Darryl Starbird's Predicta

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Darryl Starbird and Gene Howard with the Predicta. Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Built by Aliens! A photo of the Predicta taken at an indoor car show in the 1960s. Lenny Macchiarella attended the 1960 National Roadster Show when the spectacular build made its debut. He was there with his brother Phil, who had his 1950 Plymouth custom on display three rows over. In 2020 Lenny told Sondre Kvipt that they thought the Predicta was built by Aliens! Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.
15 states on 17 weeks. After the 1960 National Roadster Show, the Predicta was sent on a tour. It won major prizes everywhere it was exhibited, establishing Darryl Starbird as a respected custom and show car builder. Darryl and his companion Jerry Titus, toured caravan style with Ed Roth and the Outlaw that year. Starbird and Titus were pulling the Predicta with Darryl's 1959 Buick, while Ed was pulling the Outlaw with a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.
Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.
"I suffer from severe nightmares." That's what Darryl Starbird jokingly told Popular Customs magazine when they asked him where he got the ideas for his wild creations. Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.
Photo courtesy of Museum of American Speed.
Photo from the Dick "Fuzzy" Fuerholzer Collection.
Bubble Tops - Show Rods From Outer Space - T-Shirt Available in Many Colors - Order Yours HERE.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
The Predicta at the 1960 Wichita Auto Capade. Photo by Dave Stuckey, provided by Carnut.com[1]
The Predicta at an indoor car show in Tulsa in the early 1960s. [2]
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
A photo of the Predicta at an indoor car show. Photo from the Kustomrama Photo Collection.
George Barris next to the Predicta. Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
Photo provided by Richard Fuerholze.
A photo of the red iteration of the Predicta taken at an indoor car show. This photo was advertised for sale on eBay in August of 2021. Click here to check out the auction listing.
Photo from the Dick "Fuzzy" Fuerholzer Collection.
Photo from the Dick "Fuzzy" Fuerholzer Collection.
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The Predicta at Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame in 2009. Photo by Les Stockton[3]
Photo by Les Stockton
Photo by Les Stockton
The Predicta at the 53rd annual Darryl Starbird's Exotic Car Show Wichita in 2010[4]
Darryl-starbird-predicta-3.jpg
Darryl-starbird-predicta-4.jpg

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.


A Space Ship Lands at Sandy's Burger in Wichita

One Friday after school at East High in Wichita, Rob Morton recalled that Starbird pulled into the Sandys burger joint across the street in the freshly completed Predicta. "All the kids were completely blown away. He slowly drove through the parking lot and left. We didn't know what we were seeing but thought the car was from outer space," Rob told Kustomrama in 2024.[5]


Car of the Future

In 1960 the Predicta won Car of the Future at the National Roadster Show in Oakland, California. Lenny Macchiarella attended the show with his brother Phil. Phil had his 1950 Plymouth on display three rows over, and in 2020 Lenny told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that they thought the Predicta was built by Aliens![6] 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.


Magazine Features

Speed Mechanics April 1962
Car Craft November 1962
Car Kulture Deluxe 32


References

  1. ↑ Carnut.com - Dave Stuckey Pics Page
  2. ↑ The HAMB - Vintage Hot Rod Shows....picture thread
  3. ↑ Les Stockton - 2009.07.08 - Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame - Set on Flickr
  4. ↑ Flickr - Darryl Starbirds Custom Car Show. Jan 2010
  5. ↑ Rob Morton
  6. ↑ Lenny Macchiarella
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