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Starbird was the custom car consultant for Monogram starting in 1961. Initially, Darryl
offered custom restyling touches for a couple kits then in production, and continuing in the future for kits that replicated Starbird-built/constructed cars. After two very
successful years of work with Monogram, Monogram exec Bob Reder contacted Starbird in 1963 and offered the buy the Predicta and suggested that the car should be mildly
be restyled and freshened so that the pending model kit would match the car. To fit the times, Starbird restyled the car, and repainted the car candy red in which color Monogram molded the kit.
However, before and after the Monogram-triggered changes, Starbird has continued to
make refinements to the car. Here's a brief introduction of the many changes that Starbird made to the car:
The Predicta went through several major changes as Starbird refined his incredible
design and responded to Monogram's promotional edicts. Those major changes include the following details:
First version: Monterey, California show and parked in front of home:
- No splitter on bubbletop;
- Chrome reversed wheels (then Valiant hubcaps);
- Copper front tube grille, wrap around
- Front grille work consisted of painted '59 Cadillac-style taillights; Rear grille consists of
red and white painted '59 Cadillac-style taillights mounted on flat plywood panel;
- No base, then wide base, on bubble top;
- Matching style headrests and instrument pods, copper plated;
- No rolled front pan;
- Reverse scoop on back deck ("trunk").
- Radiator mounted at steep angle;
- Underhood "Predicta" letter padded upholstery;
- Regular bucket seats and 'flat tray' upholstery in white, with tufts;
- Expanded metal applied over upper door panels an on leading edge of the passenger
compartment (curved around the radius of the opening);
- Peak on "trunk" not uniform;
- Four round headlights mounted, with frosted headlight covers, mounted with two chrome buttons;
- Bubbletop is deeply incut at the rear, with external round hinges;
- Airconditioning compressor mounted and plumbed. Outlet was on rear package tray, behind rear seats.
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Second version (NHRA Drag shots) and Monogram Drop-Off version
- Dodge Lancer hubcaps used (chrome reversed rims in the "first" version were borrowed from Bill Cushenbery;
- Chrome wrap around front grille shell, with chrome 'bullets' mounted, replaced the
copper plated tubular-surround front grille with white painted '59 Cadillac grille "bullets;"
- Passenger door different color - was repainted after minor damage
- Concave bubble top "splitter"
- Three instruments mounted on inner driver's side wheel shroud
- Radiator now mounted vertically with air management shroud
- Fuel injection replaced with 4 carbs, covered by louvered shroud
- Rear Grille panel is now chromed flat panel with separate chrome bubbles for
ornamentation, with three red matching translucent lenses on each side;
- Instrument pods and headrests now chrome-plated.
Third version (Restyled/Monogram Kit):
- Bubbletop now fitted with new splitter that was not incut at the rear of the bubble
- New thin/narrow bubble top ring created which now fits flush with the surrounding bodywork
- Round tubing added at bottom of rocker panels, that connected flares at front and rear wheel wells
- Trunk "reverse scoop" removed and peak straightened, and extended rearward a bit
- Front grille shell is now rolled underneath
- Wheel wells rounded and rolled into fin incut character line, front and rear
- Frosted headlight covers now frosted around the shape of quad round headlights
- Matching and rear grille bars fashioned from rectangular aluminum bar.
- Taillight grille bars mounted on flat red plexiglass lens behind which taillight bulbs are mounted
- New seats scratchbuilt and covered in white cloth material
- Sculptured 'dash" created and covered in same materials as seat
- Factory sill plates deleted and covered with same white material as used for carpets
- Expanded metal coverings on leading edge of interior, and on doors, deleted
- Chrome reversed rims with "thinner" white walls.
- Small diameter tubing added at bottom of rocker panels, which shape integrated into the newly-flared wheel wells.
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Fourth version (American Chopper version):
- Super charger added to Hemi, hood cut out
- Slotted aluminum wheels and wide tires mounted
- Basic silver paint job over which American flag graphics added;
Fifth version (Post acquisition/restoration).
- Car returned to dark blue candy;
- Wheels progress from wide Cragar spoke mags to chrome reverse (with smooth cap) and thin white walls tires.
- Fresh bubble top with no splitter.
- The original custom hood was repaired by filling in the hole cut in the fourth version.
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