Perhaps it is just me but how come when you read about the Barris brothers iconic cars they are the ones done by Sam? 49 merc,Hirohita merc,Ala Kart etc. George built the Batmobile. So what did George build that is cool? Or is he just the salesman?
George Barris did so much for the popularity of custom cars, that we can say without doubt that without his efforts the custom car scene from the late 40's till today would have not be the same. Far from it... George promotes this passion like nobody else!!! Yes George built custom car that where great back then and still would be if they where around today. Before George began taking photos and writing magazine articles on the cars and How To articles, he was working metal just as hard as Sam or anybody else at the shop. George was a promotor from then on, but still worked in the shop, designing, and giving directions. Yes this has been covered before... and with a man with as much influence as George has it can never be mention enough! Sam Barris had probably more talent as a body man and custom car stylist than George had. But its the combination of the qualities each of these two man had, that created Barris Kustoms. Some samples of George his work. One of his first personal customs... And they don't get much better than George his 1941 Buick And the following photos are not just posed photos!
as far as promoting the custom car, few did as much as Barris. i mean you can build the coolest custom ever, but if nobody ever sees it or knows about it, it doesn't mean anything to anyone but you.
I think people on this board need to learn their history of custom cars and what George contributed as a builder, designed, photographer and promoter before they go spouting off about stuff they clearly know nothing about. Listen to Rikster there is no one more knowledgable than he is when it comes to the history of customs.
Wait, the Batmobile saved the Futura. I was under the impression it would have been destroyed had this not happened. Besides it saved Gotham City!
i'm sure the george barris bashers will be out in full force yet again, but the man deserves his due credit, especially here of all places..he was an excellent metalman, actually he was taught quite a bit from harry westergard,,,george is the one that taught sam to do metalwork and convinced him to go into the customizing business..when things got rolling, george focused mainly on the promotion, photography, designing, & accessory sales aspect of the business, as those proved to be his greatest strengths. the important thing was they worked as a TEAM.....if sam was still alive and read some of these posts, i'm sure he'd be the first to set the record straight.
This should be compulsory reading for George Barris haters. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385721&highlight=1953+article Read it, learn the facts, and think twice before posting shit about one of the most, if not the most, influential men in Kustom history. Paul.
and how many of those people who bash barris will be remembered 50 years from now for the work they did? not a one, i'd wager.
In my family's personal experiance Sam was doing most of the work in the shop. But that doesn't mean that's how it always was. Maybe somebody (Pat Ganahl?) could write a book on this interesting duo while some of the folks that were there are still around. It's true that history tends to be rose colored but their old stories would still be a whole lot better than a bunch of opinions desquised as facts.
I dont know but if my big bro seen me hiting a chisle with a body hammer he would have kicked my ass, shrinkin hamer or smooth face I guess they do things different out west ...........just a dumb old retired bodyman
Nice Rikster.. this is a tired subject.. George Not only Built cars but he captured the whole culture for us to enjoy with his camera.. on top of that he was the king of Marketing... and at 85 years old he's the first to the shop and the last to leave every day and on the weekend he's at a car show some where in the world.. He should be respected as any legend should even if you liked or dis liked what he built. SAM
I'm Currently working on a book at Barris called "The Art of George Barris" and it covers his whole life.. The Chapter that I just pulled all the images for is written by Pat Ganahl and its is laid out and the stroy is George was customizing cars for friends after he did his 32 and got a job working at Westergaurds when Sam returned for the military they decided to open the "Barris's Shop" in Compton.. And the story goes on...
Oh man, does that bring back memories of my Dad at work. That's how he did it - brazing! And the Batmobile will always be my favorite car - it's where it all started for me! Can't wait Evel!
Practically every iconic name in customizing worked for the Barris Bros. If the Barris Bros were good enough for Bill Hines, Dick Dean, Bill Carr, Bill Decarr ,(Sp?) , Dean Jefferies, Larry Watson, Bill Cushenbery, Von Dutch, Ed Roth, Jr. Hershel (Sp?) and a long list of others, I think whatever the original poster thinks, is of little consequence.
I am friends with Larry Watson, and quite often get to hear him talk to fellow Ex Barris employees that he grew up with, and worked with and many times they talk about George working on cars, infact George painted alot of the cars that came out of that shop! I know one is the R&C Dream Truck! George worked just as much as anybody did!!! Why do people feel like they need to bash the people that started all of this! Pick up some of those little mags from the mid to late 50's George and Potter were the driving force to show guys what was going on as far as Kustomizing! Shame on any one who questions George Barris and his place in the History of Kustomizing!
The Barris Bros, had Skills beyond ours for the day.. Kisam, your right... George seen the future.. were all living it today..
By no means did I intend to stir up the hornets nest. I was simply asking a question that I never felt was answered properly in print. It seems that most magazines focus on Sam's work and never any cars done by George other than the batmobile. I was not attempting to flame anybody.
This isn't aimed at anyone. but it's ridiculous that are people out there who question Barris' place in hot rod and custom history. If you really think about it..We are truly lucky that Evel is compiling this archive of information...For real. I say this to anyone that might be curious or really loves old showcars-buy the Photography of Barris dvd. Seriously. Stick in the disc with the slide show of old photographs. It's fantastic. They truly thought from a different direction then.
The crazy part is that George had very little to do with the Batmobile. It was built by the Ford Motor Company and George got his hands on it and had Dick Dean and Bill Cushenbery, convert it for the TV series. They then made a series of clones for the photo shooting. I always liked the photo of Sam Barris standing next to his chopped Buick and has his hand backwards, feeling the bodywork.
The Jalopy Journal
