Hey, Oops! Not only was the "Black Beauty" not a Lincoln, but a Chrysler Imperial, but Virgil Exner had nothing to do with that design. That era of Imperial was the design work of Elwood Engle. Now than, we get into another snafu as wile Engle was head of design at Chrysler at that time, did he actually pen the Imperial's lines? Well, perhaps some of them. Elwood Engle came to Chrysler from Ford's design dept., where he worked on such vehicles as the big Lincoln Continental. Study the lines of the Imperial and than the Continental's lines, they're pure Engle. Swankey Devils C.C.
Ask Barris! He will tell you he built them all. He has even tried taking credit for building the cars from Graffiti.
Ask Barris he will tell you he built them all! He tries to take credit for building the Graffiti cars.
I know, I know,... I've already been sufficiently SPANKED for my stupidity. I hit the submit button then a while later realized what I'd done. Thought about editting the thread but decided to take my lumps. Apollogies to Mr. Engle, He's actually been a large influence on My own design inerests and I'm familliar with his involvement at both Ford and Chrysler. (Exner being responsible for the Valiant, Dart (Big not little) and the "toilet seat." and many, many more bold and daring designs. I'm still choking down the humble pie, please get me some water and throw me a life preserver.
Hey Jigger, Don't feel bad. About twenty -odd years ago I sat in on a lecture on automotive design on the Ford Mustang, the first generation. The talk was given by a notable design figure, and he talked about "Iaccoca's Mustang" ad nausium,' bout how "he" worked very hard to get the lines right, to get the car right. Now Lee Iaccoca was many things, mainly a salesman, but I really doubt he could draw flys, much less automobiles. History did, however give him credit for the Mustang. Swankey Devils C.C.
Age is catching up to ol' George. He thinks he built the General Lee, Kitt and Karr as well. I seem to remember a thread a while back mentioning that the Aztec was built in his shop but not by him. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the Batmobile bought -almost- finished as a concept car from Ford? Shawn
Lido was in charge when the Mustang was built but that's about it. His autobiography is quite interesting and a really good read. He doesn't take credit for the Mustang in his book but he does explain how the design and marketing came about. History gives him credit for the Mustang but he doesn't seem to walk around saying he designed it. Iacocca is as much to blame for the MiniVan as the Mustang. Shawn
Hey Shawn, The "Batmobile" was infact, a finished concept /show car before the Barris shop got they're hands on it. The" '55 Futura" as it was known in its first life, did the show sean for a year or two. Why it wasn't destroyed after Ford Motor Co. was done with it is a good question. Barris must have picked up the Futura in late'64-early'65, as the T.V. show aired in '66 I'm rememberin'. From that the Batmobile was born. I think they made three or four clones. I got lead on a wild goose-chase in the late 70s when a guy told me he owned the "Batmobile". It turned out to be one of the plastic copies, nodoubt, splashed off the original Futura/ Barris batmobile. Talk about cheesy! this thing was ridin' on a '65- '66 Olds frame. Swankey Devils C.C.
From what I've heard for years, George Barris never actually "built" anything. All of the cars that he takes credit for were designed and built by paid employees or the work farmed out to other shops. George was (and is supposedly) a promotor type, not a custom car building icon like Windfield or Cushenbery. If I'm wrong here, please tell me. Jan
Hey, Jan, ya pretty much nailed it! From those who were around ,and worked the kustom sceen that I've spoken with, from the time that George and Sam parted company, with Sam moving up to nourthern California, George became contractor of other's talents. Swankey Devils C.C.
First couple of pics are the '55 Lincoln Futura concept Car. Ghia in Italy built the Body. Both Barris & Cushenberry claim they turned it into the Batmobile. Personally, I believe Bill Cushenberry... There were 'Glass copys, and here is a pic of a body I recently saw on Ebay. Edit. Some more info on the Futura. http://www.1966batmobile.com/background.htm and http://www.1966batfan.com/futurabat.htm
Barris is full of it....the Bill Clinton of the custom world.............only Barris groped more women.....................
Well Jeffries had long since left Barris employ when all of the cars were created. Barris had nothing to do with the Monkeemobile, The Manta Ray or the Black Beauty. (except making clones of them years later) Barris almost had nothing to do with the Batmobile, his most famous creation (well actually the creation of many talented members of his shop and the studio designers who steered the build) Jeffries first got the call from William Dozier but he could not deliver in the short time so he passed. I have never had a bad encounter with Barris but you have to take his claims with a grain of salt. Jeffries on the other hand is not a customizer his is truly a designer and artist and as nice a guy as you would ever want to meet. I speak to him on a regular basis and he is always super nice and giving of his time and that is not because I own one of the two Green Hornet Black Beauties he built. Some may ask why he does not fight Barris or take him to court. Well that is not Jeffries style, he is a quiet man who believes in Karma and he knowe George will get what is coming to him. In fact if it was not for Jeffries long long ago Barris shop would have burned to the ground. It was Dean who saw the fire and called the Fire Department in the nick of time.
Would be nice to see a book written with and about Jeffries. With LOT'S of photo's. (hint, hint, Mr. Gahnal).
I'm glad that this thread has resurfaced after laying dormant for such a period of time. Dean is the real deal. He has no hidden agendas and will tell it like it is. As I said earlier in this thread, if you want to know the answer to the question, pick up the phone and call Dean. He will answer the phone himself and talk to you without bullshit. You will like this guy, for sure.
Jeffries built it, Barris takes credit. Old story. There's even something in there about "hiding" the car for years.
Who cares? Both cars are show-biz crap and not worth consideration. Didn't Jeffries have a '47 Merc convert while in high school? Any pictures of that cool ride?
Here's to Dean Jeffries...pinstriper,monster shirt artist,showcar builder..... Death Race 2000...... Hilarious.
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