Autoblog

eBay Find of the Day: One-off George Barris 1953 Jaguar XK120 DHC built for... Barry Goldwater?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Government/Legal, Jaguar, Celebrities, Luxury

Barry Goldwater's one-off George Barris 1953 Jaguar XK120 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Long before Barry Goldwater would suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 presidential election, the politician apparently had a taste for wildly customized cars. Unsatisfied with the exquisite design of his 1953 Jaguar XK120, Goldwater commissioned the legendary George Barris to turn the car into something special. Barris took the time to work in headlight and tailfin assemblies from a '53 Buick, along with a Lincoln Continental-style spare tire carrier and a shortened Cadillac rear bumper. Inside, the dash was reworked in unfinished aluminum, complete with an array of aeronautical gauges. We're quite sure we prefer the bog-standard XK120's sheetmetal, but this car's interesting history and one-off nature is hard to ignore.

The car has spent the last 20 years of its life tucked away in a California shop and has emerged via the glory of eBay Motors. The body has weathered the years between 1953 and now without too much wear and tear, though the interior has moved on to the great beyond. The car's 3.5-liter, DOHC I6 is still in place, as are all of those oddball gauges. The car is available in Newport Beach, California with its reserve not met at $15,639 at the time of writing. If you want it, hop on over to eBay and get to clicking. There are only four days left on the auction right now.

Gallery: Barry Goldwater's George Barris 1953 Jaguar XK120

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: One-off George Barris 1953 Jaguar XK120 DHC built for... Barry Goldwater? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Hydrogen-powered 1972 AMC Gremlin by George Barris

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Technology, Hatchback

1972 hydrogen-powered AMC Gremlin - Click above for high-res image gallery

When one thinks of advanced technology, the AMC Gremlin rarely (if ever) pops to mind. In fact, these days, unless you happen to be watching re-runs of the first season of True Blood you likely wouldn't think of the Gremlin under any circumstances. Today's eBay Motors find is a very special hydrogen-powered Gremlin that we've never heard of before.

As the story goes, back in the early 1970s, 64 university teams built cars to compete in the Urban Vehicle Design Challenge, with this machine coming out of the labs at the University of California - Los Angeles. The Gremlin was donated to UCLA by American Motors and Ford provided a 351 Cleveland V8. The UCLA team worked with suppliers such as Hooker, Edelbrock, Union Carbide and none other than Kustom Kar King George Barris to get the supplies needed to convert the V8 to run on hydrogen and get the car competition ready. The Impco-provided hydrogen tanks in the back only gave the Gremlin a 68-mile range, but considering the lack of fuel injection and sophisticated electronics, that's not bad.

The wanton nostalgics among us aren't just drawn to the car's eccentric powertrain, but also to its period-appropriate mustard yellow paint, tire-tread bumpers, vintage Polyglas tires, and a couple of racing buckets that we'd like to mount on swivels and have in the Autoblog Living Room.

Incidentally, the Gremlin ultimately won the competition based on the fact that the steam emanating the from the tailpipe was cleaner than the air going into the carburetor. At this point, there are no bids on the car and it's not clear if it runs, but we'd stand we-hell back before firing it up for the first time.

Gallery: eBay find of the day: 1972 hydrogen AMC Gremlin

[Sources: eBay Motors, Wired]

eBay Find of the Day: Hydrogen-powered 1972 AMC Gremlin by George Barris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Chevrolet, Celebrities, Design/Style

George Barris and the 2010 Chevrolet "Spirit" Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you happen to be in the greater Burbank area this weekend, you might want to swing by Community Chevrolet on Saturday. Legendary car customizer George Barris is scheduled to unveil his latest project - a kustomized 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS RS - by driving the car straight to the dealer himself. Called the "Spirit" Camaro, the car is designed to be affordable for the working class Joe, meaning there aren't any wild power adders under the hood.

Instead, Barris focused on creating a unique exterior for the General Motors muscle car. The hood and front fenders all get a striking paint job in the buyer's choice of either red or yellow, complete with pearl accents. The grille has been swapped for a new three-bar unit designed to give the car a classic feel. The look won't be for everyone, but it could be your only chance to own an original Barris creation. You can order your very own through your local Chevrolet dealer, who will contact Community Chevrolet in turn.

Barris made a name for himself by creating some of Hollywood's most iconic cars and trucks. His work took center stage on shows like The Beverly Hillbillies, The Munsters and the original Batman. He even turned out the very first KITT for Knight Rider back before NBC had its way with the concept. So far, there's no word on how many Spirit Camaros will be produced, or how much Barris will want for each one. Stay tuned.

Gallery: George Barris 2010 Chevrolet "Spirit" Camaro

[Source: Barris Kustom Industries]

Continue reading Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro

Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2010: Volo shines the light on some famous movie cars

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Motorsports, Police/Emergency, Celebrities, Specialty

Volo Auto Museum collection at Chicago Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the most fun parts of the Chicago Auto Show every year is that Illinois is also host to the Volo Auto Museum. Volo is one of those museum/used car dealerships that always has some of the most entertaining and outrageous cars in its inventory. One of the things they are best known for is their collection of rolling Hollywood memorabilia, and at this year's show, they have rolled out about a dozen vehicles that show off their range of Tinseltown metal.

First up is the Mellow Yellow NASCAR racer that Tom Cruise piloted in Days of Thunder. They even have a monitor running movie clips featuring Cole Trickle beside the very seat he sat in for the filming - and no, it wasn't a booster seat. Next to that is Speed Racer's Mach 5, signed by Kustom Kar King George Barris. That sits alongside one of the General Lee Dodge Chargers from the Dukes of Hazzard movie and a really odd Buick Grand National. The GN is one of the cars that Vin Diesel drove in Fast and Furious 4. It is totally gutted inside and has a wild rear steering system that made us do a double-take.

Across from that is the villain car from The Great Race and the awesomely wacky Turtle Mobile from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Our favorite star car, though - and the one that looks most at home here in Chicago - is the Blues Mobile, driven by one Joliet Jake and one Elwood Blues, a.k.a. "The Blues Brothers." It even has the comically oversized loudspeaker still strapped to the roof. All-in, the Volo display is fun attraction here in Chicago and an example of why this show is always so popular with the public.

Gallery: Volo Museum Hollywood cars at Chicago Auto Show

Chicago 2010: Volo shines the light on some famous movie cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Find of the Day: Barris-built 1972 Lincoln Bugazzi has interior like a dictator's bathroom

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Specialty

George Barris-designed Bugazzi -- Click above for image gallery

We're beginning to think that George Barris' movie cars were more restrained than his customer cars -- and that Dolemite had the man on speed dial. Barris built the car you see above: a Bugazzi (boo-GOT-zee), which started out as a 1972 Lincoln Mark IV and was turned into "an American version of a Rolls-Royce."

That means it's been slathered in thirty coats of pearl lacquer and trimmed with 24-carat gold-leaf, hand-applied pinstripes. Up front are two lanterns where the headlights would normally go. Inside, you'll find gold, suede upholstery, Persian rugs, Italian doorhandles mounted on Italian marble slabs, a television, and a back seat wet bar. That could explain why the car cost $10,000 more than a Rolls. Or not.

There were but 12 built, and not only were they bought by celebrities and the owner of the Mustang Ranch, but Motor Trend named it Car of the Month in July, 1973. We don't know what number this car is, nor do we know how many have survived, but we do know you can take it home from Daniel Schmitt & Company for $99,000. Back in October, this car passed under the gavel at an RM Auction in October for a mere $19,800. We know that Barris had set out to make an American Rolls-Royce here, and we understand Schmitt & Co are looking to turn a profit here. But $99K? Guys -- it's not a real Rolls.

Gallery: 1972 Barris-built Lincoln Bugazzi

[Source: Hemmings Motor News]

Find of the Day: Barris-built 1972 Lincoln Bugazzi has interior like a dictator's bathroom originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO]

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Celebrities, Specialty

1967 Voxmobile by George Barris - Click above for image gallery

Feelin' Groovy? Do you like guitars, speed and attention? If so, check out eBay Motors item number 260492703795. It's the one-and-only George Barris-created Voxmobile! Powered by a Cobra 289, it's said to be the fastest promotional vehicle ever created with an estimated top speed of 175 mph. Not that we'd recommend it. Molded from wood, plastic, steel and fiberglass, the fully-functional, guitar-sided Voxmobile was designed for publicity and incorporated a bunch of Vox musical components.

Think of it as a super-quick parade float, or better yet, a '60s calliope, with 32 guitar inputs, a Vox Super Continental organ, three Vox Beatle amplifiers, and a dozen or so additional speakers. Most of it still works, but the seller says this original, unrestored, 40-year-old custom vehicle needs a bit of work to make it all hum.

The Voxmobile was once owned by the world's fastest guitarist, Jimmy Bryant, and was almost a Hollywood star, dropped from the final cut of the Jack Nicholsen flick, Psych-Out. It still made the promotional lobby cards though. And it can be yours for the low-low price of just $175,000. The seller will even help you source a correct bass and head unit to complete the package. This thing is a hoot, but the promotional video for it is stellar. You won't believe the level of talent that came out to reminisce about this Barris creation. Check out the groovy YouTube video after the jump and the full gallery of pics by clicking below.

Gallery: 1967 Barris Voxmobile

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris

Chris Shunk — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:13:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos

Click above to watch the video after the jump

If you look up the name George Barris, you'll find two famous individuals from the same era. One snapped iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe and Dwight Eisenhower, while the other took shots of hot-rodded Chevys and Buicks. While we're sure George Barris the celebrity photographer was great, our attention is, as always, drawn to the car guy with the same name. Barris, as you well know, was one of the pioneers of the multi-billion-dollar custom car industry, and he took as much pride in the pictures he took to show off his work as he did the custom jobs that made him famous. Barris's photos eventually landed in popular magazines like Hot Rod and Rod & Custom. Follow the jump to look at some of the photography that helped make George Barris a household name... at least in the car world.

[Source: YouTube via The Garage Blog]

Continue reading VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris

VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Oldsmobile Toronado 67X

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Celebrities, Canada, Specialty

George Barris' Esso Tornado - Click above for a gallery of images

As the story goes, Esso Oil asked custom car guru George Barris (he of Batmobile, Munster Koach and Drag-u-la fame) to create four custom Oldsmobile Toronado coupes for the 1967 Canadian Expo. The car you see above is dubbed Toronado 67X, and according to the seller on eBay, it is one of the only two cars remaining. The big coupe was originally gold, but time and poor treatment have turned it a lovely shade of something other than gold (well, several lovely shades, actually).

Although the auction has just ended, we thought you'd still enjoy a glimpse of what the seller calls the "Project car find of a lifetime" (which might be how long it would take to get it back together). Structurally, the Olds appears to be sound enough, but you can forget about the floorboards and the interior (which includes a wraparound rear couch!). Despite its obvious shortcomings, the car's provenance has helped it gain an appraisal value of $21,500 (which is about $15,000 more than a brand new Toronado listed for in 1966). On the auction itself, there's even a video of the engine running but you hear a lot more wind than engine.

The car was bid to $7,701 but ultimately failed to meet reserve, so we expect to see it back up on the ol' eBay block sooner rather than later. In the meantime, click the link below to learn more about this unique piece of Barris history, and check out the gallery of photos below. Hat tip to Jay!

Gallery: George Barris Tornado

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Oldsmobile Toronado 67X originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: The Batsmart

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Budget, Auctions, Smart, Celebrities, Specialty

BatSmart from SEMA - Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the most unusual vehicles to grace last year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas is now up for auction on eBay Motors. Called the BatSmart, this little vehicle was unlike most of the high-octane pieces of rolling artwork at the event in that it used just three pistons and 70 horsepower to move along its twin passengers. What it loses in power, though, it makes up in style, right?

Designed by George Barris himself, creator of the original Batmobile from the mid '60s, the Batsmart features a faux turbine and rocket launchers to go along with its full custom body kit, which includes the requisite rear batfins and rodent-like pointy nose. Click here to see the auction page and be sure to check out our gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Mick!

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: Batsmart

Gallery: SEMA 2008: Barris BatSMART

[Source: eBay via All Cars All The Time]

eBay Find of the Day: The Batsmart originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Random Wackiness: Pretty peculiar Prius

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc.

Every once-in-a-while we come across something wacky enough to get us to stop in our tracks, suppress a giggle, and point-and-shoot. While at the Art Center Car Classic this weekend, we had one of those moments. A Prius with a pretty pronounced proboscis caught our eye while we were checking out the parking lot. As strange as it seemed, we remembered seeing it somewhere before. And then we saw Kustom Kar King George Barris at the other end of the lot and it clicked. This Prius was done by Barris and shown at SEMA last year. We even did a post on it way back in 2005.

We did a quick search and found this info about the green (and gold) machine. The wheelwells were stretched by 2 inches and eyebrow-style flares were added to accommodate the American Racing 18-inch chrome wheels. The wheels have green centers and are wrapped in BF Goodrich low-profile tires. The paint is hand detailed with pinstripes and teardrops. There's even a ducktail spoiler out back. Funky and fun, but we'll pass, thanks.

Random Wackiness: Pretty peculiar Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A sale of biblical proportions: The Ghostbusters Ecto 1

Chris Tutor — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Cadillac

Do you believe in UFOs, astral projection, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis? Do you have problems of a supernatural nature in your garage? The Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Ill., is ready to believe you and relieve you of your hauntings with the actual Ghostbusters Ecto 1. If you're interested in buying, be ready for Volo to also exorcise $149,000 from your bank account.

Before George Barris got a hold of it, Ecto 1 was a very straight, rust-free 1959 Miller-Meteor Cadillac ambulance. Now it transcends its humble ambulance beginnings and has become an icon of 1980s film.

[Source: Hemmings Motor News via TechEBlog]

A sale of biblical proportions: The Ghostbusters Ecto 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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