Darryl Starbird's Electra: Transformed into X-Cel and Lost Forever

Lost Masterpiece - The late 1950s and early 1960s were a time of bold experimentation in the world of custom cars. The post-war economic boom, combined with advancements in automotive design, led to a surge of creativity among custom builders. Influenced by jet-age aesthetics and space-age futurism, many sought to push the boundaries of what was possible with car modifications.

Darryl Starbird's fifth bubbletop custom was a 1958 Ford Thunderbird named "Electra," featured one of his largest bubbletops, extending over all four passengers and most of the trunk. (Picture from: Kustomrama on Facebook)

Darryl Starbird's 1958 Ford Thunderbird,
"Electra," featured on the cover of Rod &
Custom magazine. (Picture from: Patganahl)

One of the pioneers of this movement was Darryl Starbird, a visionary known for his groundbreaking use of bubbletops and radical styling. The Electra featured one of his largest bubbletops, extending over all four passengers and most of the trunk. Among his many creations, this custom 1958 Ford Thunderbird stood out, undergoing multiple transformations before meeting a tragic end.

The Electra was a masterpiece of its time, built with Starbird’s signature flair for the futuristic. It started as a 1958 Thunderbird but quickly became something far more exotic. The most striking feature was its double bubbletop roof, giving the car an almost spaceship-like appearance.

The Electra's front view was impressive, with a trimmed front bumper and rolled front pan enhancing its overall appeal. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

The Electra's original T-Bird grille was replaced with horizontal Buick-style bars, while Starbird shaved the bumper area, kept only the turn signals below, and coated everything in shimmering metallic blue for a seamless look. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

The original grille was removed and replaced with horizontal Buick-style bars, seamlessly blending into the body. Starbird also shaved the bumper area, leaving only the turn signals below, and coated everything in a shimmering metallic blue paint to unify the look. The car rode on wide whitewall tires and chrome reverse wheels, later swapped for slotted Supremes with three-prong knock-offs.

The Electra's most striking feature was its double bubbletop roof, giving the car an almost spaceship-like appearance. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

Inside, the Electra was just as radical. The seats were custom-built with a metal frame and featured white leather inserts, designed for both comfort and visual impact. The dashboard was equipped with specialized gauges and an electric steering wheel. Even the engine bay was dressed to impress, with the factory 352 big-block engine chromed and polished to perfection. Under the hood, an upholstery pad was installed, adding a touch of elegance even to areas typically overlooked in traditional builds.

The Electra's engine bay was meticulously refined, featuring a chromed and polished 352 big-block engine, while an upholstery pad under the hood added an unexpected touch of elegance. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

As time went on, Starbird continued to refine and modify the Electra, making significant changes to its overall design. The third iteration saw the bumpers molded into the body for a seamless appearance, while the headlights were repositioned into custom pods, giving the front end a more aggressive and streamlined look. The factory hood scoop was paneled over, and the rear was reworked with extended fins.

The Electra's interior evolved with four individual seats painted in pearl/candy blue to match the exterior, a high-mounted center console, and an innovative surround piece wrapping around both sides of the bubbletop. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

The interior evolved as well, featuring four individual seats painted in the same pearl/candy blue as the exterior. A high-mounted center console was added, along with an innovative surround piece that wrapped around both sides of the bubbletop. Starbird was meticulous about details, ensuring that every aspect of the car contributed to its futuristic aesthetic.

The Electra's rear taillight grille matched the front, but the horizontal grille between the bumper ends created a slight aesthetic dissonance, complemented by extended fins. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

Despite its many transformations, the Electra remained a standout example of custom car craftsmanship.

Transformation into X-Cel

However, the Electra journey took a dramatic turn when it changed ownership. The new owner sent the car to Dave Puhl for another round of modifications, resulting in a rebranding of the vehicle as the X-Cel. While some elements of the Electra remained, many of Starbird’s signature features were removed or altered beyond recognition.

As ownership changed, the new owner took the car to Dave Puhl, resulting in drastic modifications and a rebranding to X-Cel. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

One of the most significant changes was to the front end. The grille opening was widened, the turn signal and headlight pods were deleted, and the headlights were moved further back into the body, concealed behind a thin-ribbed panel. The hood scoop was entirely removed, and the horizontal grille design was revised, though the execution lacked the finesse of Starbird’s original work.

One of the most significant changes to the X-Cel was the front end, where the grille opening was widened, the turn signal and headlight pods were removed, and the headlights were recessed further into the body behind a thin-ribbed panel. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

The rear end also saw major alterations—while opening up the wheel wells improved the stance, removing the fins took away a defining characteristic of the car. The entire body was repainted in a dark pearl burnt cinnamon color, moving even further away from its original identity.

The rear end underwent major changes, with opened-up wheel wells improving the stance, but the removal of the fins stripping away a defining feature, while a repaint in dark pearl burnt cinnamon further distanced the car from its original identity. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

The X-Cel, despite its extensive modifications, never achieved the same level of recognition as the Electra. It briefly appeared in a car wax advertisement, showcasing its new red paint and modified design. However, after serving its purpose in marketing, the car was abandoned and left to deteriorate. Eventually, it was destroyed, reducing a once-legendary custom creation to nothing more than a forgotten relic.

After being renamed X-Cel, the car briefly appeared in car wax commercials, featuring a new red paint job and a modified design. (Picture from: CustomRodder)

Darryl Starbird himself lamented the fate of the Electra, estimating that it would take $200,000 to recreate the car from scratch. His frustration was understandable—what was once a shining example of custom car innovation had been reshaped, stripped of its defining characteristics, and ultimately discarded. 

The last known image of the X-Cel, as seen in car wax commercials, showcases its new red paint job and modified design. (Picture from: Patganahl)

The story of the Electra and its transformation into the X-Cel serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting the artistic vision of original builders. While modifications and evolution are natural in the world of custom cars, drastic changes can sometimes erase the very essence of a masterpiece. Apologies, as there is no available video of the cars being discussed, the following video instead showcases a series of famous bubbletop custom cars on display at the Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum. | J3MU_feF-aE |

Though the Electra no longer exists, its legacy lives on through photos, stories, and the influence it left on the custom car world. It remains a testament to the bold creativity of Darryl Starbird and a symbol of an era when car builders dared to dream beyond convention. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KUSTOMRAMA ON FACEBOOK | X61THUNDERBIRDBUBBLETOP | CUSTOMRODDER | PATGANAHL | BUBBLEMANIA.FR ]

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