My Day with George Barris - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CircusWagonJim · 01-23-2011, 01:37 AM

I have always been car addicted since before I could talk- my dad and grandfather were serious hot rodders (dad still is). When I was 7 years old I got my first hardcover book on cars- it was called "Cars of the Stars" by George Barris and it included so many cars I was already familiar with like the Batmobile and the Munster Coach- plus a TON more I had never seen before. I was already a fan, but that book made me a SUPER FAN!
I was also a magazine junkie and when my dad would take me to swapmeets I would collect up the old magazines from the '50s and '60s before I was born. By the time I graduated high school in 1984 I had 10,000 magazines going back to the beginning in 1948. George Barris had been there all along from the earliest mags to the newest- and that continues TODAY!
A couple years ago I was at a show and met his son Brett. We hit it off and he was impressed at how much I knew about George and his cars. In the mean time I did a few magazine stories on some of his early cars that were restored. Bret contacted me about a big book he was working on George's life and cars and wanted to know if I was interested in doing the half that included the movie and TV cars and everything from 1960 to present. Would I? OF COURSE!!!!!
So we got together this week and began working together. It was surreal to meet my hero in his castle- the same shop he has been turning out famous cars since the early sixties. 20 feet from where we were talking is the ORIGINAL number one Batmobile. George even signed a fresh copy of that same exact book I got when I was 7 years old!!!
Was a great day!
The book should be done early 2012.

67chevy1series · 01-23-2011, 01:38 AM

wow not many people get to meet georgr barris!!!!!

swamp rat · 01-23-2011, 01:50 AM

Um.... I had 'Go Dogs Go" does that count? ........ When i was 7... they drove cars..

barryvanhook · 01-23-2011, 01:51 AM

I met him several years ago here in Phoenix at the World of Wheels. We chatted for a short time ... two old guys reminiscing about the early days, and I told him how I grew up looking at his creations in those little mags. He signed a picture for me: "To Barry, Remember the old cars. George Barris"

How cool!!

Barry

**too much stuff** · 01-23-2011, 02:23 AM

Thats cool! I bet it was a great day for you.

C/10 King · 01-23-2011, 04:19 AM

You lucky bum!!!!! George was at a big show near here 2 years ago in Modesto Ca., unfortunately I never got a photo with him,

But I've taken photos with these other cool guys in my Bel-air.

matthew20061 · 01-23-2011, 05:32 AM

Wow that is awesome congratulations!

**special-K** · 01-23-2011, 06:52 AM

That would be such a thrill to meet an idol from about as far back as you can remember. He was a part of my childhood from magazines to TV to the models I built. Not only his creations from tv but he did styling for the custom version on many kits creating mini Barris customs he himself would never see. The (I know I'll get this name wrong) Hirohata (sorry,I told you) Merc was what really kicked his career off and still probably my favorite. Ha ha,I just went to his site to check his spelling and got smacked with another nostalgic icon from my childhood...Dick Dale----"Wipeout Moon Doggie!",dig?
I must have built Ala Cart a half dozen times,Starting with following instructions to a T and giving my own touchs more each time. I saw an article with the Copper Cart somewhere and someone had redone it. These were some of the first trucks that kindled my passion for custom trucks.
Can you see a common theme with these rags?

waynep · 01-23-2011, 10:25 AM

Cool!!!!!!!!

wild4wheels · 01-23-2011, 10:45 AM

Thats awesome! I'd be happy to just be able to see all the pictures hangin on the walls behind ya!

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 01-23-2011, 10:49 AM

You lucky s,o,b let us know when ya get the book out as id love a copy...

krazy_texan · 01-23-2011, 11:04 AM

that is incredibly amazing that you got to meet and spend time with George Barris. keep us updated on the book.

rick0312 · 01-23-2011, 11:35 AM

what a great day and thanks for sharing the story with us. brings back great memories of coming home from school and watching those classic re-runs of batman. that car was awesome! be sure to keep us posted on the books progress. maybe we can purchase through the board when the book is released.

**N2TRUX** · 01-23-2011, 12:11 PM

WOW! Now that is a dream come true. I imagine many of us that have been in to Kustom Kars since were were kids have met George at a car show. I doubt that any of us have actually had an opportunity to sit and spend time with him discussing his old builds. Thats amazing.

CircusWagonJim · 01-23-2011, 12:15 PM

I did a story with him a few years ago for Rod & Custom on the Sam Barris Mercury and Kopper Kart. I was most impressed with how friendly and generous with his time he is. Having met some heroes that were less than friendly it was special that he treats everyone with such respect and openess. Thanks Jim

57larry · 01-23-2011, 12:29 PM

who's the guy in the black shirt?

pat 70/71 · 01-23-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C/10 King

You lucky bum!!!!! George was at a big show near here 2 years ago in Modesto Ca., unfortunately I never got a photo with him,

But I've taken photos with these other cool guys in my Bel-air.

RENE, My wife and I meet Chip Foose at Sema two years ago. We were standing by the spray booth(overhaulin set) by our selves he went into the booth to look at the car they were doing and he looked up saw us (standing 100' away) came over to us introduced himself and talked with us for ten minutes. The man is just real stand up guy! fantastic to meet a person you think is cool and he turns out to be cooler! cheers, Pat

C/10 King · 01-23-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pat 70/71

RENE, My wife and I meet Chip Foose at Sema two years ago. We were standing by the spray booth(overhaulin set) by our selves he went into the booth to look at the car they were doing and he looked up saw us (standing 100' away) came over to us introduced himself and talked with us for ten minutes. The man is just real stand up guy! fantastic to meet a person you think is cool and he turns out to be cooler! cheers, Pat

X2000, Same here, he came up gave us about 15 minutes of his time, posed for photos and laughed when I called him "Skip" by mistake

, A AWESOME MAN!!!!!

wdrthird · 01-23-2011, 04:11 PM

About 10 years ago I started a new job and there was a teenage kid who worked with me. I started talking about old cars one day and he mentioned his dad had some weird old car in their shed, but he didnt know anything about it. He asked if I wanted to see it so I said sure. I expected to see a Corvair or something a little different, but was suprised when I walked in and saw this weird dune buggy panel wagon car thing! It had junk piled all around it and the little I could see was covered in a thick layer of dirt from being parked for so long. The kids dad didnt know much about it and when he bought it in the earlys 80's they told him that some famous guy had built it. Then he mentioned he was considering selling it! So needless to say, I got a little excited thinking I had just found a rare custom built car rotting away in someones tin shed out behind their house. Immediately I went home and started searching the net for pictures of something that looked like the car so I could try and figure out its origins but I didnt know where to start and I couldnt find anything. A few days later the kid said his dad remembered that it was built by the guy who had designed the original batmobile, so then I had a place to start. I emailed the guys at Barris.com and figured out the car was called a "T Buggy" and it was something like a kit car back in the 70s and wasnt as ultra rare as I thought. The guy ended up selling it back to the previous owner, but it was pretty cool to find something so unusual in a rusty old building in Oklahoma and I also got to learn a little about George Barris, he builds some pretty cool stuff. I never got a picture of that T Buggy but heres a pic of another one I found currently on Ebay.

67chevy1series · 01-23-2011, 04:16 PM

jim you are a big show off!!!!!!

68 IRON · 01-23-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

WOW! Now that is a dream come true. I imagine many of us that have been in to Kustom Kars since were were kids have met George at a car show. I doubt that any of us have actually had an opportunity to sit and spend time with him discussing his old builds. Thats amazing.

I read an article sometime ago...or maybe I watched a show about him....
Anyway the bubble top car (The Bubbleator?) was found somewhere south of the border and was being restored. He did the Munster Mobile didn't he?

C-Wagon....Nice posts!!! Don't stop now!!!!

krazy_texan · 01-23-2011, 05:18 PM

68 iron
that car that was found south of the border was not a George Barris custom but was an Ed "big daddy" Roth car i think that particular one was called the orbitration it was found sitting outside a porn shop in mexico with the bubble missing

CircusWagonJim · 01-23-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

jim you are a big show off!!!!!!

Just trying to prove I actually get out of the house once and a while!!!

CircusWagonJim · 01-23-2011, 05:22 PM

You beat me to it Texan! Yes they did find Ed Roth's long missing Orbitron being used as a trash can in front of a Mexican porn shop!

67chevy1series · 01-23-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CircusWagonJim

Just trying to prove I actually get out of the house once and a while!!!

01-23-2011, 01:37 AM	#1
CircusWagonJim Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 707	My Day with George Barris I have always been car addicted since before I could talk- my dad and grandfather were serious hot rodders (dad still is). When I was 7 years old I got my first hardcover book on cars- it was called "Cars of the Stars" by George Barris and it included so many cars I was already familiar with like the Batmobile and the Munster Coach- plus a TON more I had never seen before. I was already a fan, but that book made me a SUPER FAN! I was also a magazine junkie and when my dad would take me to swapmeets I would collect up the old magazines from the '50s and '60s before I was born. By the time I graduated high school in 1984 I had 10,000 magazines going back to the beginning in 1948. George Barris had been there all along from the earliest mags to the newest- and that continues TODAY! A couple years ago I was at a show and met his son Brett. We hit it off and he was impressed at how much I knew about George and his cars. In the mean time I did a few magazine stories on some of his early cars that were restored. Bret contacted me about a big book he was working on George's life and cars and wanted to know if I was interested in doing the half that included the movie and TV cars and everything from 1960 to present. Would I? OF COURSE!!!!! So we got together this week and began working together. It was surreal to meet my hero in his castle- the same shop he has been turning out famous cars since the early sixties. 20 feet from where we were talking is the ORIGINAL number one Batmobile. George even signed a fresh copy of that same exact book I got when I was 7 years old!!! Was a great day! The book should be done early 2012. Attached Images

01-23-2011, 01:38 AM	#2
67chevy1series Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301 Posts: 10,713	Re: My Day with George Barris wow not many people get to meet georgr barris!!!!!

01-23-2011, 01:50 AM	#3
swamp rat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spanaway Posts: 8,451	Re: My Day with George Barris Um.... I had 'Go Dogs Go" does that count? ........ When i was 7... they drove cars.. __________________ Mike. Swamp Rat build thread : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=595019 72 3/4T 4X4 4" BDS Lift 33" BFG's Last edited by swamp rat; 01-23-2011 at 04:03 AM.

01-23-2011, 01:51 AM	#4
barryvanhook Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 148	Re: My Day with George Barris I met him several years ago here in Phoenix at the World of Wheels. We chatted for a short time ... two old guys reminiscing about the early days, and I told him how I grew up looking at his creations in those little mags. He signed a picture for me: "To Barry, Remember the old cars. George Barris" How cool!! Barry __________________ Barry L. Van Hook '69 Chevy Frankentruck

01-23-2011, 02:23 AM	#5
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,717	Re: My Day with George Barris Thats cool! I bet it was a great day for you. __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

01-23-2011, 04:19 AM	#6
C/10 King Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: A****er, CA Posts: 5,594	Re: My Day with George Barris You lucky bum!!!!! George was at a big show near here 2 years ago in Modesto Ca., unfortunately I never got a photo with him, But I've taken photos with these other cool guys in my Bel-air. Attached Images __________________ C/10 Rene 1966 Short Fleet "The Hag" 1967 CST Short Fleet "Dark Poly" 1971 Short Fleet 1970 Jimmy Custom 2 WD "Golden Ticket" 1972 Blazer 2 WD "Retro Blaze"

01-23-2011, 05:32 AM	#7
matthew20061 69' Chevy Stepside Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anchorage, Ak Posts: 526	Re: My Day with George Barris Wow that is awesome congratulations! __________________ -Matthew -69' Chevy Custom/10 Shortbed Stepside 2WD "Copperhead" - Restored, 6.0L LQ9 Built. L92 Heads and LS3 Intake with Comp Cam 223/231 .610/.617 112 LSA, 4L60E with Shift Kit and Circle-D 3200 Stall Converter ~Build Thread -1957 Chevy BelAir 2 Door Post Sedan, Full Frame off Restoration done myself - 6.0L with T56 six speed -1957 Chevy BelAir 2 Door Post Sedan - Nearly rust free AK car, Project in the waiting -2003' Chevy Silverado SS AWD 6.0L! - Daily Driver

01-23-2011, 06:52 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: My Day with George Barris That would be such a thrill to meet an idol from about as far back as you can remember. He was a part of my childhood from magazines to TV to the models I built. Not only his creations from tv but he did styling for the custom version on many kits creating mini Barris customs he himself would never see. The (I know I'll get this name wrong) Hirohata (sorry,I told you) Merc was what really kicked his career off and still probably my favorite. Ha ha,I just went to his site to check his spelling and got smacked with another nostalgic icon from my childhood...Dick Dale----"Wipeout Moon Doggie!",dig? I must have built Ala Cart a half dozen times,Starting with following instructions to a T and giving my own touchs more each time. I saw an article with the Copper Cart somewhere and someone had redone it. These were some of the first trucks that kindled my passion for custom trucks. Can you see a common theme with these rags? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 01-23-2011 at 07:03 AM.

01-23-2011, 10:25 AM	#9
waynep Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Greer SC Posts: 187	Re: My Day with George Barris Cool!!!!!!!!

01-23-2011, 10:45 AM	#10
wild4wheels Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Queen Creek, Arizona Posts: 1,626	Re: My Day with George Barris Thats awesome! I'd be happy to just be able to see all the pictures hangin on the walls behind ya! __________________ Dave aka "Wild" Current truck "Ida Mae" 71 K5 Blazer Former Trucks "Loretta" 71 Longbed (AZ) "Tanya" 69 Stepside (AZ) "Ferdinand" 71 Longhorn (SD) "Patches" 67 Panel (IA/ KY) "Rosita" 68 C30 (KY) Instagram @Wildforwheels @k5_klub @c10university Profile pic provided by Jeff Sundance

01-23-2011, 10:49 AM	#11
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,604	Re: My Day with George Barris You lucky s,o,b let us know when ya get the book out as id love a copy... __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

01-23-2011, 11:04 AM	#12
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	Re: My Day with George Barris that is incredibly amazing that you got to meet and spend time with George Barris. keep us updated on the book. __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

01-23-2011, 11:35 AM	#13
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: My Day with George Barris what a great day and thanks for sharing the story with us. brings back great memories of coming home from school and watching those classic re-runs of batman. that car was awesome! be sure to keep us posted on the books progress. maybe we can purchase through the board when the book is released. __________________ 69 C10 LWB GM 350 crate motor, 3.73 rearend

01-23-2011, 12:11 PM	#14
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Re: My Day with George Barris WOW! Now that is a dream come true. I imagine many of us that have been in to Kustom Kars since were were kids have met George at a car show. I doubt that any of us have actually had an opportunity to sit and spend time with him discussing his old builds. Thats amazing. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

01-23-2011, 12:15 PM	#15
CircusWagonJim Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 707	Re: My Day with George Barris I did a story with him a few years ago for Rod & Custom on the Sam Barris Mercury and Kopper Kart. I was most impressed with how friendly and generous with his time he is. Having met some heroes that were less than friendly it was special that he treats everyone with such respect and openess. Thanks Jim



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01-23-2011, 12:29 PM	#16
57larry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,162	Re: My Day with George Barris who's the guy in the black shirt?

01-23-2011, 04:11 PM	#19
wdrthird Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ponca City, Oklahoma Posts: 229	Re: My Day with George Barris About 10 years ago I started a new job and there was a teenage kid who worked with me. I started talking about old cars one day and he mentioned his dad had some weird old car in their shed, but he didnt know anything about it. He asked if I wanted to see it so I said sure. I expected to see a Corvair or something a little different, but was suprised when I walked in and saw this weird dune buggy panel wagon car thing! It had junk piled all around it and the little I could see was covered in a thick layer of dirt from being parked for so long. The kids dad didnt know much about it and when he bought it in the earlys 80's they told him that some famous guy had built it. Then he mentioned he was considering selling it! So needless to say, I got a little excited thinking I had just found a rare custom built car rotting away in someones tin shed out behind their house. Immediately I went home and started searching the net for pictures of something that looked like the car so I could try and figure out its origins but I didnt know where to start and I couldnt find anything. A few days later the kid said his dad remembered that it was built by the guy who had designed the original batmobile, so then I had a place to start. I emailed the guys at Barris.com and figured out the car was called a "T Buggy" and it was something like a kit car back in the 70s and wasnt as ultra rare as I thought. The guy ended up selling it back to the previous owner, but it was pretty cool to find something so unusual in a rusty old building in Oklahoma and I also got to learn a little about George Barris, he builds some pretty cool stuff. I never got a picture of that T Buggy but heres a pic of another one I found currently on Ebay. Attached Images __________________ '02 Harley Davidson XL1200C, Chrome everything '99 Tahoe, Removed trim/emblems/roofrack/runningboards, Custom grill, Smooth bumper, Lowered 2" on 20's '97 Jeep TJ, 2" lift, 32x11.50's '71 C10 Short Fleet, 454, TH400, Vintage Air, 4 Wheel discs, Posi, New bed sides/rockers/bumpers, Relocated tank, Bagged, Step notch, 20/22's http://www.myspace.com/ndweedz http://www.youtube.com/user/wdrthird "My lugnuts require more torque than your Honda makes"

01-23-2011, 04:16 PM	#20
67chevy1series Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301 Posts: 10,713	Re: My Day with George Barris jim you are a big show off!!!!!!

01-23-2011, 05:18 PM	#22
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	Re: My Day with George Barris 68 iron that car that was found south of the border was not a George Barris custom but was an Ed "big daddy" Roth car i think that particular one was called the orbitration it was found sitting outside a porn shop in mexico with the bubble missing __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

01-23-2011, 05:22 PM	#24
CircusWagonJim Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 707	Re: My Day with George Barris You beat me to it Texan! Yes they did find Ed Roth's long missing Orbitron being used as a trash can in front of a Mexican porn shop!

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