Mitch Nagao's 1957 Ford

The Xtura was another early Barris Kustom build that featured canted quad headlights. It landed the cover of Custom Cars May 1959, featuring canted 1958 Lincoln headlights, Lucas lamps, and a Dean Jeffries scallop paint job. Gone were also the bumpers. A modification often associated with canted quads. Photo from The Glen and Forey Wall Collection.

Photo by George Barris

Photo by George Barris

Photo by George Barris

Mitch's Thunderbird at Wall Custom Cars, a used custom car dealership in South Gate, California. Photo courtesy of Forey Wall.

1957 Ford Thunderbird restyled by Barris Kustoms for Mitch Nagao. The car was nosed, decked and shaved for handles. The rear end was reworked, shaping a whole new grille cavity made from 1953 Studebaker grille shells which housed a 1955 Chevrolet Pickup grille. The rear grille shell was filled with perforated metal, ornamented with plastic dowels of 1/2 inch diameter. The license plate was located in the center of the grille. A pair of 1950 Studebaker bumper guards were located in the corners of the custom made cavity, these were quad mounted and fit with lucite plastic strips obsecuring the seams. The rear fenders were reshaoed to fit a set of 1958 Edsel station wagon taillights which were reversed. The front end was reworked and quad qanted headlights were installed with Lucas units. Finally the car was fit with dual spotlights and side stacks.

In January of 1959 Mitch's Thunderbird was shown at the 4th annual San Mateo Custom, Rod & Sports Car Show.

Magazine Features

Custom Cars May 1959
Customs Illustrated September 1959
Custom Cars January 1960