As customizing was too-rapidly advancing toward the excesses in design and presentation that eventually put this part of the car hobby to bed for nearly twenty years, Bill Cushenbery built a remarkably restrained custom '58 Chevy for Frank Gould.  Stripped of the excess factory chrome moldings and treated to de minimus restyling that helped the original baroque factory design, this car (which came to be known as the Limelighter because of its multiple hues of green and green-gold paint) was a great success.

After disappearing for decades, noted custom car restorer Bud Millard (who just restored Cushenbery's Marquis) has acquired the car and is restoring it to its prior glory. 

Here are some rare photos of the construction of the Frank Gould 1958 Chevy Impala by Bill Cushenbery:

Note here how the lengendary Cushenbery has outlined the new shape with conduit. His work was incredible. Sadly, he died last year. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

With the shape outlined, Bill added sheet metal to fill in the gaps. Note the quality of the welding – and that was in the days before wire feed welders!  Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

The car has been primed here and, with the car in Cushebery's back yard, he has applied small bits of spot putty after which he's block sand the primed finish. The car was eventually painted a beautiful candy lime gold with darker green fogging. Photo: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

Here are a few historic and contemporary restoration shots of this great custom:

Bud reports the car was in only marginal condition when he acquired it. In the process of restoring this famous custom, Bud had the top chopped.

The front of the hood was very rusty prompting completely new sheetmetal in that area. Note the graceful wide grille shell with peaked corners, and the tunneled headlights.

The back of the car is much as it was originally.

In primer and awaiting further block sanding, the car was rolled into the sunlight for a good look.

The Cushenbery front end restyling certain does much to conceal the original factory design. 

The visual effect of the chopped top is evident here. In its original version, the top was factory height. 
Restoration photos by Gary Minor.

Below are photos of the completed custom at a recent show.

Below are a few shots of the Limelighter taken at a recent outdoor show.

If you're interested in how vintage magazines treated this car, go here...

Bibliography

1. Car Craft May 1964 p. 33
2. Car Craft June 1964 p. 28
3. Car Craft July 1964 pgs. 52-53, cover
4. Popular Customs Summer 1964 p. 11