 | Darryl Starbird
started the Star Kustom Shop at 734 E Mt. Vernon in Wichita, Kansas 1954 building and designing custom automobiles gained National recognition in many national automobile publications. In 1959 when he built the "Predicta" the first bubble topped custom creation. Which skyrocketed him to the top of his profession. Monogram Models Car Co. made the "Predicta" as well as 13 other Starbird custom creations into model cars and millions have been sold worldwide. Many are still marketed today by Monogram and Mattel.
Darryl also took another avenue in his career in 1957 started the Darryl Starbird National Exotic car shows. They toured and have been an annual event in over fifteen cities for 46 years including Wichita, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, San Francisco, Oakland etc.
In 1995 Starbird also opened the National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum located on Grand Lake near Tulsa, OK. At 55251 E Hiway 85A Afton, OK. It houses twenty-two of his original custom creations. Actually Darryl has designed and built over 300 custom cars in his nearly 50 year career. The museum, is also a Hall of Fame housing 22 custom built cars of other famous car designers.
Darryl's 46th annual Exotic car show will take place January 17,18,19 at Century II featuring over 400 custom built creations. Starbird will be showing his latest the "Donnabird" a XJS Jaguar Roadster which of course has been extensively restyled by Starbird. |
Things for the Car, Truck and Van
2003-01-01 11:22:00
Rod and Custom Show
: We try and make the Rod and Custom Show each year. What is its history and what can we look forward to seeing this year?
ANSWER: The Darryl Starbird Exotic Rod and Custom Car Show was first presented in 1957 at the old Forum Building in Wichita, located on main street where the Century II site is today. In fact, the Forum was torn down to build Century II. The Starbird show was one of the opening events of Century II new complex in the 70's. Today it is an annual event with the 46th annual coming up January 17,18,19. The complete complex is always packed full of nearly 400 exotic redesigned and restored vehicles. The entire exhibit area is utilized by this extravaganza. Live entertainment abounds on both stages at Exhibition and Convention Halls. One of the acts this year is a 50’s concert featuring the Platters and Box Tops. Another is Jillia... a teenage fiddlin sensation from Nashville. For even a broader demographic appeal, the show this year has ‘Spiderman’ who will sign autographs and talk to the kids. A regular feature of the show each year is the fashion show for the ladies and ‘men’. This year features the American Dream Calendar Girl contest presented by KRZZ radio. World famous designers always have several creations in the show. California Boyd Coddington's Boydster II will be on display. George Barris, Hollywood movie car designer and proclaimed "King of the Kustomizers" will be making a personal appearance. Darryl Starbird also known as a nationally prominent car builder and designer will debut his latest creation... The Donnabird’, a complete retro styled and designed XJS Jaguar Convertible. Last year over 40,000 people attended the show. It could be even bigger this year.
