George Barris - How good was he? Really?

I mean no offense at all with any of this. That being said, I’m sure this will all go to hell in just a minute anyway.

Serious question: How good was George Barris really? I’m not a big custom fan but I’ve been around long enough to have seen much of his work. Some of it is downright awful from a design standpoint. The few pieces I’ve seen in person haven’t blown me away with outstanding workmanship either. Sure, most of it is nice enough but it still isn’t anything many “unknowns” here couldn’t knock out themselves. I saw the Rickshaw (below) in a “museum” yesterday & was amazed by what a cobbled together POS it was.

From what I’ve seen, Sam was the Barris with an eye for design.

“King of the Kustomizers” or “King of the Hollywood Movie Car"?

JH

 

You mean how good is he don't you, he ain't dead yet.

 

I'm aware.

From what I've seen he isn't building customs anymore though.

JH

 

Harrison -

I think you hit it on the nose. Sam had all the customizing talent.

George is a tasteless hack, who's main prowess seemed to be in foisting off his ugly shit to Hollywood. His "legacy" of work speaks for itself.

Well, he made good money - and got himself elevated to icon status in the eyes of many, so what the hell - he's not the first or last in the automotive world to do that.

 

I met George Barris a while back at an auto show and he was a very nice guy. Even though there was a huge lineup of people waiting to talk to him he spent at least 20 mins talking to me telling me what I could do as a young guy to get into the custom car business.Even said if i ever came to California he would give me a tour of his shop.One thing you have to remember most of the cars Barris made were for film and T.V. and because of this most of these cars had very tight deadlines for completion. So because of this the quality wasn't always perfect in some area's of the car which didn't matter because it would not be seen on film. I saw the fireball 500 and it was unrestored and looked to be in great shape other then a few scratches and dings. George Barris is still building cars one of them is a hybrid roadster that should be pretty cool. How can ya say stuff about the guy who built The Batmobile one of the coolest cars ever.

 

what about his 36 fords....before sam came into the picture?
when he was under the influence of westergard
thats the cars that draw me in!

 

I think it goes like this. Either You like it or You don't. I like some more than others.

There was a Barris car in my friend's fab shop, the owner wanted it brought back the way it was. Some changes were made through the years! I saw the car close up. It was neat for it's time & still is. Some of the work was crude, for today's standards. Cutting, brazing etc. It was covered up You couldn't see it, It worked. The outside was fine.

Lot's of His work was, like Today's "theme" creation's. The long & the short of it. It got our interest! He created a foundation for Rod builders like You & me, along with other Name's through the year's.

 

This subject has been beaten to death.

George has accomplished alot in his career, more than you or I ever could, but the fame must have got to him- because around 1966 or so thats when the abortion vehicles started.

 

george is a great showman i think there isn,t many cars that george did the work himself but he did help bring customs to the people but i know there are many people out there (and alot on the hamb)that do alot better work

 

no doubt Sam had the better eye for design but George was a GREAT promoter. keep in mind he was building stuff for T.V. and the movies and most of those vehicles are not so nice when looked at up close. ever seen any of the Monster Garage cars? same thing. any movie car i've seen in person was a serious let down in terms of quality and attention to detail. thats just the name of the game and for the builders it is just about money in the end.

i think George did real well for himself and is good at what he does/did. as far as beautiful kustom cars go we could debate it forever but I THINK Sam had the real talent in that department. and thats not ment to take anything away from George or his incredible career.

 

I met George Barris a while back at an auto show and he was a very nice guy. Even though there was a huge lineup of people waiting to talk to him he spent at least 20 mins talking to me telling me what I could do as a young guy to get into the custom car business.Even said if i ever came to California he would give me a tour of his shop.One thing you have to remember most of the cars Barris made were for film and T.V. and because of this most of these cars had very tight deadlines for completion. So because of this the quality wasn't always perfect in some area's of the car which didn't matter because it would not be seen on film. I saw the fireball 500 and it was unrestored and looked to be in great shape other then a few scratches and dings. George Barris is still building cars one of them is a hybrid roadster that should be pretty cool. Also how can ya say this about a guy who built the Batmobile.

 

Actually the Batmobile was built by Ford Motor Co. as a concept car. George painted it with bat fuzz.
George is George. No one has done more, good or bad. If you are talking the history of custom cars, he will always be in the conversation.

 

I, built the "Batmobile". Back then a kit was a plastic car(sound familiar?) but the box said" Lincoln Futura" or sumthin like that and cost a lot less tham the "kits" today.

 

Speak for yourself.

I've not given up yet.

JH

 

George Barris was a legend....
George Barris IS a legend......
And ,He always will be a legend.....
There is a good reason he is,..... what he is considered to be.....
TALENT.

 

Not every goofball walking the planet can see beauty in a perfect chop or a nailhead with six strombergs. Barris builds shit for the masses and knows how to get people to smile--- even if some of his creations don't jive with us.

 

Sure most of the work was done by Sam but George tought Sam body and fender when he returned from the military.
Have you seen some of the stuff Heines or Winfield or DeRosa or almost any of them did at times? George is still the "King Of Kustoms".

 

I have never really been into full blown customs but its hard not to like car like the Hirotaha merc,,,,,heck,,even the Barris built Ala Kart and the Emperor were custom hot rods,,,and don't forget the Beach Boys Deuce Coupe,,

As a kid I thought the Beverly Hillybillys truck was cool,,,George and Sam did a bunch of promotion and TV cars,,,yeah,,I think the Barris name still has credibility. HRP

 

NO ONE on this little message board has the right, talent or body of work to ever question George Barris. You could 10 times the AMOUNT of cars and not even scratch the surface on the impact he has made and will always be respected for.

 

word

 

Please accept apologies for everyone who even dared question the talent of this legendary icon of humanity.......................

WOW

 

Well, sure we do.


King of Kustomizers is DIRECTLY attached to all the Hollywood movie car stuff. George seems to be a super guy in person, but I don't feel his passion is about line or form, it's about the promotion. Just my opinion, of course.

 

Talent at bullshitting and marketing. Not building cars.

 

Show me a car HE built....with his own hands and I'll tell you how good he was...........really.

Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.

 

OK, so I have seen a lot of George bashing on here and heard it other places but what cars did George ACTUALLY work on? I mean got down and did actual body (hammer in hand) and paint (spray gun in hand) Yes there is no doubt on his promotional abilities but What did he do. Judge on those I say. George has given me the time to talk when I met him and I thank him for that. He even replied to me when I had some artwork ideas to bounce off him. Yes Sam was a great builder and he stands on his own in my opinion.

So show me some cars that George had his hands in and leave out the later show stuff.

As a kid I was blown away by the Batmobile when I saw it in it's early fuzzy form, and thinking back on this event I will always see it as on of the most influential moments in my interest in cars with a different mindset.

BR

 

Chuck Barris, hell of a game show host.

 

And I really dug his guitar and Duckwalk.....................