In the world of custom cars this vehicle is the unfinished “Picasso”, truly the rarest hand built bubbletop car on earth. In 1963 Bill Cushenbery embarked on a project that would span four decades, outlive Bill and the story continues. The vehicle was a hand built all-aluminum Corvair-powered bubble-top concept car. Bill was well into the construction of the vehicle when he was approached by a group of promoters to go into partnership with them. He needed the financial equipment, including the aluminum car to their facility in Burbank, California. A short-lived business deal sent Bill packing back to Monterey, California less the aluminum car. Bill had no financial means to buy his car back, so it was lost. The car was sold a number of times over the years and although Bill’s search went on for over 35 years he was never able to locate it. In a 1997 interview conducted by Jerry Weesner, editor for Custom Rodder magazine, Bill spoke at length regarding the mysterious aluminum car. Tragically, less then a year after the interview, Bill was struck with cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. Ironically, within a few months of Bill’s death, Carl Green and his son Rick discovered the car on a ranch outside San Diego, California. Almost totally hidden by tall weeds, the car had several small trees growing up thru the engine compartment, and a pack rats nest built high over the Corvair power plant. Actually, for more than 35 years of abuse, the car was still in pretty fair shape. Carl preformed a quick ‘refresh/restoration’ on the car and transported it to Darryl Starbird’s Rod and Custom Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma where it was put on display for the first time ever. The car needs completion/restoration. Current owner has all info on vehicle, including Cushenbery's blue prints, renderings, ect.
decades, outlive Bill and the story continues. The vehicle was a hand built all-aluminum Corvair-powered bubble-top concept car. Bill was well into the construction of the vehicle when he was approached by a group of promoters to go into partnership with them. He needed the financial equipment, including the aluminum car to their facility in Burbank, California. A short-lived business deal sent Bill packing back to Monterey, California less the aluminum car. Bill had no financial means to buy his car back, so it was lost. The car was sold a number of times over the years and although Bill’s search went on for over 35 years he was never able to locate it. In a 1997 interview conducted by Jerry Weesner, editor for Custom Rodder magazine, Bill spoke at length regarding the mysterious aluminum car. Tragically, less then a year after the interview, Bill was struck with cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. Ironically, within a few months of Bill’s death, Carl Green and his son Rick discovered the car on a ranch outside San Diego, California. Almost totally hidden by tall weeds, the car had several small trees growing up thru the engine compartment, and a pack rats nest built high over the Corvair power plant. Actually, for more than 35 years of abuse, the car was still in pretty fair shape. Carl preformed a quick ‘refresh/restoration’ on the car and transported it to Darryl Starbird’s Rod and Custom Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma where it was put on display for the first time ever. The car needs completion/restoration. Current owner has all info on vehicle, including Cushenbery's blue prints, renderings, ect.
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