Purchased new in Bremerton Washington, then put through extensive customization from 1958 to 1960, it was introduced as the “Red Rage” and shown up and down the west coast winning awards and accolades everywhere it went. Every square in of this car is crammed full of Kool Parts. To begin with; these bedroom-eye slanted headlamps are actually Impala quads, canted at just the right angle to imply kittenish sensuality, coupled with an aggressive demeanor. The whole body has been SECTIONED down the middle. A four-inch high slice was taken horizontally out of the whole car, lowering it at the hood-line. Then both halves were led together, meticulously. All that was done before 1962, where the care was featured in the Seattle World’s fair. The latest owner, wanting a PERFECT Purple Passion, left it in a custom body shop for 6 months in 1998, getting a complete top-to-bottom restoration, making it much straighter and more solid. It aw then the color as changed from Red to Purple, and many other techno upgrades was installed. The trunk is proof no expense was spared in the execution of this Custom. It has a handy tool storage compartment, is fully carpeted, and a built-in 6 disk CD changer. The attention to detail evidenced through the car is phenomenal. All of the Interior, safe for most of the dash, is completely customized. The front power seats are out of a 96 Lincoln Mark 8, sectioned 4 inches, and fully reupholstered. The back seat, as well as the door, rood, and trunk paneling, is all one-off custom handmade. The sound system is by Kenwood and Features Earthquake speakers and an amp. More History: This 1956 Buick Century was originally customized in 1958 through 1960 in Bremerton, WA by Gil Clifford for Lore Sharp. It was shown at the Oakland and Portland Roadster shows in 1961, The Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, plus many other Northwest and Canadian shows where it won awards regularly including top honors, and voted one of the “10 Best Customs” for 1961 by Car Craft Magazine. Sometime during 1962 or 1963, the car was sent to Bill Cushenberry’s shop in Monterey, CA where the top was completely cut off so a bubble top could be installed. After sitting there for a while Gil Clifford retrieved the car and brought it back to Bremerton. In 1980 Paul Harper bought the Buick, after promising to put it back just as it was in the ’60s. He proceeded to restore it, and it was shown again at the Oakland and Portland Roaster shows in 1987, plus other shows up and down the west coast, This Buick proved to be just as successful at the shows in 1987 as it was back in the 60s. Lane and Darlene purchased the Buick in 1997 and reconditioned the running gear and added power steering, vintage air/heat, power windows, and remote door openers. The car spent 6 months of 1998 at Richardsons Custom Auto Body in Hoquiam, WA having extensive restoration work performed. They decided to change the color scheme from Red to purple, where it changed from being known as “Red Rage” to the “Purple Passion.” They did not change the body modifications, just made it more solid and straighter. A matching interior was designed and installed by Bob Jasper in Tacoma, WA. Bob’s son, Brad, took care of the new sound system. Now that the Buick was restored for the 3rd time. It continued to be a constant winner including winning “The Top Five Customs” awards in Paso Robles in 2000 and inducted into the Portland Roadster Show Hall of Fame in 2001. CAR SHOWS: -1960 Seattle Rod & Custom Exhibit -1960-1961 Quartermilers show Victoria BC -1961 Oakland Roadster Show -1961 Portland Roadster Show -1962 The Seattle World’s Fair -1987 Oakland Roadster Show -1987 Portland Roadster Show -1989 Tacoma Dome Show -2000 Paso Robles -2001 Portland Roadster Show (Hall of Fame) MAGAZINES: -1960 CAR CRAFT July -1961 CAR CRAFT Feb -1961 CAR CRAFT July -1962 CAR CRAFT Feb -1962 CUSTOM CARS Annual -CUSTOM CAR yearbook No 1 -1990 ROD & CUSTOM June -HOT RODS & CUSTOMS OF THE 1960’S Andy Southard Jr -Spotlight books Custom Headlights & Fenders -NORTHWEST Vintage Tin issue 11 CUSTOMIZERS: -Gil Clifford -Bill Cushenberry COLORS : -Candy apple red lacquer -Special Mix Deltron with a clear topcoat OWNERS: -Lore Sharp 1958-1965 -Gil Clifford 1965-1980 -Paul Harper 1980-1997 -Lane and Darlene 1997-2005 -Papa's Toys Car Collection 2005- Lori Sharp of the Handlers of Bremerton WA Had my friend Gil Clifford section his '56 Buick and do all the custom work in lead and topped with one of Gil' s Candy jobs ..The car was returned to Gill when he found it in terrible shape ...Paul Harper ended up with it and did a wonderful job of restoring it the photos with the Skylark wire wheels show the restored car ... Missing the top is pretty much how I first saw the car after Paul first bought it and hauled it back to his garage in Roslyn. The car had sat outside for years and was pretty sad. Last time I saw it it looked just like it does in Rickster's photo. Somewhere in the file cabinet I have the program with a photo of it in the Seattle Show in the early 60's just after it was sectioned. The Red Rage .sectioned '56 Buick all done in lead ......My snapshots at original builder Gill Cliffords home after Cushenbury removed the top which got stolen from the alley behind Bills shop .. the kid told me his dad threw it in the dump .. Paul Harper replaced it during a complete rebuild .....When Gill retired I got all his lead tools ... Right you are Rod ,.. Gill was trying to work out some issues with the owner Lori concerning past bills and was finally able to acquire the car, but by then Gills health was slipping & he passed the car to Paul Harper who did an amazing rebuild ... I got gills lead tools when he retired, wonderful man, skilled craftsman ..Craftsperson ? Oh hell ...
I was all excited when I saw the 80's restoration, it looked pretty good and relatively true to the original. Looks like someone bought it after that and then added an interior fit for a 1997 Bayliner boat, a 70's tilt column (gotta have that of course) a different wrong paint color and some other tacky add-ons. It could be fixed, but the "updates" are really a shame, especially considering it had already been restored to a very period-appropriate version.
true, I never understand the thinking behind taking a historic car and doing anything but a faithful to it's heyday restoration..... it is a waste of time and money, not to mention it is like tearing pages out of the history books and burning them.....
I remember seeing it at shows in the late 80s early 90s around Washington. It really looked great. I may even have a picture of it. Sad to see what they did to it. @Austinrod I'm sure if you're able to get it you'll rectify that.
The interior, A/C, alternator, radiator hose, and air cleaners tell the tale. Someone was just dying for a '90s street machine and they got it. I don't mind the purple color. At least the car is still in great shape. If you get it, I know you'll fix it all as it should be.
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