From “Motortrend” : https://www.motortrend.com/news/barris-kustom-closing/
“In 1944, after moving to Los Angeles from Northern California, George Barris opened his first shop in the city of Bell. His brother, Sam, after returning from military service, joined him in 1945 and the brothers moved to a larger shop on Compton Ave. in Los Angeles a year later.”
From “Motortrend” : https://www.motortrend.com/news/barris-kustom-closing/
“An even larger location, back in Bell, lasted from 1949 until 1950, followed by the shop in nearby Lynwood…”
From “Motortrend” : https://www.motortrend.com/news/barris-kustom-closing/
“Barris made the last move in 1961. His wife, Shirley, found the location for the shop, now named Barris Kustom City, at 10811 Riverside Drive in the San Fernando Valley. By this time, Barris was well-known to enthusiasts across the country, not only for such award-winning creations as the Hirohata Merc, Ala Kart, the Emperor, and the Golden Sahara, but for the tech stories he was contributing to HOT ROD and other magazines.”
From “Motortrend” : https://www.motortrend.com/news/barris-kustom-closing/
“The Barris Kustom building is for sale. The property has occupied almost a whole block on Riverside Drive in North Hollywood since the day George "King of the Kustomizers" Barris set up shop there 60 years ago.”
From “Motortrend” : https://www.motortrend.com/news/barris-kustom-closing/
“…thanks to customs like the Munster Koach and the original Batmobile, George Barris' cars were becoming the best-known customs in America. The biggest celebrities were commissioning one-of-a-kind personal cars from Barris Kustom City as well.”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/tvmovie/batmobile.php
“Designed exclusively for the hit 1966 "Batman" TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward… it originally started off as a $250,000 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car.”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/tvmovie/batmobile.php
“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.”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/tvmovie/batmobile.php
“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. And…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.”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/tvmovie/batmobile.php
“The rear upper panel has triple rocket tubes and are on an automatic theft control system with shooting colored fire rockets.”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/tvmovie/batmobile.php
“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.”
Scale model of the Bat Mobile…
From: From: http://www.barris.com/history.php
“He worked as a fire fighter and later was elected Fire Commissioner for Carmichael, occasionally doing a custom job or restoring a vintage automobile in his home shop until his untimely passing from cancer in 1967.”
http://www.barris.com/history.php
“Sam chopped the top on his own '49 Mercury, creating the classic look that is still revered today, a half century later. He was first to chop a hardtop, Larry Ernst's '51 Bel Air fastback, his own '50 Buick, and the famous Hirohata '51 Merc.”
Various posters line the walls of the garage and shop. All include or involve a Barris Kustoms car or personal connection, such as Bo Derek whom they crafted the “Golden Barrister” for in 1981…
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
The “Golden Barrister” also known as the “Number One Barrister” was built for Bo and John Derek in 1981.
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
It is One of Five Barristers made for other celebrities such as Liberace, Sammy David Jr., and Elvis!
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
The only driving Barrister! It was formed from a front 1974 Vette…
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
…and the rear of a 1972 Vette…
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
…and the bodies were fabricated by Dennis Braid…
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
Other cars in the garage include Jared Barris’s 1961 T-Bird which is known as the “SS Valdez” because it leaks more oil than the ship… And, Barry & Joji’s 192 Chevelle SS Pro Touring Car with Original paint and interior. But under the hood is a 427Small Block Blown (supercharged) engine with BMI engineering on the block…
According to Barry Paster of Barris Kustoms:
A handful more include the 1965 Caddy, or “Land Yacht” or also known as the “Yom Kippur Clipper!” A rare1957 Chevy 3200 big window, long bed work truck, and an original 1931 Ford Tudor…
Inside the garage is the original table many of his classic cars were pieced out part by part and then assembled…
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/kustomshotrods/emperor.php
“THE EMPEROR: WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/kustomshotrods/emperor.php
The Emperor was “built by George Barris for Chuck Krikorian, and was 1960 America's Most Beautiful Roadster award winner. Then it was Featured on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in July 1960…”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/kustomshotrods/emperor.php
With a “4-speed manual transmission…it has a…Custom Pearl vinyl upholstery by Eddie Martinez…and a…smoothed and filled firewall…”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/kustomshotrods/emperor.php
There is a “Cadillac 406 CI engine…with…Six Stromberg 97 carburetors…and…chromed fan, water pump, stacks, fuel lines, pulleys, power steering box and linkage, headers, oil pan, leaf spring, drop spindles, coilovers, wishbones, door hinges and steering column”
From: http://www.barris.com/carsgallery/kustomshotrods/emperor.php
And a…”chromed quick-change rear end.”
Finally it has a “custom grille insert inside a hand-formed shell…with a…custom painted frame…and a…chromed drop axle and suspension!”
From: http://www.barris.com/history.php
“George was born in Chicago in the mid twenties. In 1928, he and his older brother Sam moved to Roseville, California with relatives after their parents died... George created his first full custom from a used 1936 Ford convertible before he graduated from High School. This automobile lead to their first commercial customer. Shortly after George formed a club called Kustoms Car Club where the first use of "K" for kustoms appeared.”
From: http://www.barris.com/history.php
The Barris Brothers “soon opened thier first shop in Bell, a Los Angeles suburb in late 1944 in Los Angeles. The shop was known as the "Barris Brother's Custom Shop". Sam's natural metal craftmanship served as a perfect foil to George's desire to design, paint, manage, and promote.”
From: http://www.barris.com/history.php
“The movie studios had taken note of Barris Kustoms on the streets and at races and came to George for cars for their films. One of the first films Barris made cars for was called "High School Confidential". The success of the initial movie car venture motivated George to seek business in Hollywood.”
From: http://www.barris.com/history.php
George “would travel all over the country in his creations, with the name "Barris" plastered everywhere he could, covering car shows and appearing on TV talk shows. In the late 50's Revell began making model kits of George's cars. AMT soon joined with the "Ala Kart." Plastic model kits became the biggest selling toys at the time.”