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History The Felonious Bill Cushenbery

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Ryan, Oct 9, 2024.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,053

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    The Felonious Bill Cushenbery

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
  2. texdesoto
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 138

    texdesoto
    Member

  3. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,363

    williebill
    Member

    Stared at pics of that car for hours when I was a kid...... Hours.... If I wasn't busy at work today, I could stare at it all day, again.
     
  4. Rolleiflex
    Joined: Oct 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,310

    Rolleiflex
    Member

    Such a great car. In my mind one of the few '40 Ford customs that works. I don't remember if it was Street Rodder or Rod&Custom that had the pictures of it after the fire. Truly a sad sight, but thankfully it was restored back to its former glory.

    Here's one of my favorite views the rear 3/4. Just beautiful.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,053

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    100% agree. And I'll take it further - It's one of the very few radical customs of the 1960's that works for me.
     
  6. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,215

    19Fordy
    Member

  7. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,776

    Fordors
    Member

    The “hook” in the title worked like a charm, you drew me in like a moth to a flame. As it turned out Bill never was a hooligan but regardless, the man sure knew how to sling lead!
     
  8. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,753

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    As much of a herculean effort that was put into bringing that car back after the fire, anyone who has seen the car recently knows that it is coming apart at the seams... sometimes "too far gone" means too far gone.... not that it isn't a (or wasn't) a great car but when a car is burnt that hard there are problems trying to restore it. believe me, I saw it just after Murphy redid it and it looked good and sold for 250 grand, A buddy of mine went to see it when it was recently advertised for sale for 75 grand and told me the bodywork was literally coming apart... pretty sad
     
  9. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,053

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Metal fatigue? Not long ago, I saw a Porsche 906 that was in a fire, got incredibly hot, and what it did to the aluminum was really interesting. It was warping, but in ways you wouldn't expect.... Almost like a wave through the metal.
     
  10. AChopped1950ford
    Joined: Sep 5, 2018
    Posts: 256

    AChopped1950ford
    Member

  11. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,781

    Squablow
    Member

    I kinda doubt any cop would have correctly ID'd that car as a '40 Ford if it was him doing the terrorizing.
     
  12. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,554

    RodStRace
    Member

    Yeah, @Squablow even though I knew Ryan wasn't actually connecting this car to the crime, that's where my mind went too. There is no way the call went out for a '40 Ford IF that was what they were chasing. It would have been described as 'some wild custom thing', not a Red '40 coupe.

    I too have spent untold hours staring at the photos. It's so far away from stock and has so many unique changes, but even after searching, there really isn't a line that jumps out as wrong or jarring.
     
  13. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,218

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Man when I walked into the kkoa salona show and saw that I about fell right over. Super cool
     
  14. hrm2k
    Joined: Oct 2, 2007
    Posts: 5,153

    hrm2k
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I can remember drooling over that car as a kid. Beautiful as it was… sad to see it go downhill
     
  15. Just possibly the best radical custom of its time. Interestingly though the man pictured with the car is Budd Anderson of AMT fame not Bill Cushenbery.

    Mick
     
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  16. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,753

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Yeah the heat changes the metal somehow, it is susceptible to cracking and not to mention all the hidden rust that you can’t get at to fix….
     
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  17. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,053

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Correct.
     
  18. junkman8888
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,059

    junkman8888
    Member

    Fire does terrible things to sheet-metal, I don't know of anyone that has been successful repairing a vehicle that has been seriously burned because the grain structure of the metal is changed, even if you can get it back into proper shape there always seems to be problems with rusting and paint adherence.
     
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  19. Always liked this car as it’s one of the few modified 40s that worked, but loved the 58 Impala Limelighter he built more. Although I’m a sucker for 58 Chevys.
     
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  20. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,753

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    when I saw the felonious Cushenbery title I first thought this was going to be about the Silhouette. I have nothing but rumor on this but the word on the street is it was reported stolen and insurance collected but in reality was buried underground.... too bad because it was a great car also. I have and restored the Cushenbery built Car Craft Dream Rod. While I will admit that I always thought the pictures of this car made it look kinda weird, But man when you see it in person it is a fucking cool son of a bitch 2009 Detroit Autorama 037.jpg dreamrod33.PNG dreamrodchassis.jpg dreamrodoutside2.jpeg
     
  21. 48stude
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 1,352

    48stude
    Member

    The first magazine I ever bought was Rod & Custom Nov 1961 . I was ten years old . I still have the magazine. El Matador still turns me on !!! Bill
    1_ee175ae5f8380bfa9a0f485b3c381a0f.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2024
  22. Busted Knuckles
    Joined: Dec 1, 2004
    Posts: 1,788

    Busted Knuckles
    Member

    This is one of many in my collection, painted by Mike Scott, The Striper. He and Murphy rebuilt it.
    20241009_162720.jpg
     
  23. noboD
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 8,640

    noboD
    Member

    The front axle beam is from VW Beetle. El Matador is cool shit, love the color.
     
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  24. Sharpone
    Joined: Jul 25, 2022
    Posts: 1,463

    Sharpone
    Member

    That is one sick automobile!
    Dan
     
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  25. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,753

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Yup, I removed it from a Bug in a junkyard. When I restored it the original chassis was gone so I had to find a Jowett Jupiter chassis and install a VW beam just as Cushenbery did when he built it
     
  26. 48stude
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 1,352

    48stude
    Member

  27. Busted Knuckles
    Joined: Dec 1, 2004
    Posts: 1,788

    Busted Knuckles
    Member

    I'd be interested in it if it's for sale
     
    Sharpone likes this.
  28. oneratfink57
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 785

    oneratfink57
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    That things is radical, love it! Thanks for sharing
     
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  29. 48stude
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 1,352

    48stude
    Member

    Thanks for the interest , but I read this at least once a year. Don't think I could part with it . Bill P1030070.JPG
     
  30. Jim Wood
    Joined: Jul 13, 2022
    Posts: 88

    Jim Wood

    not my style but way cool in the day. I do remember looking at the magazines as a young man and thinking how cool the car was in its day. The craftmanship was phenomenal. The white interior and the color.
     
    Sharpone likes this.

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