car tv & movie by BARRIS KUSTOM

"BLACK BEAUTY" FROM THE GREEN HORNET



   Originally a 1966 Chrysler Imperial rebuilt by Hollywood customizer Dean Jeffries at a reported cost of $50,000. Some of Black Beauty’s equipment includes a special exhaust device that spreads ice over the road, and brushes behind the rear wheels which, when lowered, sweep away tire tracks. For personal equipment, the Green Hornet uses a special nonlethal gas gun and a sting gun able to penetrate steel.
  The Beauty was sent to George for some final touches. A verticle grill was formed with a repeative gun inset concealed into the center. Flap headlights were used to confuse the oncoming villains. A multiple gas nozel was built into the lower rolled pan and has an electric trap door. The rear section has a center deck trap door through which protrudes rockets to shoot at following villains. The top has been extended 10" housing a bullet proof simulated glass with slots for armed warfare and a bullet proof steel plating surrounding the Green Hornet and Kato. Rear wheel shields cover the special Formula tires and Crager styled wheels. STP lubricant is used throughout the vehicle for the super servicing needed for the powerful 500 H.P. engine. The "Black Beauty" holds true to it’s name with 30 coats of metal flake pure black green pearl of essence lacquer, hand rubbed to a high brilliant gloss.

TV’s ORIGINAL BATMOBILE




Designed exclusively for the hit 1966 "Batman" TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward. This automotive wonder was styled and engineered with the many different special effects innovations by Barris Kustom Industries. Originally it started off as a $250,000 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car. With a deadline of 3 weeks this Lincoln was transformed into the world’s most famous car.
Weight is 5500 pounds and it has completely hand formed steel body. Wheel base is 129 inches; overall length is 206 inches and the top height is 48 inches. Powered by a 429 Ford Full Race engine, Moon equipped, NitroOxide Thrust Front end design characteristic is the face of a bat with the hood scoop extending down into the frontal area accentuating the nose. Right and left eyes extend into the ears with dual 450 watt laser beams installed in amber reflective lenses. Hood scoop follows the front area with a hydraulically operated steel chain and cable cutter blade.
Hidden behind the ears are functional headlights for normal street driving. The grille cavity is the mouth of the bat with the internal mounted rockets. Dual 84 inch rear bat fins are in line with bullet proof steel as added protection for Batman and Robin. Operable red reflective taillights are mounted in the rear of the bat fins. Four 6 inch flared eyebrow bullet proof wheels wells are formed and used as tire protectors. Ten inch wide Rader wheels made of steel and power thrust alloy use traction grip Oval Firestone tires. The rear upper panel has triple rocket tubes and are on an automatic theft control system with shooting colored fire rockets. 360 degree turning is made possible by pulling the emergency bat turn lever that releases and billows the bat impression twin parachutes on a 25 foot nylon cord. Turbine exhaust finned air cooling rear tube is mounted on the V cavity rear grille section with both parachutes installed on each side. Twin aircraft streamlined plexi-glass bubble windshields and top section are made bullet proof and matching in design.
The center safety roll bar arch is made of alloy steel and equipped with operable flashing lights, right and left trouble shooters and miscellaneous warning lights, and then attached to the double bubble top. Twin body contoured air foam bucket seats are formed into the cab compartment of Scottish grain black naugahyde in horseshoe designs, pleats and rolls, black nylon shoulder body and safety belts are fitted for Batman and Robin. The center consul incorporates the power accelerator T arm and the Batman fire extinguisher. Steering wheel incorporates right and left turn indicator buttons made in half aircraft design with all the dials, gauges and speedo installed in center hub.
The dash is equipped with many different Batman innovations such as the Batscope that is hooked up with a revolving closed circuit antenna to bring the Batman full vision plus the Bateye switch for anti-theft control, the antenna is for an information radio wave pickup of messages and computering from the Batcave with an electronic unit installed in trunk. A Detect-a-scope is used to determine the area in which Batman or Robin are in, also the Batray reactors and laser beam button controls, plus many flashing warning lights and directional electronic systems.
Attached to the anti-fire theft control systems are swivel 5-way nozzles that eliminate any fire throughout the vehicle. Ad double cable control exhaust cutout system are used for sound volume. To finish off this different one of a kind vehicle are 40 coats of super gloss black and then is trimmed in an outline of fluorescent cerise.

"FRANK MONTELEONE’S ’56 FORD"



Used in the movie "Hot Car Girl", this vehicle was a simple 1956 custom convertible painted in bronze and gold with a Barris Continental spare, Barris exhaust system which came through the bumper and full lengh 1957 Mercury skirts.

"RAT U LA"



Wood grain paint by Ron Williamson. Transmission by Tranny John Saltsman, Rialto, CA.
Brakes by T-C-I (Total Cost Invovled), Ontario, CA

BEVERLY HILLBILLIES HOT ROD



This version of the Beverly Hillbillies Jalopy was built for the character, Jethro, played by Max Baer. Max decided Jethro needed a automobile that had more style and speed than the old jalopy, and that could compete with the Clampetts. So the producer, Paul Hennning called on George who worked on the original 1921 Olds Roadster.
After convincing a classic car collector to sell his 1921 Olds Roadster, the car was hauled to the Barris shop and construction began. The complete body was removed and the chassis modified to accept the '69 Oldsmobile 442 engine, automatic transmission, and rear axle. Brakes were brought up to date in order to handle the added weight and power. Cragar chrome mag wheels were installed and Firestone Indy Super Sport tires mounted. Specially tuned dual exhaust was hand built to engine specifications adding to the total power output. The body was reworked to bring the car up to the high standard of the Barris metal finishers. The fenders were bobbed in front and rear, and supercharger relief pipes fitted from the hood side to the inside of each front fender. High rise injector tubes were installed in the top of the hood, and chrome nerf bars fitted to the frame horns acting as front bumpers. Once the body was completed, a finish coat of Fire Red Metalflake paint was applied with accent yellow racing stripes running along the rocker panel. The pick-up bed was hand built in wood to simulate a spoiler type platform with tow parachutes mounted at the rear for emergency stopping. Four bucket seats were hand built and fitted with head rests, and trimmed in matching yellow using black as an accent color, stitching the vinyl in a crisscross pattern. Two of the seats were installed replacing the old bench seat formerly used in this vintage roadster, while the other two were positioned just behind the driver passenger compartment on top of the specially finished wood spoiler platform, much like the old park bench mounted on the original pickup truck used on the series. The huge roll bars were hand built, chromed and mounted over each pair of seats. Just to add a touch of the old, a brass still type horn was mounted aside the cowl within the driver's reach. MPC model company made both roadsters avail as a model kit.

ALVIN’S ACORN SAFETY CAR



Alvin Acorn’s Safety Car (Alvin the Chipmunk). Styled for Ross Bagdasarian’s famous cartoon character, Alvin the Chipmunk and his friends. This is the first vehicle to be adapted to a cartoon character. The primary purpose was to impress the importance of safety to the young, potential drivers.
From the many design renderings and engineered drawings, this car has been created with many different innovations such as: four inch hand built chassis of oval frame construction, unitized on each end with U-bends and heli-arc welds. A 289 cu. in. LED (Lowest Exposure to Danger) Ford engine which will tilt and absorb impact shock by hinging on he center transmission mount, was installed with multiple carburetors covered by a unique spun aluminum flared intake air cleaner, while the fuel supply is generated by Dual Dupree Electric Chrome Dome fuel pumps; the engine is coupled to a dash control lever automatic transmission, which carries the power to the rear wheels through the Ford Mustang rear end. The rear end is complete with fore and aft spring mountings, safety stabilizer bars and functional road coil-air shock levelers. For added handling safety the front undercarriage is equipped with air frame coils and adjustable torsion bars. The radiator is installed horizontally with dual electric fans to assist cooling at slow speed driving. Looped roll bars are mounted directly to the frame with fore and aft adapter bars, fully chrome plated, and acting as the frame for the front and rear dome. The single rear rumble seat, which is used by David Seville, who is the human companion of the Chipmunks and Alvin's back seat driver, is also housed by a complete chrome roll bar. The passenger-driver compartment is covered with fore and aft bubble windshield and rear glass, while the doors slide on ball bearing rollers between the center roll bars, moving up in gull wing fashion to provide easy entry and exit. Mounted directly between the upper roll bars is a closed circuit wide angle TV camera that is used as a rear view projector, viewed through the monitor installed on the dash panel. This eliminates the need of a rear view mirror, and provides for better observation to the rear and less distraction f rom driving. The wheels are of lightweight one piece alloy incorporating Airheart disc brakes with dual master cylinders front and rear. In addition the "Acorn" has been outfitted with a Dietz parachute for assistance in braking at high speeds, conserving dangerous eradical wear to the brakes. Unique hydraulic bumpers are telescopic upon impact, absorbing the shock and eliminating a portion of the danger in the event of a slow speed accident. Upon impact force they cushion in then release hydraulically. The steering wheel is collapsible and the steering column energy absorbing upon impact, reducing the chance of chest or facial injury should a collision occur. The entire under carriage is triple chrome (blue⁄white) plated as are the array of roll bars.
Quad individual tire form fenders mad of aluminum house unique lighting systems. General Electric sequential directional lights are located on the ends of each fender. A complete attached road-warning system is mounted on each side of the body panels. This system is completely in association with the driver’s intention, ie: the red is for taillight, blue for deceleration, green for acceleration, yellow for slight braking and changing to bright red for full stop.
For the exterior finish, the exposed frame is painted Acorn Amber metalflake in 40 coats of acrylic; while the Acorn center section is done in the matching Acorn Amber. The front and rear of the body has been finished in Chipmunk Yellow pure pearl of essence imported from Sweden. The center section is trimmed at the belt line with Acorn Gold fringe foam Masland Duran, coordinating the interior with same. Rock scatter shields are mounted on the ends of each fender and covered with matching vinyl, and the major portion of each is finished in Snowflake metalflake pearl, which includes multi-colors of white pastel blues and yellows.
The overall value of Alvin’s Acorn was $30,000 back in the late 60’s when it was built. But there was a toy model available for all the fans.

"THE CAR"



Designed for the movie "The Car" starring James Brolin. Made from a 1971 Lincoln. Fenders were 20 gauge steel shaped over the original body. The grill was hand made from square steel tubing. Four bumpers made from heavy 18 gauge steel. Seven inch single headlights sunk behind the grill and fender. Body was raised to upper doorline. Four radius wheel wells around a six inch reverse deep chrome wheels and Goodrich tires.


Top was chopped 4 inches with all black transparent windows. Full body roll bars installed over and around stunt driver. A steel tube canon was installed on passenger side which had a telephone pole inside and steel cap which housed dynamite and black powder. When the stunt man rolled the car he would trigger the tube telephone pole by igniting the dynamite which drove the pole into the ground and roll the car 5 times. Finished with 20 coats of black pearl lacquer. A total of four were made.

THE ZZR FROM "OUT OF SIGHT"



ZZR Made for the 60’s movie classic "Out of Sight"", a teenage James Bond spoof movie which incorporates the latest innovations for the super spy sleuth agent. This humorous rod creation was designed and built by Barris Kustoms. Designed and built in less than 3 weeks.
The body is constructed of Owens-Corning Fiberglass from a touring reproduction with double extended doors for easy exit and entry of occupants. The body is a kicked styled concept and incorporates the competition rake. This is mounted on a rectangular steel tubing stress spaced frame which supports all the center weight of distribution in balance with the engines and extra long wheel base.
Shell is made of steel with dual rectangular headlights imported from France. A all hand made double brass radiator is floating into the grille shell cradle. U swept design front fenders are made of tubing and fiberglass with two side mount spare tires covered in gold star flake naugahyde material. Reynolds Aluminum extrusions are used for inner fender panels. Rear fenders are matching design and mounted with extended tubing from body sides. Five note Italian air horn system plays the theme tune "Out of Sight" by pushing a button.Dual 340 cubic inch 1966 Buick engines are coupled to operate singly or together through a tow speed automatic transmission. Overall length is 180 inches and wheel base is 135 inches. The unique adapter steel plate clutch assembly is attached to the engines cranks and engineered by Mr. Les Tompkins. All cooling tubes are stainless steel aircraft bellows between radiator and water pumps. Twin Hilborn injectors are mounted on the four barrel carburetor's for added fuel consumption. For the great amount of fuel equalization dual Dupree Chrome Dome electric fuel pumps are used on double switches and lines from a 10 gallon Moon spun gas tank.
Special effects incorporate dual hydraulic ramming spike tubes mounted in front off frame horns, push button flip running boards for shin breakers, occupant seat has attached locking arms that will push back automatically and hold the occupant in place, center roof escape hatch is flung off to draw occupant from additional seat. Rear attached parachute bellows 35 feet to the rear that engulfs pursuing vehicle and causes them to crash. The ends of the rear fenders shoots bullets at on coming vehicles. The locker trunk is a complete arsenal and is filled with machine guns, pistols, silencers, rockets, flares grenades, knives, brass knuckles, and also has a skid juice spreader that shoots liquid on the ground to spin out eluding vehicles. As an added humorous innovation to make the pursuing people uncomfortable there also tar and feather wind blowers to completely saturate them while in a chase scene. There is a complete screen that extends around the vehicle to make it a sign board along the side of the highway so as to be camouflaged from other agents. Mounted on the windshield is a unique flowerpot that has a button which reads ³Press to Smell² and when pushed you become engulfed in a sleeping gas. Ornamental Italian antique side rear view mirror finished in gold leaf twists and hits viewing people in the chin.
Star spoked Rader wheels made of alloy and and steel in front are 9 inch with 11 inch Firestone tires. Rear power thrust Rader wheels are 11 inch with 11 inch suction grip tires.
To finish off this definite 25th Century agent hot rod is 40 coats of golden fleece star flaked lacquer, two toned with ultra violet flaked fenders. Total value in the 60’s was $22,000.

SUPER VAN



The Super Van was re-built for the movie "Super Van" in the early 70’s. It started out as the Love Machine in the late 60’s, made out of a Dodge Sportsman Van. Super Van was example of the ultimate in futuristic motoring with solar energy.
The 318 cubic inch engine and automatic transmission were not changed, but the undercarriage was beefed up with Bilstein Shocks, for added stability and performance. The body was modified to establish a basic belt line from which fore and aft dual vertical arches (that house quad mercury tubing safety roll bars) act as air foil spoilers at the very top, which provides added high speed control. The grille bars are of "V" type to accent the body line, with K.C. quartz lights for full flood road illumination, behind the outer bars. The rear grille-bumper assembly is unitized with chrome face and colored offcast to match the front grille bars. U.S. Steel sheeting was used to from the aerodynamic sculptured body panels. Polaroid charcoal tinted glass is used at vision areas throughout the vehicle except for the center rear section, in which adjustable louvers were installed, matching the louvers along the very top of the side windows. The right side master door glass lifts like a gullwing and the body door section at that points lowers for easy entrance as well as to unveil the elegant plush interior.
A six foot U shape boudoir sofa is the center of the entertainment console area, using a new flamboyant blue and orange burnished cotton material. The interior utilized Van Stuff accessories, with Perkins seat panels and Cole snack trays for added luxury pleasures. Musical sounds from a Craig stereo flow through quad speakers and dual 40 channel CB units. Wild music bars transform the tones to visual colored lights. A plastic servateria slides our for easy access to refreshments. The number two compartment contains a monitor phone with intercom system. In the center, a Panasonic colored television and video units offers another choice of entertainment. Another compartment houses a Panasonic recorder for all taping and playback. Solar Power and electric panels by Sensor Technology, Inc., and PDC Labs, have solar battery and electronic system. A unique computerized lighting circuit with switches, actuates the electronic system to provide more battery power from the solar cells.
The exterior finish color is coordinated by the concept of Burnt Orange Sunset Pearls of Essence, and then blended to a bright sky blue candy, sprayed in 40 coats of lacquer. Then hand rubbed to a high lustre. Lazer stripping beams in prisma tapes and metalflake extends up on the fore and aft arches. The final touch are the G60 Formula Stock tires mounted on 10" Appliance wire mag wheels.

THE MUNSTER’S KOACH



Designed and built by George Barris.

The Koach was made from 3 Model T bodies and is 18 feet long. The 133" frame was made by hand.
It has a four speed manual transmission and a power rear end. The brass radiator and fenders were hand formed. In 1964, the cost to build the first one was $18,000.00. It had "blood red" velvet interior. It took 500 hours to hand form the ornate rolled steel scrollwork. It had Gloss Black Pearl paint. The front end had a dropped axle, split radius rods and T springs. The studio gave George Barris 21 days to complete the car. Powered by a 289 Ford Cobra engine from a 1966 Mustang GT. Built with Jahns high compression pistons, ten chrome plated Stromberg carburators, an Isky cam, and had a set of Bobby Barr racing headers.

"BANACEK" AMX 400



Made by Barris from the 1970 American Motors AMX for 70’s TV show "Banacek" starring George Peppard. The first major modification was to lower the overall silhouette by chopping 4.5" out of the top section with a 2" slant on the windshield posts. To further the extreme fastback image, long tapering windsplits are streamlined louvers extending f rom the roof line to the lower panel. A courtesy safety lighting system was installed utilizing the louvers, with full red taillight and stop lights, full amber lights for deceleration and caution, and a full green light for forward motion.
All four wheel wells have been re-radiuses with the top portion of the radius flared and extended into the center of the door in front. The rear extends to the rear of the fender. The frontal area has been lengthened fifteen inches with a matching lower pan and louvered grille installation. The rear fenders were also extended to follow the streamlined windsplits. The hood has twin canted tunneled forced air scoops molded into the hood panel conforming with the fender line. Saddle antique and walnut was used with color combination in the interior.
The exterior finish consists of Murano Pearl uppertone with coordinated Rustic Orange along the lower section. The interior sports twin bucket seats with head rests and safety belts. The rear compartment has been completely carpeted and the dash has matched naugahyde crash padding. The louvers front and rear have been chrome plated along the leading edge with textured paint effect. SS Cragar wheels with chrome outer rims support the Firestone Wide Ovals sporting white lettering on the black sidewall.hing vinyl, and the major portion of each is finished in Snowflake metalflake pearl, which includes multi-colors of white pastel blues and yellows.

"THE GOLDEN SAHARA"



Started out as 1953 Lincoln Capri Hard Top. The low body weight and flowing body silhouette gave full balance. Hand formed steel panels detailed to the ultimate shape. Split rear fins extended from center rear fender scoops. Full circle rear trunk impression spare tire cover was built into the hood, curved down into a horizontal grill shell opening. Vertical headlight shells were installed into fenders and bullet bumpers.
For the interior, a curved lounge seat was formed into the rear with cocktail bars on the right and left backs of front seats. Dual cowl shapes were mounted into the tops of the dash and included a central TV set.
The main features were all high-tech electronics. Five way electronic steering: steering wheel, push button, remote control, floor board covers and voice control. Sensitivity selanoids to open the doors, activate door openers, operate TV, stereo, record player, radio . Material selection was gold frazae from France with golden white pearl leather. Finished with 40 coats of pure oriental pearl which was made from scales of an imported fish. All metal fabrications were 24 karat gold plating.
The Golden Sahara was also featured in the movie "Cinderfella" starring Jerry Lewis.
Now owned by Jim Street.

"TWISTER T"



This hot rod started out as one of the George Barris TV series and then in "Window on Main Street" starring Robert Young. Jerry Summers, famous stunt man that later on did the stunts for "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Knight Rider" drove this car throughout the Universal back lot and smashed into a tree. Barris then decided to completely kustomize and restore his 1927 "T" for the challenge of the big award, the National Roadster Show in Oakland Californian, which he won.
The Ford "T" Roadster body was metal finished and installed on the reconverted 1932 Ford frame. A Dago axle, springs, ribbed shocks, radius rods, complete front end, rear end, plus the transmission was all chrome plated. Wire wheels are Buick Skylark with knock off and bullets. Wide white wall "Firestone" tires were also installed.
The deuce grill shell has been sectioned with horizontal bars and mesh backing. Cycle styled fenders were installed with two toned chrome paint. Quad headlights were mounted on pedalstals, appelton shells and bullet center english lucas beams. Back panel is rolled and formed to fit the rear section with kustom tail lights.
The engine is a ¾ race Dodge Red Ram with an Esky Cam, Jahns piston and Ansen rods with multiple injected carburators. Complete engine and firewall is chrome plated and brushed stainless panel. Unique four inch racing plug headers, cut off switch into dual mufflers and quad pipes all chrome plated.
Interior has twin body and leg contour bucket seats with matching head rests covered in white pearl and peacock metalflake leather. Floor carpets were 3 inch mouton fur, dash is hand formed pebble grain aluminum with s⁄w dials.
Final color is 35 coats of translucent peacock metalflake which is composed of a million particles of aluminum foil sprayed over a mirror lacquered top coat. Other TV shows the Twister T appeared in was Peter Fonda’s "The New Breed" and Brian Kelly’s "Straight Aways".

BEARCAT



Built for the TV series "The Bearcats" in the 70’s. Many hours of research were involved in recreating the vehicle depicting the 1914 Stutz Bearcat of the era. Parts and components were found throughout the country through various collectors were shipped to the Barris shop for final construction. Three different vehicles were built to service the production requirements, the #1 unit was used to simulate the hard drive and stunt portions of filming, while #2 unit was used for personality driving by Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole and the #3 unit was used for touring and press events.
Over 1500 man hours and $30,000.00 was spent to hand build each of the three vehicles in steel. The mechanical running gear is a Ford Six 272 cu. in. engine with four speed automatic transmission that was outfitted with Ansen posi-shift, coupled to the heavy duty rear end, Hurst engineered tubular 50⁄50 ratio shocks were used for controlled driving action. All late model components were converted to tie the new parts with the vintage components. All brass sheet metal parts were restored and replated. The forty gallon fuel tanks were of spun aluminum built my Moon Equipment Co. and the Stewart Warner gauges were used to provide accurate account of vehicle operation in addition to establishing the final wood grain dash panels. Race Car Engineering spent hundreds of hours matching the necessary parts to conform to the overall conversion. The reproduction of tires sized to fit the old wood spoke wheels were created by Lester Tire Company. An overall cream color with black and maroon stripes is the final paint finish matching the maroon leather bucket seats.

FROM TV’s "DRAGNET" TOM POLLARD’S 29 ROADSTER



Used in the "Dragnet" TV show, originally painted red, Barris repainted it after the show in lime metallic with rust flames to the grille, shell lights and fenders. It was flathead powered and featured a chopped T windshield and neat streamlined door hinges.

"THE FIREBALL 500"



This high powered sleek styling performance vehicle was featured in the movie "The Fireball 500" starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and Fabian. The vehicle started as a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda. One of the outstanding features is the design carried forth in a dual cockpit roadster racing version made from a basic stock Plymouth production car.
The dual cowl cockpits are formed in metal and streamlined into twin curved butarat plastic windshields plus flared headrests formed around each cockpit opening with air foam pads that extend into the back body panel. Four streamer extensions styled with razor edges are molded into one section formed in metal to completely comer the rear seats and original deck lid compartment. Additional taillights in red reflected plastic are installed behind the headrest streamline cavities.
Rear panel treatment enhances extended rear fenders with vertical slimline taillights. These have been extended four inches and are blended into a canted air relieved rolled back body panel. Horizontal extrusions in a decorative ornamental design are installed in the back panel and make removable for inspection throughout the closed rear body panel compartment.
All four wheel well have been radiused with a larger opening to compensate for the 700⁄12.50-13 Firestone tires. These tires have been installed on the Rader spoked racing wheels made of an alloy with a chrome steel rim.
Outside rocker A.I. racing exhausts are made with Reynolds Aluminum extrusions with dual pipes extending on each side from the racing engine. Eight Ram-thrust inlet air tubes extend from openings in the hood for direct air into the carburetion system on the engine.
For power is a 1966 Hemi 426 Plymouth engine that develops up to 425 h.p. An Isky drag racing cam has been used in combination with Jahns high domed racing pistons. A four speed Ansen posi-shift gear box is installed with the combination of 3.55 rear end gears and 13 inch wheels. Dual four throat Ram-thrust manifold and Holley carburetors are used for gas consumption in conjunction with the formula combined with the cam grind, bore clearance, and gear ratio. Dual Dupree chrome dome electric fuel pumps are used to keep steady flowing of gas. This vehicle can do in the vicinity of 160 m.p.h. in a quarter mile drag strip.
Safety flush pull down door handles were installed to match the contour of the door panels. The steering wheel is deep dished measuring 13 inches to fit the smaller cockpit. Rectangular headlights imported from France are inserted in the grille cavity with brushed aluminum extrusions installed in the openings.
To complete the external and high lustrous finish are forty coats of hand rubbed lacquer called Fireheat which consists of multi color blends in white pearl of essence, faded into gold Murano, blended throughout in reflective gold leaf, carried through into Kandy Tangerine, then blended into translucent Kandy red and finished off in burgundy. It took four men and six days of spraying to blend these multi colors from white fireball heat into soothing burgundy.

HIROHATA MERC



Designed and built in 1951 for Robert Hirohata by George and Sam Barris. Started as that year’s Mercury Club Coupe. The top was chopped with all removable post, sides, top, etc. These were blended into the areas of the vehicle. Unique curved hand formed frames were built to house all side glass.
The slanted fast back top design has a canted back glass and V-buttoned windshields. Front Ford headlight rims and Lincoln tail lights were blended into the fenders. Grille shell as molded together into one piece with unique floating center piece. Bumper and pans were smoothed out to fit front and rear side body panels which flowed into functional rear fender air scoops with flush formed fitted flare rear skirts. All doors, hood, trunk corners were rounded. Interior was stitched in tuck and rolled naugahyde with two tone colors.
Dash had multi colored hand made plastic knobs. Matching paint color was blended into dash and chrome garnish moldings were reinstalled. Dual traditional appelton spotlights came through posts. Finished with 30 coats of hand rubbed high luster nitro lacquer paint in foam green and organic toners.

A SUIVRE  

Trés bonne idée de Post Fif  Je vais le déplacer dans la rubrique Show Rods et Radical custom

"ALA KART"



Construction began in 1957 from a 1929 Ford pick up truck. The back body section was taken from a 1927 "T" Roadster. The back end is all hand made. The hoods are three piece with a continuous scoop made of reynolds aluminum. The shell is made of hand formed metal and tubing. Quad lights are from a 1957 Imperial. All complete body work was done in 20 gauge cold roll metal.
The engine is Dodge Red Ram fuel injected with the Dupree chrome dome double electric fuel pump, Hunt Magnito Iske cam, Jahns racing pistons, Ansen rods and posi-shift. Rear end is from a late model Ford with complete hydraulic brakes. Emergency brake is electrical with switch mounted on the dash. Suspension system is all made up of 4 coil springs with adjustable air bags. Torsion bars are Traction Masters with stabilizers. Transmission is a Lincoln Zephry rear end and gears are a 354 ratio. Steering wheel is taken from a Lincoln Continental and complete dash is hand formed with S-W dials. Wheels are chrome reversed with spun bullets and Dunlap tires.
The top is all made of steel bows and covered with black naugahyde. The interior has split wrap around half circle seats done in white pearl naugahyde and black velvet with chrome beading between each pleat. Carpets are Mouton Black fur. Electrical system is 12 volt autolite. Underneath the flooring and pans are upholstered to match interior.
All four fenders have been bobbed and v-pointed and completely finished on the underside the same as the top side. Nerfing bars and exhaust system are chrome plated with ripple side racing pipes fitted on the shortened running boards. Finished off with forty coats of white diamond dust of pearl with projection scallops in Kandy Cerise and gold leaf with pin stripping hand rubbed to to a high luster.

"EL CAPITOLA"



This is the full custom car D’Elegance and sweepstake winner throughout the nation. Owned by Taggart Bros. from Ohio built by Sam and George Barris. This was the last car the Barris Brothers made together.
Basically starting as a O57 Chevy two door sedan, the top has been chopped 2.5 inches with a half inch recessed sculptured upper panel. All side posts have been rimmed with full vision side glass and plastic uprights installed. The front end is rolled into one piece using pancake hood and double cavity grill shell opening with twin floating front bumpers. The headlights are tunnelled and "V" peaked with English Lucas lenses plus hand made plastic directional lights. The complete sides are sculptured with one inch split level panels into long canted tapered 1957 Lincoln fins that are topped with two foot scooped ’T: adaption on the upper section. The complete rear end assembly is styled to match all front end components. The rear fender shields coveting back fender panel has scoops to cool the tires and brakes. The unique center lounge interior has four way swivel bucket seats and turn table television for full vision of all occupants. The material used is imported gold French frieze and white pearl naugahyde. Exterior color is done in Cerise pearl and two tone with diamond dust, pure pearl utilizing ten gallons of lacquer paint.

"EL PARISIAN"

"ZUPAN ’49 MERC"



Starting out as Louis Bettancourt’s Merc, Barris redesigned some of the body detailing and applied new metallic rust and gold paint. The front end remained technically unchanged. Striped by Dean Jeffries.

"JESSE LOPEZ FORD"



Barris Bros. did this 1941 Ford in the late 40’s. Chopped about 4 inches, shaved the trim and drip molding, frenched the headlights, added skirts, hand formed taillights into the bumper guards and added a 1948 Cadillac grille and 1946 Ford bumpers. It was painted Forest metallic green. Jessie lowered it and added Cadillac hupcaps and white wall tires.

"SAM’S MERC"



When the new 1949 Mercury’s arrived, Sam knew immediately that this was going to be the car to customize. He went out and bought one and drove it everyday. One day he figured it out, he started by cutting. By the time he was finished he had created the classic Mercury custom. It was chopped and then revised with all the right touches including frenched headlights, fade away fender lines and no drip moldings. Also, popular at the time were very small taillights that could be hidden in the body and bumper guards.