User:JCushenbery92

Billy Leroy Cushenbery was born on March 22nd 1933. Bill Cushenbery was born in Wichita Kansas, and was twenty-five when his first child was born; Bill Cushenbery (56). He began carving and sanding balsa wood into model airplanes, and later began hobbies in welding, grinding, and reshaping of metal transforming to custom cars. His first business was known as "The Kansas Custom Shop" where he first began the art of metal forming.

Bill Cushenbery had several new and unique ideas and so the west began to call for him. This is when he relocated to Monterey California, where he started the famous "Cushenbery Customs" shop. Billy's first large project was the transformation of a 1940 Ford Coupe into what he called the "El Matador." The 1940 Ford Coupe was cut 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" from a section of the body enabling a lengther and lower body profile. On this model the spring eyes where reshaped with canted quad headlights. Bill Cushenbery also hand-crafted a grille shell completed with chrome mesh and aircraft tubing. The Ford Coupes rear fenders were "scooped" and the rear pan was rolled.

With the reward came many sweepstakes and "best of show" awards for Bill, and ultimetly established his name as a "top" name in the business of custimizing. Another Vehicle the Silhouette came from Bill Cushenberys pleasure in hand forming.His prized El Matador won a "people's choice" award at Harry Costa's show which aired in San Mateo California. Billy Leyroe Cushenbery died on December 12th 1998, may he be remembered throughout history and history to come. By Jesse Cushenbery, February 21st 2015