Ed Pogue's 1953 Ford Hardtop - The Glitra

1953 Ford Hardtop owned by Ed Pogue. Known as "The Glitra," the car was restyled by Darry Starbird at Star Kustom Shop. Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

A photo of the Glitra from Ed Pogue's personal collection. The rear of the car received finned and extended fenders that ended with butted 1960 Chrysler taillight lenses. A handmade bumper, similar to a 1960 Oldsmobile bumper, was made to fit the fins, along with a pan and a hand-formed license plate housing. Photo courtesy of Ed Pogue, provided by George Gordon.

Starbird reworked the front of Pogue's Ford, installing canted quad headlights, a rolled pan, and a 1958 Ford Thunderbird grille and bumper. A 3/8-inch steel rod was used to form the canted quad headlight assembly before it was skinned with 20-gauge sheet metal. The seams were then leaded and shaped. The hood was nosed during the operation, and it received rounded corners. Lucite plastic covered the headlights. Photo courtesy of Ed Pogue, provided by George Gordon.

The rear quarter panels received functional scoops with four ornamental teeth. It was dressed up with 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne side trim. Photo courtesy of Ed Pogue, provided by George Gordon.

Here are some original drawings of the Glitra that Darry Starbird did. Photo courtesy of Ed Pogue, provided by George Gordon.

Under the hood, it was hopped up, running three carburetors. Photo courtesy of Ed Pogue, provided by George Gordon.

A story about the Glitra from the book Darryl Starbird The Bubble Top King Custom Car Creations by Darryl Starbird and Brice Bledsoe.

The first page of the Glitra story from the Darryl Starbird The Bubble Top King Custom Car Creations book. Photo courtesy of Darry Starbird - Star Kustom Shop.

The second page of the Glitra story from the Darryl Starbird The Bubble Top King Custom Car Creations book. Photo courtesy of Darry Starbird - Star Kustom Shop.

The book Darryl Starbird The Bubble Top King Custom Car Creations by Darryl Starbird and Brice Bledsoe is a hardcover book published January 1, 2006. The book sold out a long time ago, but copies come up for sale on Amazon and eBay every now and then. Click here to check availability on Amazon.com, and here to check availability on eBay.com.

In October of 2022, Floyd J. Opfar told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his brother Jim Opfar of Derby, Kasas owned the car from 1962-1965. Jim bought the car from Ed, and it was still red when he bought it. After buying it, Roger Kilborn photographed the car for Rod & Custom Magazine. Named "Spectacular Transportation," the story appeared in Rod & Custom April 1963. Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

A photo of Jim with the Glitra from the Rod & Custom April 1963 story. In the photo, Jim points to the push button for the door solenoids that Starbird concealed in the fender scoop. Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

Inside, the Glitra received 1960 Ford Thunderbird bucket seats, a handmade center console, and a white Naugahyde custom upholstery with black rugs and white buttons. The stitching was done by Enid Upholstery in Enid, Oklahoma. A steering wheel from a 1960 Mercury was installed along with Stewart-Warner gauges. Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

The trunk was upholstered to match the interior. Photo by Roger Kilborn, courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine.

Lost and Found - Darryl Starbird - Star Kustom Shop

1953 Ford Hardtop owned by Ed Pogue. Known as "The Glitra," the car was restyled by Darryl Starbird at Star Kustom Shop.

Canted Quads and a Thunderbird Nose

Starbird reworked the front of Pogue's Ford, installing canted quad headlights, a rolled pan, and a 1958 Ford Thunderbird grille and bumper. A 3/8-inch steel rod was used to form the canted quad headlight assembly before it was skinned with 20-gauge sheet metal. The seams were then leaded and shaped. The hood was nosed during the operation, and it received rounded corners. Lucite plastic covered the headlights.

Finned

The rear of the car received finned and extended fenders that ended with butted 1960 Chrysler taillight lenses. A handmade bumper, similar to a 1960 Oldsmobile bumper, was made to fit the fins, along with a pan and a hand-formed license plate housing. The rear quarter panels received functional scoops with four ornamental teeth. It was dressed up with 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne side trim. The doors were shaved for handles and electrified. The push button for the door solenoids was concealed in the fender scoop. Inside, it received 1960 Ford Thunderbird bucket seats, a handmade center console, and a white Naugahyde custom upholstery with black rugs and white buttons.The trunk was upholstered to match the interior. The stitching was done by Enid Upholstery in Enid, Oklahoma. A steering wheel from a 1960 Mercury was installed along with Stewart-Warner gauges.

The Glitra

Once the bodywork was completed, the paint was done in Metalflake red, inspiring the name of the car: "The Glitra." It ran Metalflaked wheels that had been dressed up with spider caps and a little trim ring. The car was lowered 2-inches forward and 3-inches in the rear.

Sold to Jim Opfar

In October of 2022, Floyd J. Opfar told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his brother Jim Opfar of Derby, Kansas owned the car from 1962 to 1964. "Jim bought the car from Dave Johnson Auto, a used car dealer in Wichita." When he got it, it had been painted in Royal Blue Metalflake. After buying it, Roger Kilborn photographed the car for Rod & Custom Magazine featured story. Named "Spectacular Transportation," the story appeared in Rod & Custom April 1963. Car Craft Magazine published a story on the car in their June 1963 issue. When that story was made, it was still owned by Pogue.

Wrecked and Rebuilt by Stuckey

Unfortunately, Jim's wife wrecked the car early on in the ownership, so Jim took it to Dave Stuckey of Stuckey Kustoms to have it redone. Stuckey, who had just left Starbird to open his own shop, rebuilt the car and gave it a Metalflake blue paint job.

Where is it Now?

Jim couldn't afford to have the car anymore, so he ended up selling it in 1964. The family lost trace of the car after Jim sold it, and neither Jim nor Floyd has seen it since. Do you know what happened to the Glitra after Jim sold it? Please get in touch with Kustomrama at mail@kustomrama.com if you have any info to share on the old Kansas custom.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Rod & Custom April 1963
Car Craft June 1963