Do you guys believe everything you read? Just because an article supposedly "quotes" what someone said doesn't mean its accurate. Reporters get it wrong all the time. Watch the news any time there is some tragedy. You'll get a dozen different numbers and ages of victims. Barris might have lied or he might have said something like "it took 3 years to build" or something to that affect and the reporter just ***umed Barris meant he himself built it and quoted as "It took ME 3 years to build".
HMMM, I'm sure there are countless Roth drawings that HE DID NOT draw, but signed. To me it doesn't really matter, it's the P***ion the person has, both the original builder and the one who took it to another level, whether it's a car or drawing. We're all in it for the same reason, right? Ken
George Barris ... that is the greedy brother of Sam , aint it ... ? He have pimped the Barris-name for what it`s worth , and is probably comfortable with that fact . George have played his cards , and will have to live with his loss ... "George is an ins***ution.( He's done amazing things`( ? )). I don't want to step on anyone's toes. But it's good for the people who did the work to get credit for it." Well put !!!!! Klaz
I guess Hot Wheels are excluded. Cause damn if they don't look like some of the Hot rods and Customs built within the last 10 years in that god forsaken Rat Rod series. Ken
I've also had him sign a few books I have. To me his signature looks like "Sam Barris". At first I thought it was Sam, I didn't know he'd p***ed, and I didn't know one Barris from the other.
Is this what you're talking about? I caught this at a show in Corpus last year. As a matter of fact the CC show is coming up May 25th and it will be a good show. Be sure to come on down to the seaside.
Yea, and I freaked out when he signed the newspaper article. I could care less about an autograph. And then Alex pointed it out that it is my favorite coupe "The Chrisman coupe"........Barris.......Hmmm. Oh yea, that is a scan from an article from the KC paper and I showed it to George at the World of Wheels a couple of years back and he said "yep, that is my old coupe" and then "sharpied" across the front. Chris
It had to happen, i'm surprised it took as long as it did. With the sue happy lawyers lurking at every corner i'm surprised someone hasn't taken him to the cleaners. Sad.
If you were getting in line to buy one of my t-shirts or coffee mugs or pay your money to get into my museum, I'd sign any ol' thing you ask me to. Send me a picture with my finger up my *** and $15 and I'll sign it.
To be totally honest, I'm a little surprised about the p***ionate responces on this thread. History is what it is, and it isn't always pretty... If anybody here jumped to the wrong conclusion, just prove him wrong and that will be the end of it. We still have the chance to unravel some of this stuff before all the major players have p***ed away, so why wouldnt we try?
I agree metalshapes... I think that the fame just got to him. Look at the attention he gets at all these car shows he goes to. He's even admitted to 'not rembering' cars he's built over the years. what makes you think he doesn't actually believe he had parts in building stuff that he infact didn't? He is, after all, 80.
What is the big deal about signing a car...it does not imply that it was built by him. How many of us have gone to a car show and seen a Foose signature or a Shelby signature on a car that they did not build or was claiming to build.
Where would George be without his brother Sam, **** Dean,and all the others who actually got their hands dirty ? Certainly not parading around like royalty, cashing in on the hard work of others.
He might be driving a truck. Just like they might have ended up driving a truck without George to promote the work.
Exactly. We may have never had the chance to see any of these guys work if it wasn't for Georges need for recognition good or bad.
Uh, yeah, like 75% of everything with "Roth" and a fly or two on it. Difference is, he admitted it--and paid each respective artist for their work (making it legally his) before scribbling his name on it. People can stick up Barris all they want, but for an individual with more "legitimate" fames to claim to than any other custom car icon in history, I think it's pretty discrediting. Oh, and wvenfield, if anyone has a picture of "you" with "your" thumb up your ***, well, I think you should be more worried about paying them.
Rob do you need a hug? My intentions were nothing negative on Roth and Gene (Both great men in my mind), just pointing an instance. It's just that it happens to every great person now and then and with George, it happens all the time (he's a 50/50 kinda guy, there may be 50 great thing that's true and 50 that just makes him look a little less humble). Claiming something that isn't 100% theirs and giving credit where credit is do. Or where the info is wrong, weither it's the media or the person. I've come to the conclustion that he's not gonna change and feel I know him for what HE has done. I try to read-up all the great men in this hobby and women too and draw my own opinion. I mean, you have to go out and search it, the old mags and talk to the guys that were around in the 50's, 60's, etc. This stuff is not gonna jump in your lap, right? When you hear something about an instance (person or car), you take it with a grain of salt, but when you hear several times from different people, well, you have to wonder sometimes, a make your own opinion. Hey, If I'm wrong, great, tell me, but don't tell me to stick a thumb up my ***, hell, my girfriend would think im nuts. Ken
This past Meadowbrook George was apparently given some honor and I bumped into him a couple of times and I said hi and he kind of looked at me funny the first time (he doesn't know me from Adam) but said hello the second. I also saw him at the recent Amelia Island Concours at a restauarant where he was eating alone and at the airport where he was alone. Almost sad in a way. Much in this post has been what he is taking credit for and has not done. I also like to give credit where credit is due but if someone asked me if I could identify any of his work other than the Batmobile I would have to say I plead ignorance. If George is King of the Kustomizers can anyone enlighten me as to what famous kustoms he should be given full credit for? Maybe we can put a positive spin on this thread-who knows.-Jim
Barris has been taking credit for things he didn't do for years now. Here is a direct quote from his own website under the "history" section. . George formed "Kustoms of Los Angeles," which was initially restricted to Barris customers and later became "Kustoms of America." The group grew out of weekend custom runs which George help put together. Kustoms of America is still a major club today that has a major cruise in Paso Robles. The club is called "west coast Kustoms" and Barris had absolutely nothging to do with it. He didn't even come to the first 15 Shows because he had other plans for memorial day. One small example of many. Craig
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