Sometime after first version of the car (The Debutante) was finished, Mr.Walter sold it to a New Orleans hairdresser, Mr. J.P. Danos. With instructions to build a more radical vehicle, Starbird sectioned the car, treated the car to fresh front and rear treatments, and most dramatically fitted with a large bubble top. Note that there is plenty of head room, and that there is a strong horizontal chrome treatment on the side of the car. Named the Fantabula, this car's interior was dramatically styled with Darryl's revolutionary tiller steering, a chrome television for the rear bucketseated passengers (the TV appears to be a Philco unit -- perhaps the same unit installed in Darryl's Predicta. Notice the liberal use of smooth white vinyl and red frieze.  Look carefully at the third photo down in our photo essay: the bent in and upward rear lower quarter panel was damaged when Darryl was driving the car to the Indianapolis custom car show when the rear tire came off when being driven. Darryl purchased a new tire/wheel assembly and proceeded to the show where the car won a major award. Source: Mark S. Gustavson's interview with Darryl Starbird, transcript in Gustavson's possession. 

Here are some bibliographic references to this radical custom: Car Craft, January 1963, pgs. 2122; Car Craft, February 1963, pg. 29; Custom Chevies, Petersen Spotlite Book 1963, p. 37.

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

All photos by Darryl Starbird. Used with permission.