The '58 Chevy was widely regarded by both professional and amateur bodymen as one of the perfect starting points for custom cars because of the highly-sculptured factory styling. (See also the Limelighter)  Often, with just a bit of modest customizing, an enthusiast could create a striking mild custom as Andy Southard discovered. Other customizing efforts emphasized more aggressive bodywork. Two of the most risk-taking custom versions were constructed by Darryl Starbird.  Darryl first created the Debutante for Harvey Walther (once called the Bayou Beauty) who lived in New Orleans at the time. The Debutante was one of the early attempts to build a radical custom based on the '58 Chevy. The Debutante was later sold to a new owner, J.P.Danos and even more radically restyled by Starbird who named it the Fantabula. Mr.Walter's son-in-law has contacted the Custom Clinic and is working to set up an interview. When that interview takes place, we'll post the transcript here. Thanks to Mr. Walter and his son-in-law Peter Schultz.

The Debutante was built from a Biscayne two door sedan (rather than the more expensive Impala). Here's a brief run down on the custom work: Striking lowness came about by chopping the top three inches, lowering the spindles and chopping the coils coupled with a four-inch, Z'd frame. The fender fin was brought forward onto door. The wheels were reversed and chromed, with open wheel spiders. The hood was nosed and headlights frenched using '58 Merc rings. The grille cavity was created using 2" rectangular tubing with chromed square tubing in a floating style. Handmade nerf bars protected the molded, hand-formed rolled pan and license tag housing. If you would like to read more on this remarkable custom Chevy, check out this bibliography: Rod & Custom, December 1961, p.3; Speed & Custom, October 1962, pgs. 2627; Popular Customs, Fall 1965, and a new article just written by noted custom freelance writer Calvin Mauldin found in Rod & Custom, November 2002.

If you're interested in how vintage magazines treated the Debutante/Fantabula, go here

Photo by Darryl Starbird. Used with permission

Photo by Darryl Starbird. Used with permission

Soon, we'll upload the text of the articles and magazine covers that presented these remarkable cars to the public. Thanks to Darryl Starbird for his incredible talent and wonderful cars!

Photos of the Fantabula...