Frankenstude: A Spotlight on a Unique Custom Car

In 1990, Thom Taylor sketched a bulletnose Studebaker concept named Frankenstude, a playful nod to Larry Erickson's CadZZilla™. "I championed the bulletnose Studebaker because it was the most unconventional and absurd car," Thom explained. "I aimed to see it executed with the same radical and serious approach as CadZZilla™."

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Thom presented his design to his friend, renowned rod builder Boyd Coddington, who declined the project. Later, Thom discussed it with Greg Fleury, a race car and rod constructor based in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Fleury pitched the idea to Steve Anderson, a Minneapolis fine art printer seeking to commission a groundbreaking car, and an agreement was reached. Thom's designs were published, and the project kicked off.

Greg single-handedly crafted the body, starting with a 1948 Starlight coupe. He incorporated a '51 nose and hood, '50 front fenders, and '47 rear fenders. Each panel was meticulously shaped to align with Thom's vision, with door skins, doorjambs, roof, and rocker panels custom-made from scratch. The bare-steel body was unveiled in 1992, but finishing the car took nearly five more years.

Numerous engineering challenges caused significant delays. Greg welded the nose into a flip-front-end mechanism, enabling it to rise, move forward, and tilt open at the push of a button. For the scissor-style doors, he engineered them to first swing outward and then pivot vertically.

Additional body features included Harley-Davidson mirrors, custom taillights, and bespoke glass. Town & Country Glass modified a Pontiac Grand Am windshield to fit and crafted door glass from Ford van windshields.

Thom's vision required the Starlight coupe's iconic four-piece wraparound rear window to tilt forward. Glass Pro of Santa Fe Springs, California, custom-produced the glass in two sections. A brass bulletnose was cast to echo the '50s design, but it featured "Frankenstude" lettering instead of the original "Studebaker" insignia.

While Frankenstude showcased the bold bodywork of a custom car, it was equipped with the engine and chassis of a high-performance hot rod. Greg constructed a race-inspired 115-inch-wheelbase tube chassis from scratch, incorporating a built-in roll cage.

Greg engineered the tube frame to also function as the exhaust system, fitting it with a Chevrolet L-98 V-8 crate engine. Cotrell Racing Engines in Chaska, Minnesota, enhanced the tuned-port-injected 350-cid engine to deliver 400 horsepower. Greg paired it with a GM 700R4 automatic transmission, along with custom-fabricated headers, exhaust pipes, and a driveshaft.

Thom's vision included all-wheel drive, which Greg achieved by integrating a GMC Syclone all-wheel-drive center section at the front, an early Corvette center section at the rear, and a GM all-wheel-drive transfer case. The car also featured four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes.

For the interior, Greg handcrafted the dashboard, which Bobby Griffey upholstered in bone-colored leather, matching the seats. Keith Nybo handled the door panels, headliner, and carpeting. The cabin was finished with Vintage Air air conditioning, Classic Instruments gauges, and a custom Boyds steering wheel mounted on an ididit steering column.

The finishing touches included a unique House of Kolor Frankenstude Purple paint job by Rand Bailey and a set of 17-inch billet wheels custom-designed by Boyd Coddington. After six-and-a-half years of development, several scale models were released before the full-sized car was completed.

The completed Frankenstude premiered at an exhibition hosted by the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its innovative design, intricate engineering, and impressive performance capabilities quickly made it a favorite among car enthusiasts. Like CadZZilla™, Frankenstude played a pivotal role in inspiring a new generation of custom cars that reimagined the aesthetics of 1950s automobiles.

Steve Anderson owned the car until 2000, when he sold it to Steve and Mary Barton from Las Vegas. The Bartons upgraded the rear suspension with an air suspension system from Air Ride Technologies. Steve described their decision to purchase the car, stating, "We were drawn to it because it's an extraordinary custom with flawless design."

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