For well over 50 years, Darryl Starbird has been an internationally-known Builder, Customizer, and, Innovator in the Rod & Custom Industry.
In this exclusive Interview, done at Darryl's Rod & Custom Hall Of Fame Museum, he discusses the challenges that ALL builders & customizers face when putting together these magnificent works of "Rolling Sculpture".
FACE IT: designing, building, wiring, painting, fabricating, engineering, upholstering...everyone in the Rod & Custom hobby/sport/industry encounters the same problems, although sometimes on different levels.
Challenges are nothing new for Darryl . He has done it all ! From his landmark "Predicta", in which he installed a hydraulic, single-stick steering system, to his recent restoration of the "Lil Coffin".
But, one of his true futuristic concept vehicles was a beautiful, chopped, sectioned, molded, '51 Merc entitled the "Crystal Ball" Merc.
Again looking ahead, Darryl based the platform of this dazzling beauty on a common, daily-driver, 1987 Chrysler LeBaron...complete with a standard LeBaron interior and running gear !!
(Top of Page: The "Crystal Ball" Merc on display at Darryl's 44th Annual Tulsa Show. Photo by Dakota Wentz)
(Above two photos: The "Crystal Ball" Merc on the show field at Darryl's Hall Of Fame Anniversary, 2007)
(Above: The one that started it all: the Bubble Top "Predicta" ! )
For more info on Darryl, and The National Rod & Custom Car Hall Of Fame/Museum, just go to Darryl's WebSite: http://www.darrylstarbird.com/index1.htm
