Customs Cushenbery project update

Well, we've been working on the SILHOUETTE II SPACE COUPE project for a couple of months now so we thought we would show you a few shots of the progress. This car has used most of the time so far in repair of old damage before new construction/restoration could begin. We are now finally at that point. Willie has wheeled most of the new aluminum panels that will now be installed. Curt Hamilton and I are building the steering wheel and retracting mechanism that moves the wheel down under the dash for intry/egress. we are also constructing the pedal extension mechanism to move the pedals back and forth for driver size difference. Lil John Englehardt came up last week to start engineering the interior. The Astro Plating chrome was delivered to California Corvairs in Corona where they have begun the ***embly of the front and rear crossmembers. The engine/drivetrain has been completed so when the frame is completed it will also be taken to them for the final ch***is ***embly.
We also have a few videos chasing Gene Winfield around at different events. (He's hard to keep up with!)
Hope you enjoy the photos and videos.


http://www.youtube.com/user/cushenberyproject

 

Great video and the project is looking good. Having owned the El Matador at one time, I am always interested in Bill Cushenbery's work and cars.
Great seeing Gene Winfield and Bob Millard in the Sema show video. I've never met Larivee Jr., but Millard is an old friend from Florida.

 

What did you start with? Have you any photos of what it looked like when you started the restoration?

 

Most old photos that we were able to recover are on the youtube site in the restoration video. Sorry, we have been so busy (14-16 hour days) on this project that we haven't dedicated enough time to explaining the story in photos. We'll try to do better. We are still gathering info from the past 45 years as well which will soon be on the site.

http://www.youtube.com/user/cushenberyproject

 

Thanks, it always amazes me how people can let works of art go to pot, so to speak. I can understand wearing out and parking something until later on and that day never coming. But, some of the great builds of all time? Or, some of the builds by the greatest builders? So, I am very interested in seeing what you started with.

 

Keep on rockin, guys.

 

FANTASTIC!!!!!!
**** I love this stuff! Ya really gotta love it to do that much work.
FRITZ

 

Nice Work. I'd like to see some "befores". Anybody got some to post?

 

I don't think there are any befores, as the car was never completed. I saw it sitting out behind Starbirds museum a few years back.

I would be curious as to where the Silhouette is. I heard rumors that it was being resotored, but nothing lately.

 

KOOL POST!! Thanks for the update!!

Carl Green is one of the reason why I'm into Kustoms and I love it that
he is still putting out some kool stuff. Years ago, Carl used to have a
shop in Dewey and I got to see a lot of kool stuff run through town. He
was working on my truck when the dream truck was in his shop.

Keep us posted with the progress.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Most all of the panels have been saved but practically every weld on the body has to be rewelded as they are fractured in so many places we are concerned that once the body is complete more cracks will appear. This car has been through a rough life. We built a new bonnet from scratch as Bill had not completed that as well as the rear deck. There is a lot of the car that was never finished plus the door mechanism and structure was all cut out and thrown away. The doors are the biggest challenge for us.
We have reconsidered the Detroit Show. There is no way we can give this car the time it deserves for the restoration and still make it to Detroit. I talked with Bob Larivee Jr. at SEMA last week and he said there will be a number of 60's customs there including your Car Craft Dream Rod. That will be a great representation of the era so we will probably forgo the show. I don't know when we will reschedule the unvailing of the car but I will keep you posted and I should see you in Detroit anyway.
I rebuilt all the metal work on the R&C Dream Truck in Bruce Gl*******'s driveway in 8 days. This one is taking months. It's a whole different ball game.

 

The few that we have are on the site. The car was never completed.


http://www.youtube.com/user/cushenberyproject

 

After finding the car I took it to Starbird's museum where i cleaned and straightened it as much as possible and put it on display in the museum. Shortly thereafter I came back and it had been put outside. Darryl said they needed the room for other cars. I had nowhere to go with it as I was doing contract work all over the U.S. so it sat there for 8 years.
The original Silhouette was stolen in Bakersfield in 1983 and was never recovered. I understand there was a very large insurance settlement on the car so I doubt that the car will ever turn up without a lot of questions.

 

Do you have any photos of any of the stuff I built when I was there? I built quite a few cars there and I don't have one photo.
There's quite a group of guys that gather every Friday night at Rod Baughman's gas station in B'ville. Tony Orr was out here a couple of weeks ago the see the Silhouette II progress. There's a great bunch of guys back there. Tell them all I said 'hi'.
Carl

 

Yea, me too!

 

WOW! They certainly didn't leave you much of anything to start with. It looks fantastic! Very sinister side profile.

 

I didn't take one picture when my truck was there. Wes Jones has some pictures.
He said that I could make copies of them. I'll go buy and see what he has. I
wish that I knew what was going on back then. I was only 17 and confused. Man, if
I only knew you would have never got rid of me......

My friend Travis Miller has your Pacer panel. He has the new motor in her and working
on getting it road ready for 2009 Stray Kat 500. Real kool that you've been gone
for a while and some of your stuff is still in town....

Good to see ya on board.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

The car is looking great.. I wish i had half your talent.. Mark

 

Kiwi Willie Newman is the talent behind the aluminum shaping. I have never built an alloy project so he's my lead man. I'm learning a lot about aluminum. I'm really glad to have him aboard on this project.

 

yeah... Well..... Anybody that could make a pacer "cool" is a bad *** in my book........ Mark

 

Heres a picture of the rear of the Sillhouette II..

 

two words, NICE ***!

 

heres a pic of the pacer when i was in high school late 80's

 

What a fantastic find. Can't wait to see it finished. Way to go Carl!

 

Man, this thing i just awesome, and what a project you guys are undertaking! My hats' off to you for such an effort!!

In regards to the original Silhouette, and I believe in someones post they said it disappeared in 1983, but I believe that was a typo and it's 63'. I heard froma VERY reliable source a few years back, that a supposed "clone" would be appearing soon, maybe at Detroit. In reality, it wasn't a clone but the real car. The rumor was the car wasn't actually stolen.....Yes, large insurance policy involved, money needed for new projects.....Just what I heard! I'm sure there's some kind of statute of limitations on **** like this....45 years.....I'd sure love to see that car again. It is without a doubt one of my favorite show cars.

 

This thing is soooo cool. I'd not even heard of it before. I'm actually a little surprised that more incredible fibergl*** cars were not made by customizers given that it is an easier undertaking than metal for most people. Still...a HUGE project but look at all of the fibergl*** kit cars of the era that never even got completed and that answers my question I suppose!

This thing just has great lines. It's got the Speedracer, Batmobile, Bonneville, Futuristic intergalactic space fighter look all rolled into one very cool package. You guys are cool. I can't wait to see more.

 

The car we are restoring, 'The Silhouette II Space Coupe' was lost in 1964, the original 'Silhouette' was stolen in 1983 according to a newspaper article I have from Bakersfield, California. I will post the article when I get a little time.

 

I have to apologize for misleading you all on the youtube site. The 'Cushenbery Story' with all the photos was inadvertantly removed but it will be replaced soon. So sorry about that. Thanks again to all of you for your support.
Carl