Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible - The Candy Wagon

1953 Oldsmobile restyled by Barris Kustoms for the brothers Bill and Bob Glazier of North Bend, Washington. Bill and Bob brought their Oldsmobile down to the Barris Lynwood shop in order to have them perform numerous modifications. Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

The old custom as it appeared when it was advertised for sale on Hemmings in June of 2024. Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

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Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

The old custom as it appeared in October of 2024, after Chip Foose had cleaned it up and mechanically restored it. Photo courtesy of Foose Design.

A photo of Chip Foose with the old custom from the Hemmings ad. In November of 2024, the Candy Wagon resurfaced for sale on Hemmings again. This time, the asking price was set to $500,000 USD. Click here to check out the Hemmings ad. Photo courtesy of Hemmings.

The Barris Kustom Gets Revealed! A piece of custom car history brought back to life—this 1953 Oldsmobile Convertible, restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1958 for Bill and Bob Glazier, emerges from 50 years in storage. Chip Foose preserves its vintage spirit, allowing the Glazier family to experience the thrill of driving their father’s iconic Barris custom once more. Watch as memories are rekindled, and a legendary custom hits the road again.

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Lost and Found - Barris Kustoms

1953 Oldsmobile Convertible restyled by Barris Kustoms for the brothers Bill and Bob Glazier of North Bend, Washington. John and Bill purchased the car from the Loveland Chevrolet Dealership in North Bend, Washington, on May 16, 1956. Originally a factory yellow Super 88, the brothers took the car to Barris Kustoms in California in 1958, where they collaborated with George Barris and Dean Jeffries to bring their creative vision to life. The car emerged from the Lynwood shop in a striking Candy Apple Red, complete with custom scallops and pinstriping, featuring numerous modifications that made it a standout wherever it went.

Starting at the front, Barris extended the fenders and installed a set of stacked quad headlights, repurposing a 1958 Ford truck’s quad-headlight assembly. By rotating it 90 degrees, Barris achieved a one-over-the-other configuration that set the car apart from its contemporaries. The fender modifications included shearing, splitting, and stretching to fit these Ford components, along with welding a sheet metal backing plate to support the headlight buckets, giving the Oldsmobile an unmistakable look.

At the rear, the car featured a continental kit with a molded gravel shield, and Barris extended the fenders by 20 inches to accommodate four 1956 Packard taillights—two on each side. These lights were creatively set into the fender from the inside, rather than bolted onto the outer part, and surrounded by a custom frame fabricated from a steel rod.

Despite the ambition behind the new paint job, the original factory enamel didn’t respond well to the Candy Apple Red lacquer, causing a wrinkle effect on the deck lid. To resolve this, Barris enlisted the talents of Dean Jeffries, who applied his artistic skills to create graphics that not only enhanced the car's aesthetics but also cleverly camouflaged these imperfections.

Additional customizations helped redefine the Oldsmobile's overall look. Up front, a narrowed 1954 Chevrolet grille bar, complemented by 1957 Ford side trim pieces, and 1957 Mercury skirts over the rear wheels completed the car’s one-of-a-kind design. The hood was shaved, and the engine bay lid received 96 louvers, arranged in four sets, adding both style and improved ventilation. Barris also lowered the car’s front end by shortening the coil springs, and lowering blocks were added at the rear to achieve an evenly dropped stance.

Inside, the Glaziers opted for a red-and-white Naugahyde interior to match the exterior color theme, creating a cohesive design throughout the car. With these enhancements, the Glazier brothers took to the streets in a custom creation that turned heads and set a standard for innovative design. John took the Olds to college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. After college, the car was parked in the family garage in the mid-1960s, where it sat until 2024, when John’s three sons, Craig, Brian, and Darren, decided it was time to see what should be done with the historic custom.

Advertised for Sale on Hemmings in 2024

In June of 2024, the old custom surfaced for sale on Hemmings. The sons of one of the brothers had inherited the car and decided to put it up for sale. With its distinctive custom features, the car remained a notable example of late 1950s automotive customization. It retained its original design elements, along with modifications that highlighted its unique history and craftsmanship. The car was listed without a price, and the seller wrote that he would consider all reasonable offers.

The response to the ad was overwhelming. Many people tried to purchase it, but Chip Foose beat them all. Without further ado, he contacted the owners and paid them a visit to have the car rescued and ready for its next adventure. Chip and Craig determined the best way to honor and preserve this piece of history would be to partner and have Chip clean up and preserve the car in its original Barris Kustom form with his expertise and then eventually sell the car to someone who would truly appreciate the unique piece of history that was preserved in the family garage for 50+ years. Chip spent the next few months going over the car and cleaning it up. In November of 2024 it resurfaced for sale on Hemmings again. This time, the asking price was set to $500,000 USD. Click here to check out the Hemmings ad.