseudo (Pour ceux qui se poserait la question!!  )

One of the most epochal of all privately constructed bubble top cars is Darryl Starbird's legendary Predicta. Built in early 1960 from a wrecked 1956 Thunderbird, the Predicta featured coachwork construction, revolutionary styling, innovative steering, and practical road manners. In an era when most custom cars were either barely disguised factory vehicles or were grotesque and misguided styling exercises, Starbird's dream car was sleek and increasingly elegant as the builder constantly refined his car. Replicated in scale by Monogram Models in 1964 and purchased at that time by the model kit company, the car was eventually given away in a contest carried in the June 1970 issue of Model Car Science magazine and won by a Revell engineer, Darrell Zipp.  The Predicta was subsequently butchered by a later buyer who applied an American flag paint scheme over a silver paint job and pierced the rare hood with a silly supercharger. In the late Seventies, Darryl found and reacquired the car and restored it to its original glory.

As a result of nearly forty years of general interest in, and a quarter-century of highly-focused enthusiasm for, in this remarkable car, I have fashioned The Predicta Project to celebrate this most remarkable car and pass along to others my enthusiasm for the car and the Monogram model. The Predicta Project will allow the interested reader and custom car/model historian to fully enjoy the history of a remarkable customized automobile. The Predicta Project will be a major effort stretching across several literary and scale modeling disciplines that will report on, discuss , display and replicate in miniature the most famous of all bubble-topped custom cars: A full-length book will be published by Championship Publishing, LLC, a model project that will feature various versions of the car constructed by scale model craftsman, a multi-media scale model kit of two versions of the model that will be offered by Custom Styling Studio, and the presentation of selected copies of the original Monogram kit manufacturing engineering drawings.

With the enthusiastic cooperation of car creator Darryl Starbird, Monogram co-founder Bob Reder, Monogram kit engineer Roger Harney, photographer Don Elliott and street rod builder Darrell Zipp (who once owned the car) , and the usual gang of coconspirators (business partner Mark J. Benton, machinist Cody Grayland and photoetch artist Bob Wick), the Project is underway!

The Predicta Project will take a few years to complete, but all things worth doing are worth doing right. In the meantime, you can be a part of this effort by checking out the Project Memo to participating individuals a few of the kit engineering drawings and a review of the several kits that Monogram has offered over the year, and images of the many articles that featured the car!  For a brief photo essay on the history of the car, go here for a short but remarkable photo presentatation of the Predicta. Darryl Starbird created an icon, and we'll work hard to understand, and participate with Darryl in celebrating, this most remarkable of custom cars.

Come back often for updates to this site. Long live the Predicta and Darryl Starbird!

Mark S. Gustavson
May 2005

Starbird's Predicta:
Evolution of a Bubble Topped Wonder
by Mark S. Gustavson

Webmaster's Note:
The following essay is a compressed section of the text of a book at the author is writing on the Predicta. The book will feature hundreds of photographs and many chapters detailing the wonderful and detailed history of the bubble topped dream car. However, to present an easily readable essay that will acquaint the public with the history of this most remarkable car, the opening introduction has been considerably shortened for presentation here. The author expresses his deep appreciation to Darryl Starbird for his decades long cooperation and assistance in providing photographs, historical details, and technical information on the Predicta. For more details on the author's book on the Predicta, please visit the web site of the publishing house, Championship Publishing

In the late Fifties, Darryl Starbird then a newly minted mid west, self taught customizer, was given a commission by Bob Turgeon to build a custom '57 T Bird for the show circuit. After weeks of hard work, the Le Perle  
made its debut on the circuit and was modestly covered in the custom car hobby press. Following the incredibly positive response to the award winning Le Perle, Starbird wanted to build another custom first generation Thunderbird roadster learning from his experience on building Turgeon's '57 Bird.


Unable to afford a complete small Bird (remember, they were expensive in the late Fifties), Darryl located a badly damaged car in a local Wichita junkyard and hauled it to his shop next to the railroad tracks.What he hauled to his shop was barely a Thunderbird but it was the basis for one of the most famous and advanced custom show cars of the era.  
Work started in 1959 when Starbird dragged the derelict car to his Star Custom Shop in Wichita, Kansas, and removed the many damaged factory panels and initially replaced the same with factory stock sheetmetal so that he could have a complete car to commence his work.

In a stroke of insight, Starbird welded two carefully trimmed rear, outer sheetmetal panels from a '59 Buick to the Thunderbird,  
leaving the shape of the doors essentially intact. The crisp edge of the new rear quarter fin was continued along the top of the door, and horizontally across the front fenders (just above the wheel wells), finally forming the upper lip of the front grille shell. In its initial version, the Predicta's wheel wells were virtually in the factory shape, with a rolled edge at their upper extension. This design lent a sleek, space aged "wedge" look to the car which anticipated factory designs by nearly three decades.

Once the shapes of the side of the car were roughed in, Starbird hand formed the front fenders and headlight panel using steel tubing to define the front fender and vestigial rolled pan shapes.  
With the headlight area defined by the tubing, Starbird used two small Bird hoods, one in its expected place,  
and the other as the trunk.  
Rather than entirely mold that "hood" into the trunk area, Starbird decided to try something unusual. The one time leading edge of the "hood" was cut into a shallow "V" with either outside edge disappearing into the new trunk just inside the point where the fins ended. This created a horizontal slot between the trunk panel and just above, and forward of, the rear rolled pan.

In the first version of the car, the front grille initially featured polished copper tubing, bent in a half circle to form the lower edge of the front grille. Dual, horizontally mounted headlights were added and fitted with frosted lenses, later to become a common custom technique. In the first three versions of the car, the headlight covers were entirely frosted (in the fourth Monogram and subsequent versions, Starbird only frosted those areas not directly in front of the bulbs). Between those headlights Starbird mounted 26 white painted Caddy taillight lenses.

Turning his attention to the back of the car, Starbird populated the rear grille area with 28 more '59 Caddy taillight lenses, 22 of which were painted white to render them opaque, and mounted on what may be a piece of painted or stained plywood! Three red translucent Caddy lenses (arranged in a triangle) were placed on the extreme outer left and right areas of the grille panel which permitted functional taillights.

But perhaps the most striking feature of the car was its bubble top. Blown from clear Lucite, it echoed the clear canopies on numerous show cars that Ford and General Motors had built in the Fifties, commencing with the '54 GM Motorama cars and Ford's Lincoln Futura. "Freeblown" without a female fixture to define its shape, the bubble top was attached to a mounting ring with small screws which, in turn, was attached to two hinges bolted to the body. To trim the mating edge between the ring and the top, Starbird used a white filler cord carefully pressed into the gap between the bubble top and the mounting ring. To add interest, Starbird fit a windsplit to the bubble top which curved inward to the curve of the top, and featured twin antennas at the horizontal, leading edge.

Starbird did not forget creature comforts when he built the Predicta. The interior appointments consisted of upright bucket seats, dual cantilever dash pods and other items upholstered in white pearl Naugahyde buttoned by rhinestones. The white interior and brilliant metallic blue body contrasted with bright red carpets. Brass plated instrument pods faced either driver, and a defroster vent appeared just rear of the seats to clear moisture from the inside of the bubble. In what was to become a real trend, Starbird mounted a television set forward in the passengers' compartment. Finally, a speedometer, ignition and light switches and other controls were mounted on the chromed panel between the seats. Everyone noticed that there was no steering wheel because Starbird fabricated and installed a "tiller" steering system: Capable of being steered from either seat, the car could be directed by pushing or pulling on a chromed rectangular shaft that emerged through a chromed panel between the seats. That steering shaft was connected to a '56 Thunderbird steering box which was flipped on its side, which in turn actuated a full time power steering unit from a '57 Chrysler connected to the steering crosslink. The car could be driven from either seat, since both sides of the passengers' compartment had gas and brake pedals. Despite the lack of power assist, Starbird reports that the car was easy to steer, even at low speeds.  


A careful examination of the color cover shot of the August 1960 issue of Car Craft  
reveals that the bubble top in that photo had been airbrushed on, it was the wrong shape, had no windsplit, and the shape was obviously incorrect. Once the show was over, Starbird took the car to Bill Cushenberry's shop in Monterey, California where the top was fitted by Starbird.

To provide motion, Starbird fitted a beautifully detailed fuel injected Chrysler Hemi engine to the white pearl painted frame rails. Virtually every removable part on the engine was plated, as well as the fan shroud, shocks, control arms    you name it. The engine compartment was also modified. A full width chrome firewall was installed and new inner wheel wells were fabricated with three gauges in the left inner wheel well to aid in engine tuning. The factory T Bird rear axle and leaf springs were retained and a Chrysler automatic transmission and shortened drive line tied everything together.

After a bit less than two months of intensive and uninterrupted construction Starbird completed the car and promptly trailered it to California where it was displayed at the 1960 Oakland Roadster Show. However, the bubble top had not yet been fitted to the car since the hectic building schedule had not permitted it to be fit to the car at that date. At the Oakland show, the bubble top was displayed just to one side of the Predicta throughout the 10 day show, when the Car Craft feature was shot.
Article original:
http://www.thepredictaproject.org/History/history.html

Predicta Evolution
Starbird was the custom car consultant for Monogram starting in 1961. Initially, Darryl offered custom restyling touches for a couple kits then in production, and continuing in the future for kits that replicated Starbird-built/constructed cars. After two very successful years of work with Monogram, Monogram exec Bob Reder contacted Starbird in 1963 and offered the buy the Predicta and suggested that the car should be mildly be restyled and freshened so that the pending model kit would match the car. To fit the times, Starbird restyled the car, and repainted the car candy red in which color Monogram molded the kit.
However, before and after the Monogram-triggered changes, Starbird has continued to make refinements to the car. Here's a brief introduction of the many changes that Starbird made to the car:

The Predicta went through several major changes as Starbird refined his incredible design and responded to Monogram's promotional edicts. Those major changes include the following details:


First version: Monterey, California show and parked in front of home:

No splitter on bubbletop;
Chrome reversed wheels (then Valiant hubcaps);
Copper front tube grille, wrap around
Front grille work consisted of painted '59 Cadillac-style taillights; Rear grille consists of red and white painted '59 Cadillac-style taillights mounted on flat plywood panel;
No base, then wide base, on bubble top;
Matching style headrests and instrument pods, copper plated;
No rolled front pan;
Reverse scoop on back deck ("trunk").
Radiator mounted at steep angle;
Underhood "Predicta" letter padded upholstery;
Regular bucket seats and 'flat tray' upholstery in white, with tufts;
Expanded metal applied over upper door panels an on leading edge of the passenger compartment (curved around the radius of the opening);
Peak on "trunk" not uniform;
Four round headlights mounted, with frosted headlight covers, mounted with two chrome buttons;
Bubbletop is deeply incut at the rear, with external round hinges;
Airconditioning compressor mounted and plumbed. Outlet was on rear package tray, behind rear seats.

Second version (NHRA Drag shots) and Monogram Drop-Off version

Dodge Lancer hubcaps used (chrome reversed rims in the "first" version were borrowed from Bill Cushenbery;
Chrome wrap around front grille shell, with chrome 'bullets' mounted, replaced the copper plated tubular-surround front grille with white painted '59 Cadillac grille "bullets;"
Passenger door different color - was repainted after minor damage
Concave bubble top "splitter"
Three instruments mounted on inner driver's side wheel shroud
Radiator now mounted vertically with air management shroud
Fuel injection replaced with 4 carbs, covered by louvered shroud
Rear Grille panel is now chromed flat panel with separate chrome bubbles for ornamentation, with three red matching translucent lenses on each side;
Instrument pods and headrests now chrome-plated.

Third version (Restyled/Monogram Kit):

Bubbletop now fitted with new splitter that was not incut at the rear of the bubble
New thin/narrow bubble top ring created which now fits flush with the surrounding bodywork
Round tubing added at bottom of rocker panels, that connected flares at front and rear wheel wells
Trunk "reverse scoop" removed and peak straightened, and extended rearward a bit
Front grille shell is now rolled underneath
Wheel wells rounded and rolled into fin incut character line, front and rear
Frosted headlight covers now frosted around the shape of quad round headlights
Matching and rear grille bars fashioned from rectangular aluminum bar.
Taillight grille bars mounted on flat red plexiglass lens behind which taillight bulbs are mounted
New seats scratchbuilt and covered in white cloth material
Sculptured 'dash" created and covered in same materials as seat
Factory sill plates deleted and covered with same white material as used for carpets
Expanded metal coverings on leading edge of interior, and on doors, deleted
Chrome reversed rims with "thinner" white walls.
Small diameter tubing added at bottom of rocker panels, which shape integrated into the newly-flared wheel wells.

Fourth version (American Chopper version):

Super charger added to Hemi, hood cut out
Slotted aluminum wheels and wide tires mounted
Basic silver paint job over which American flag graphics added;

Fifth version (Post acquisition/restoration).

Car returned to dark blue candy;
Wheels progress from wide Cragar spoke mags to chrome reverse (with smooth cap) and thin white walls tires.
Fresh bubble top with no splitter.
The original custom hood was repaired by filling in the hole cut in the fourth version.
Article original:
http://www.thepredictaproject.org/Evolution/evolution.html

Predicta Kit
Starbird was the custom car consultant for Monogram starting in 1961. In 1964, Monogram exec Bob Reder contacted Starbird and offered the buy the Predicta and suggested that they car be freshened, and painted candy red, in anticipation of a kit that Monogram would issue (Monogram had previously offered models of Starbird's Big Deuce, Futurista, and had offered kits with Starbird custom design elements: the 1958 Thunderbird, the '40 Ford pickup, and the 1955 Chevy kit). Later, Monogram offered a model kit of Starbird's Ultra Truck (renamed the Orange Hauler when Monogram issued the kit). Starbird agreed and the rest is history. Here's a brief photo essay on the history of the kit - more info will be contained in the book

When a model kit is made, the vehicle is meticulously measured and then highly-skilled kit engineers (such as Monogram's legendary Roger Harney) create such drawings that the model makers use to make scale reproductions of the part (usually in 1/10 scale) after which the die makers transfer those dimensions and shapes to the two-part injection tools. Here is a tantilizing look at a few Predicta kit engineering drawings - many more will be presented in the Predicta book.


Many years ago, Roger Harney loaned me the original Monogram Predicta kit engineering documents. With permission, I copied the same and returned the originals to Mr. Harney to whom I extend my heartfelt appreciation. This drawing shows the body , the bubble top ring, and the Chrysler engine block. Drawing Copyright Monogram Models.


For ease of production and assembly, Monogram offered the hood only with a central snap-in hinge rather than the correct dual outboard hinges. Note the date on this drawing. Drawing Copyright Monogram Models.

Monogram created a wonderful kit in 1964 of Starbird's creation. Here is a sample of those kits:



This is the first kit version. This flat box was probably derived from the early "PC"-prefix vintage hot rod kits (1930 Ford coupe, 1930 Ford Phaeton, 1936 Ford Coupe/Phaeton, 1940 Ford Pickup, Yellow Jacket and others) and was ideally suited to the relatively flat body of the Predicta model. I am greatly pleased that Darryl Starbird autographed this box lid.  Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


In this box, two versions of the kit were issued: the very common solid red plastic version and this exceptionally rare pearl red plastic version that was quickly discontinued because of production problems in getting the metallic powder to distribute evenly. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


While there is no authoritative information available, this version was probably the first one and less than 1,000 of this version were issued before being withdrawn and discontinued. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

The far more common kit was this solid red version of the kit. Everyone enjoyed the incredible smooth and shiny plastic. Each kit came with the instruction sheet, decals, the then-current Monogram catalog and . . Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


Starbird's really cool "From cArbs to customiZing" booklet that featured a lively text by Darryl . . . This boolet is available here in its entirety. Beware, each page is over 100K... Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


. . . and six pages of photographs of his cars printed over the top of a glossary. Go here for a readable scan of the several pages of this remarkable brochure. As mentioned above, each page is large and may take some time to download. Photos: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives


By 1965, the kit was reboxed as part of an overall corporate design change. This first version of the new more 'square' box is very unusual presently. The photo on the cover was reputedly taken at the 1964 New York auto show. The color printing portrayed the car as having almost a candy cinnamon paint job which was certainly inaccurate. This version of the kit contains the solid red plastic model. the Starbird booklet was gone as was the Monogram catalog. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

By 1967, the box art was tweaked a bit. Essentially a section of the artwork from the 1965 version, the box art contained the white border design of the fresh Monogram design. The copyright on the box showed 1965 and 1967. There was no difference in the plastic of the model; as in the 1965 copyright kit, the Starbird booklet was gone as was the Monogram catalog. Again, only the shiny red plastic version was offered. After being on the market through 1968 or so, the kit was withdrawn from domestic production. The same original kit number - PC 150 - remained, and the kit price was $1.50 at this point - one cent more than the first (1964) version! Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

At about the same time as the issuance of the third version of the box art, the kit was apparently issued for distribution in New Zealand.  The kit had no lid, and opened from two end panels on the long side of the box, and was originally shrink wrapped. The side panel copyright notice - identical to the United States version except for the copyright notice - contained the interesting notation found in next photo caption. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

"Copyright 1965 & 1967 Monogram Models Inc. Morton Grove. All rights reserved. Made, printed and packed in New Zealand by E. Allan Brooker Ltd. Auckland" This text seems to suggest that the dies were shipped to New Zealand for production.  The box art portrayed the car in a much deeper cinnamon color - the image of the car continued to degrade. The instruction sheet, bearing the original 1964 copyright date, was a very poor reproduction. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.



The kit was not different from the domestic model though the plastic was in a slightly darker color and wasn't as shiny as the domestic kit, lending credence to the assumption that the dies were shipped to New Zealand. I am fortunate enough to have two of these impossibly rare kit. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.



After the New Zealand kit, the model went out of production for nearly 23 years. Then, in 1990, I received a great call from Monogram exec Ed Sexton who asked if I would like to assist with a reissue of the Predicta kit. I quickly and enthusiastically told him I love to help. In the process of working on the reissue, Ed sent me parts for roughly two Predicta kits shot in a milky, matte white plastic. I looked the stuff over and everything appeared to be in great shot -- the tool's trip back from New Zealand had been uneventful. These parts may be the most rare of all Predicta memorabilia. Photos: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


Ed also asked me if I would build the box art model - Wow! I called Darryl Starbird for the lacquer formula and then duplicated it on this model. This model now sits in Darryl's Rod & Custom Hall of Fame and sits in a case, next to the real car.  Monogram attempted to mimic the 'futuristic' box art of the second issue of the kit.  The model shown on the box cover is the model I built for Ed and Monogram.  Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives


In early 2000, good friend Ed Sexton called again and told me that Revell-Monogram LLC would be re-issuing the Predicta kit again as part of its "Monogram Classics" series. He asked if I could provide a color photo (I didn't have a suitable one, which was quite remarkable to me).  The box art essentially replicates the second box, though the color reproduction of the car is inaccurate by still being too cinnamon in tone (but better than any of the previous boxes!). Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


I had the great privilege of writing the text for the Collector Card as well as the introductory text for the instruction sheet. I will always be grateful to Ed for the privilege of helping out with the reissuance of this kit. Thanks, Ed! If you wish to review a readable scan of the instruction sheet and the insert card, go here. These files will take a few minutes to download. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.


Predicta Headquarters have acquired two very rare models from ebay auctions.  Check out this battery powered toy made in Hong Kong and acquired from a collector in the Netherlands:



The box is in remarkably good shape as is the model. Check out the cool box and the green helmeted driver with a steering wheel. This toy was apparently ripped off directly from the Monogram model - the measurements exactly match the kit! The bubble top does not rise, and the hood doesn't open. This kit came from a toy vendor in the Netherlands! No date is given anywhere.




This is one of the long sides of the box. Of interest is the distorted illustration of the car with the driver sitting on the right side!


This depicts the end of the box - the same image appears on both sides.



The red toy is battery operated. The long rectangular piece - placed near the center of the underneath of the model - slides forward and permits the placement of two AA batteries. The switch is the long metal lever at the rear of the model.



The bubble does not operate and the windsplit was clearly placed on the model after the interior details (dig the green helmet and the silly steering wheel!) have been added.


The yellow colored plastic is very bright and this toy has been used pretty hard (the tip of one fin is broken off). The interior matches the red battery-powered model.


A child (or an adult here at Predicta Headquarters!) just pushes the model across the floor to make use of the flywheel action. The underside of this model has been dragged on a hard surface at some place in the past. No box accompanied this model acquired from Australia! There is not date on the underside, or anywhere!



This comparison reveals that the two toys are virtually clones of one another, and match the dimensions of the kit. No assembly was required for either toy-- both toys were molded in the indicated colors -- no manufacturer painting. Roger Harney at Monogram tells me that I was the first to bring these rip off toys to the attention of the company.


In early 2004, a Monogram/Revell insider donated this white plastic test shot of the 2000 kit to Predicta Headquarters. The white plastic has a faint metallic or pearlescent hue, but was very reflective. The chrome was badly plated - obviously, the plating was being tested on the tree. Thanks, insider (we know who this person is).




In mid 2004, another person contacted Predicta Headquarters by e-mail, and offered this black test shot of the 2004 version of the kit. Check out the grey trees for the chrome and other parts. The black plastic had a mid-gloss finish. We never did find out who this person was, but all we had to do was to pay the shipping charges (a check was written to a company with which we were unacquainted). Thanks to this anonymous and generous person!

Bibliographie

"The Predicta has been covered in many magazines. Though only a very few of these magazine references included any photographs of the actual construction of the two major versions of the car, the book will include dozens of such photos and you can see some by visiting the photo essay.

Motor Trend	May	1960	p.29
Car Speed & Style	May	1960	p. 58 - show advert
Car Craft	July	1960	p. 12
Car Craft	August	1960	pgs. 34-39
Custom Rodder	August	1960	pgs. 11-13 (feature)
Custom Rodder	September	1960	pg. 21 (taiilights)
Customs Illustrated	November	1960	pg. 44
Custom Rodder	November	1960	p. 35
Custom Car Grilles (Spotlite)		1961	p. 56
Custom Rodder	January	1961	pg. 22
Car Craft	February	1961	p. 14
Car Craft	March	1961	p. 40
Custom Craft	May	1961	p. 16
Speed Mechanics	April	1962	p. 26
Custom Craft	February	1964	pgs. 10-11
Car Craft	May	1964	p. 62 (advert)
Rod and Custom Models	August	1964	p. 9
Hobby Industry Merchandiser	August	1964	p. 19
Car Model	November	1964	p. 18 (model)
Rod & Custom	February	1965	pgs. 44-45
Rod & Custom	May	1966	p. 63 (model)
Model Car Science	June	1970	pgs. 34-37
Model Car Science	July	1970	p. 36-38
Model Car Science	August	1970	p. 51-53
1001 Rod and Custom Ideas	January	1977	pgs. 20-22
Rod & Custom Show Annual		1978
Custom Rodder	July	1980	p. 40
Custom Cars		1982	p. 9
Custom Cars		1982	p. 11
Street Rodder	November	1989	p. 121
Rod & Custom	December	1989	p. 48
Model Car Journal	October	1990	pgs. 14-17
Hot Rod Mechanix	Sept/October	1991	pgs. 24-27, 70-72
Hot Rods & Customs of the Sixties (book)		1997	p.24
Custom Rodder	November	2001	p. 17

 

The Predicta was featured on the cover of both the August 1961 issue of Car Craft (where Starbird, on the right, was riding with CC editor Dick Day) and on the cover of the October 1990 issue of Model Car Journal where, under a pen name, I wrote an article on both the original model and the full-scale car. These are the only magazines on which the Predicta appeared on the cover."







Custom Rodder and other magazines also carried coverage on this remarkable custom car." 

" ... pour ceux qui se posaient la question ... " dis-tu ; bon ben voilà , moi je ne me la pose plus la question ! 

et puis c'est archi complet et détaillé , comme d'hab   merci

Le problème c'est que c'est archi en anglais et que pour moi, du coup, ça se complique...

Voici un texte en français, c'est moi qui l'avait écrit sur mon ancien blog il y a quelques temps de cela (désolé c'est assez court)

La Predicta est l'un des customs en toit à bulle les plus célèbre de l'histoire.
Darryl Starbird commence la construction de la Predicta en 1959, la base est une Thunderbird 1957 qu'il transforme complètement jusqu'à créer cette show car au design unique.
On peut noter entre autres: l'ajout d'ailes arrière de Buick 1959, des nouvelles face avant et arrière (Roll Pan) sans pare-chocs, sur la face avant se place 4 phares scandant une calandre réalisée de"balles" chromées, sur l'arrière nous trouvons un alignement de feux de Cadillac 1959. Ses calandres baroques seront rapidement remplacées par des barres chromées horizontales.

En 1960, Starbird présente la Predicta au Oakland Roadster Show ou elle remporte un succès phénoménal, elle apparait en couvertures de car Craft et Motor Life et devient à l'époque l'un des dix plus beau custom de 1960.

Ensuite elle devient célèbre dans le monde entier grâce à la maquette qu'en fera Monogram au 1/25 eme, qui est réédité régulièrement depuis.

Après avoir été massacrée dans une version psychédélique au milieu des 1970's, la Predicta est enfin restaurer à la fin des 1990's dans la version du début des années 1960's reproduite par le kit Monogram.  

La revue Street Rodder à mis en ligne sur le web un article sur La Predicta
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0907sr_darryl_starbirds_predicta/viewall.html

"Hey Titus, let's go pick up a T-bird,"were words that resonated in the brisk, late fall morning air in 1959, spoken by the man who'd just pulled up in a customized '59 Buick with open trailer in tow. That man being none other than the now legendary customizer/show promoter, Darryl Starbird. The place, Star Kustom Shop at 734 E. Mt. Vernon in Wichita, Kansas (still standing alongside the railroad tracks when last we checked).

The shop gopher, Jerry, quickly pulled down the doors and hopped in for the 30-some-mile trip with his 26-year-old boss and friend (friends for 50-plus years). What they found were the sad remains of a '56 Thunderbird in a shed that was literally falling down around it. Darryl just had to have it to fulfill his vision of the future. Forking over $800 (a lot of loot in 1959), the two cleaned out the rubble around the car and loaded it up for the haul back for its destiny. Yep, it was to become the Predicta, one of the great milestone custom cars of all time.

If the wrecked hulk that Darryl started with looked like it had been hit by a train, well, that's because it had. He obviously had his work cut out for him, but already having a '57 T-bird, Le Perle, under his belt, the plan was set in motion. Note that Le Perle had really put Starbird in the limelight, not only winning the 1959 NHRA National Sweepstakes Championship, but the Top Body Shop award as well. He had to get this new and vastly improved T-bird finished in record time so as to not break the momentum, which we're glad to say is still rollin' headlong into the future to this very day.

It was indeed an intense few short weeks to turn a totaled sporty car into the groundbreaking Predicta in time for the 1960 National Roadster Show in Oakland, California (February 19-28th). (Note that "Grand" wasn't added to the title until '62 and, even though held in Oakland, it never was officially the Oakland Roadster Show). The show was the goal, and they (Darryl and assistant Dave Stuckey) almost make it. Actually, they did, but I say "almost" because the bubble wasn't ready when it came time to load Predicta on the trailer for the long haul to California, and had to be shipped separately. If you look closely at the August '60 CAR CRAFT cover photo with Darryl and the magazine's editor, Dick Day, sitting in the car, you'll note that the bubble is merely sitting on the car, not attached. In another of the three cover shots, with Darryl alone in the cockpit, the bubble isn't seen at all, only the partial ring with hinges behind him. Complete or not, Predicta impressed the judges enough to bestow Darryl with Oakland's Sweepstakes of the Future Award.

The Bubble
A major part of turning that wrecked '56 `Bird into the Predicta was to reshape the perimeter of the cockpit to accept the footprint of a semi-double canopy. To do so, a steel ring was created which would serve both as a base, as well as provide hinge mounting locations.

Lustre Craft in Wichita was chosen to blow the bubble. Upon accepting the challenge, however, they had to build an oven large enough to accommodate a 6x8-ft. sheet of Plexiglas, as well as a rail system to move the plastic into and out of again once heated. In working the hot plastic, speed is of the essence, as it cools quickly. So, with the edges of the Plexi clamped to the rails, it's slid into the oven. When heated to just the right point of elasticity it is pulled out and clamped between the aforementioned plywood ring and a solid sheet on the bottom. Air nozzles then apply pressure through holes until the bubble is blown to its vertical form on either side of the profile shape. The first couple of tries got the plastic too hot, which caused it to pull away from the rails when pulled from the oven. Eventually they got it right.


The Mono Stick
Besides the bubble, one of Predicta`s other Car of the Future features was the absence of a conventional steering wheel; directional control being achieved by a centrally located stick, much like that found on some airplanes, which could be accessed from either side, as there were two sets of pedals on the floor. Very innovative for then or now, with a 100 percent wow! But "how th' heck do it work?" Well, after almost half-a-century of speculation, here's the skinny: Sometimes knowing what you want and achieving that goal are downright incompatible, but luck was on young Darryl's side.

It was off to the local boneyard to be an organ donor for Darryl's latest project. The early production '57 Chrysler had two major components he was after--a 392cid Hemi (with tranny) and a full-time power steering unit. The powertrain would be a straightforward swap but the steering? Chrysler engineers had made their new power steering integral with the column. Sometimes the most obvious solution to a problem is right before your eyes, you've just got to look at it from a different perspective. The simple and elegant answer was to lay the column under the floor, attached parallel to the frame, problem solved with a little tinkering to fit the column to the T-bird's steering box and the center stick, and with everything married together, it worked like a charm.

Note that it was only during the first few months of '57 production that Chrysler offered full-time power steering. They then switched to a more conventional power-assisted system using mostly the same components, but with different valving. This is something Darryl would find out the hard way later when he went to duplicate the system. He would go on to use this central stick steering concept on several more of his fantastic creations, including Futurista and Electra.



Read more: http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0907sr_darryl_starbirds_predicta/viewall.html#ixzz2f59G3NqZ

The Restoration
Ever since Darryl got his beloved Predicta back and reversed the changes made while in the hands of others, his goal was for a full and authentic restoration back to its 1963 Monogram model release form. When he opened his ever-expanding National Rod & Custom Car Hall Of Fame Museum in Afton, Oklahoma, Predicta became the centerpiece. But no one knew better than Darryl that it would need a little freshening up. The day finally came in 2006, just around six months before Darryl's 50th Anniversary Wichita Show early in '07, where she was to be the star attraction. She was as one of seven bubbletops featured in the show, four of which were Starbird creations.

Darryl dismantled Predicta down to the last nut and bolt, refurbishing, re-plating, or replacing everything, making her as good as the day Monogram Models had taken possession some four-and-a-half decades earlier. He even engineered and built his own rotisserie, where he could more easily work the body and frame to perfection before having son Rick spray it in a trademark Starbird Blue. As paint has changed significantly over the years, Darryl started with a House of Kolor Kandy Blue, which he lightened and finessed until the Predicta original shade of blue was ready to apply. If you're saying; "but, wasn't Monogram's model red?" You are correct, but it was only painted candy red as part of the Monogram deal. Blue it once was, blue it is again, and blue it ever shall be.

Getting close to his Wichita show's deadline, Darryl called on the car building talents of son-in-law, Tom Vogele, to lend a hand in what must have been the ultimate Monogram kit, a one-to-one Predicta. Tom, a hot rodding celebrity in his own right having cut his teeth building AMBR winners with the late Boyd Coddington, and later as editor of STREET RODDER, was more than willing to help Darryl. Putting all those painted and plated parts back together again turned into an intense month of 10-hour days.

Now, fully restored and on display at the Starbird Museum for this and future generations to enjoy and see, it illustrates how things were in an era when a young man with vision could put his dreams into steel (and plastic) to predict a bright and unlimited future, and Predicta stands as a benchmark of still-viable "what ifs."


Read more: http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0907sr_darryl_starbirds_predicta/viewall.html

Sur Kustorama un petit article avec de bons et rares documents photographiques:

The Predicta is a Bubble Top Show Car built by Darryl Starbird of Star Kustom Shop. The Predicta was built in 11 weeks. The Predicta was Darryl's first full-blown show car, and the car that established Darryl as a respected custom and show car builder. Dave Stuckey worked part time at Star Kustom Shop when the Predicta was built, and did a lot of welding, leading and filling on the car.


In 1960 the Predicta won Car of the Future at the National Roadster Show in Oakland, California. In 1960, Motor Life also picked the Predicta as the Top Custom of the year. The car was sent on a 17 weeks tour in 15 states, and the Predicta won major prizes everywhere it was exhibited.
http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Predicta

avec George Barris

Version des sixties avec des jantes plus grosses  


The Predicta at the 1960 Wichita Auto Capade. Photo by Dave Stuckey, On peut voir sur cette photo The Outlaw de Ed roth, et le Lil Coffin' de Dave Stuckey dans une de ses premières versions et l'Eclypse (au fond) de Ray Farhner.

A photo of Darryl Starbird's Predicta at an indoor car show. We believe this photo is taken at the 1960 National Roadster Show, where the car won the Car of the Future award. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.