George Barris Custom Ferrari

[Payman]

https://jalopnik.com/this-one-off-george-barris-kustom-ferrari-308-is-undeni-1821358268

Okay, Barris earned his fame with the original Batmobile, the Munster's car, and the Monkeemobile, but as a customizer, he sucked. The design and execution of his cars may be looked at as par for the course of the malaise era, but some tasteful cars by others of that era do exist. This vomit-inducing Ferrari 308 goes on the block at Barrett-Jackson in January.

I mean, my God. 

[Payman]

If you listen closely to this Ferrari V8, you can just make out "kill me now".

[Soup DeVille]

Ol George was never known for restraint. In all honesty he was never as expressive and original as other hot rod icons like Ed Roth either, but I'm not going to disparage this too much.

It hasn't aged well. But, this is a project outside of his main, executed with a certain (of objectionable 😬) sense of style.

He's done at least one other 308, which failed to generate many offers at auction a few years ago. I want to say that one was even worse.

[Payman]

I knew I seen that dash before!

[CaminoRacer]

I like everything but the "gauges". The seats look nice, as does the body. I'd just change the paint color

[Payman]

I like everything but the "gauges". The seats look nice, as does the body. I'd just change the paint color

He didn't even get the Italian Tricolore right... its upside down.

[GoCougs]

It's rad for an early '80s throwback - remember, digital and buttons were just beginning to be all the rage.

[Payman]

It's rad for an early '80s throwback - remember, digital and buttons were just beginning to be all the rage.

No shit, but quality in execution existed back then too. This is hilariously bad.

[GoCougs]

Meh, I see nothing wrong in execution; quality or workmanship. It was also noted that this was a personal he had until death, so this wasn't built to spec or for a customer.

[93JC]

The dash is hideous, but after clicking the link and looking at the photos of the outside... meh, it's a'ight. Not to my taste, but not something that would have me kvetching as it drove by.

[12,000 RPM]

Much 80s, very sepia. That gauge cluster is an abomination though

[ChrisV]

Okay, Barris earned his fame with the original Batmobile, the Munster's car, and the Monkeemobile, but as a customizer, he sucked.

Don't forget the large body of work that he and Sam did in the '50s and '60s, that was high quality and trendsetting:









yeah a lot of the stuff later was over-the-top show car craziness, like this:



but there was some cool cars in there as well.

[FoMoJo]

Meh, I see nothing wrong in execution; quality or workmanship. It was also noted that this was a personal he had until death, so this wasn't built to spec or for a customer.

Maybe no one wanted to buy it.  Some of his early stuff is great though.

[Soup DeVille]

Maybe no one wanted to buy it.  Some of his early stuff is great though.

Barris cars always found a buyer.

[GoCougs]

Don't forget the large body of work that he and Sam did in the '50s and '60s, that was high quality and trendsetting:

Have a friend who inherited an early '50s Buick (I think, might be an Olds) convertible customized by Barris. It's one step up from these examples with a flame paint job and those small side pipes - even has a centrifugal supercharger. My friend's dad and his brother had it done in the late '50s. Unfortunately it's sat for some 40 years (inside luckily), so it would need a total rebuild to be put back on the street. My friend thinks it's worth a mint but I'm not so sure. Either way, it's an interesting piece of history. His plan is to sell it to a collector when he gets other affairs in order. It's something like this but red:

[giant_mtb]

Christmas flames? Bleh.

[CaminoRacer]

Small side pipes = Lake pipes

[FoMoJo]

That '51 Merc is truly a work of art. 

[Rupert]

That Ferrari is pretty bad, but I have a certain appreciation for the color scheme.