Bobby Darrin's, Barris built Merc was just sittin' there...

on the side of the road.

I was driving down a local street in San Jose, and I see a chopped, carson topped, wide whited, appleton spotted, candy purple Merc turn left on a side street,....... so naturally I followed it. As I catch up with it the driver pulls over and gets out of the car & walks across the street.

I slow down to let him cross & drive SLOWLY by the Merc when..... wait, what this? A Barris badge on the front fender. SCREEEEEEEEECH (sound of me slamming on brakes) I pulled over just ahead of the merc & got out.

As I circle the car ooogling it, I begin to notice some EXTENSIVE later 50's custom touches on it. 53 Buick headlights with scoops over them, a '56 Cad dagmar bumper & stock merc grille completed the front end treatment while a completely shaved body, fender skirts & tunneled peaked 50ish Pontiac taillights mounted to the sides of the rear fenders completed the picture. It had bias-ply white Firestones on it and was LOW (though not airbag low)

At this point I am convinced it IS a Barris built Merc, not just some knockoff with the badge on the fender.

The owner approached and I kindly said in disbelief, "This is a Barris car." (as if he wasn't aware of that).

"Yep, have you ever seen a Barris car?" the owner asked.
"I've only seen a few in person."
"Well, good for you." (sorta condescending)
" When was it built?" I ask.
"1957 for Bobby Darrin."
"How long have you had it?"
"A few years."
"Are you from around here?"
"YEP."

Meanwhile he gets in his car and cranks it up. It sounded like an OHV motor, but DIDN'T sound like an SBC. I'm personally hoping it was like a 331 Cad motor.

I felt like I could've quizzed the poor guy all night, but he obviously had somewhere to be and started pulling away.

"WOW" is all I could say
"Yeah, I'm pretty happy with it."

And, off he went to the sound of glasspacks and a well-tuned Caddy motor (I hope).

So,what's the deal with this car? Any of you Custom car historians got any pics from back in the day? Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked on the whole affair.

-r

 

The car sounds cool - the owner sounds like an ass!

 

Was it this one?

 

Yep, that'd be the one. Cool as shit.

The owner could've been a little more easy going, but I don't care, at least I got to see a Barris car in my neighborhood getting driven.

 

[ QUOTE ]
"Yep, have you ever seen a Barris car?" the owner asked.
"I've only seen a few in person."
"Well, good for you." (sorta condescending)


[/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ]
"WOW" is all I could say
"Yeah, I'm pretty happy with it."


[/ QUOTE ]

What else is new? A guy with a BAD ASS car who looks down his nose at other people and just generly acts like a prick.

 

Not that it matters to us, but to him it might have.....what were you driving?


He sounded like a real ass.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Was it this one?

[/ QUOTE ]

Strange...that Merc was found near Ft. Collins, ColoRODo quite a few years by a friend of mine that re-did it...then he moved to Cali and sold it there...in his research he never once said it was "built for Bobby Darin"...and that's something that one would certainly remember...sounds a bit fishy to me!!!
R-

 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Was it this one?

[/ QUOTE ]

Strange...that Merc was found near Ft. Collins, ColoRODo quite a few years by a friend of mine that re-did it...then he moved to Cali and sold it there...in his research he never once said it was "built for Bobby Darin"...and that's something that one would certainly remember...sounds a bit fishy to me!!!
R-

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Did you happen to get the guys name? Maybe it was Darin's ghost......wooooooo, scaaarrrry.........lol

 

I remember seeing that car at a Longmont ColoRODon's show in the early 80's. Has always been in my mind one of the coolest 39 merc customs I've ever seen. Glad to see it still looks the same.

 

[/ QUOTE ]Did you happen to get the guys name? Maybe it was Darin's ghost......wooooooo, scaaarrrry.........lol

[/ QUOTE ]


What guy you talking about one low? My friend -- the guy that found it and resurrected it? Or the original owner he bought it from?
R-

 

[ QUOTE ]
Yep, that'd be the one. Cool as shit.

[/ QUOTE ]

That pic was at Paso last May, but I have seen it round here, the guy drives it a lot...

Which is how it should be

See you Thursday at the Happy Days??

Dave

 

A guy (Bill Ryan) who lives near my garage owns the Villa Riviara, that was built by Barris for Bobby Darrin. I've never heard Bill mention that Darrin also had a Merc buit by Barris also.

I'll run it by Bill next time I see him cause I know he phones George a few times a month.

Billy

 

Yeah, I wanted to ask the guy his name, but his mood didn't seem right so I let it go. I'd think a car like that would've received at least some mag coverage in the day. Any mag coverage would DEFINITELY mention Bobby Darrin as the owner.
So 40Stude, what motor is it runnin'? Feel free to lie and tell me it's a Cad motor.

-r

 

I've got to say though, seeing that car out of its normal context (i.e. at a car show) was pretty cool. It kind of gave me a glimpse at what a guy in the 50's would feel like seeing a heavily modified car amongst throngs of bland stockers.

The current owner may have known it wasn't Bobby Darrin's car and threw that out there to add to my amazement. That would make him a liar, but I still wouldn't trade this evenings experience.

If I see him again I'll really GRILL him on the origins of his car.

-r

 

[ QUOTE ]
So 40Stude, what motor is it runnin'? Feel free to lie and tell me it's a Cad motor.

[/ QUOTE ]

To tell you the truth, I don't remember what was in it when my friend Lanny purchased it...nor do I remember if it was a Caddy...or something else.

I do agree, there's gotta be magazine coverage of it somewhere...Barris wouldn't let the opportunity for a singer/movie star like Darin to simply take the car and go away...
R-

 

I have seen that Merc in various magazines and have always loved the styling approach as it uses the Caddy tits very well. However, I have only seen it listed as a Barris built car recently, and only now have I ever heard that it was built for or owned by Darrin. I just do not understand why a car with that much extensive restyling, AND being owned by Darrin never became published in any of the Barris books or in any major mags that I have seen from the 50s .

 

i do not believe that car was ever "FULLY" authenticated as a Barris original. I remember reading the he said. "It certainly looks like one of mine" but no documentation has ever been presented. That Bobby Darrin stuff is PURE bull, just like the fact that the new owner REMOVED the old suspension and early mill in favor of some late model BS after smacking the car up in traffic. The wheels & tires are just a little off for a period custom, as is the House of Kolors purple.

 

[ QUOTE ]
i do not believe that car was ever "FULLY" authenticated as a Barris original. I remember reading the he said. "It certainly looks like one of mine" but no documentation has ever been presented. That Bobby Darrin stuff is PURE bull, just like the fact that the new owner REMOVED the old suspension and early mill in favor of some late model BS after smacking the car up in traffic. The wheels & tires are just a little off for a period custom, as is the House of Kolors purple.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. I really doubt the whole Darrin story, and George would have definitely remembered a 39-40 Merc with a restyling that wild

 

so who's showing up for happy daze diner thursday night?

 

I actually went to Colorado to see that car before Lanny acquired it, as I recall it was being auctioned.
Even tho it had a barris decal (may have been a "Kustoms of America" decal) on the windshield and a "Kustoms of America" Plaque in the glove box, I had my doubts (still do) that it was a Barris car.
There was no mention of it ever being Bobby Darin's car.
Not to be a smart ass, but the "Villa Riviera" was built for the 64 movie "For Those That Think Young" starring James Darren, not Bobby Darin, and James never owned the car.
Mick

 

Dosen't strike me as Barris style, a little too busy in the front. But thats just me.............OLDBEET

 

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so who's showing up for happy daze diner thursday night?

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I'll be there.... As the weather forecast is so good for the rest of the week, figure this could be the 1st big one of the year...

 

OOOOhhhhhhhh, I LOVE a good mystery !!!!

 

Hey 40Stude,
Is this the car that had the door propped open with a can of spray undercoating, then the can got crushed and exploded in the interior? Happened way back in Colorado days?

alchemy

 

Another pic from GG's last year.

 

So, they still run the cruise at Happy Daze, eh? That's been going on for a while. I used to hit that one all the time, before I moved from Campbell to AZ eight years ago.

 

It was KUSTOMS of AMERICA, stuff if I remember right, Not BARRIS doo-ha's,, beautiful car but it looks a little to differrent up front, I think that is the one that was wrecked, and rebuilt!

if barris had something to do with it,
it was minor. if he DID the WHOLE CAR, he would have for sure used it in features with magazines to show what was hot...

Who did BUILD the car? and whats the HISTORY with DARIN?

 

Huh, I guess even back when that car was built it was SUPERKEWL to have a Barris badge on the fender.

The choice of wheels is certainly regrettable.

I'd still like to find out the story on it, but more than that I'd like to run into the owner again and REALLY get it out of him.

Maybe George doesn't remeber this Merc because Sam built it in the middle of the night in a DRUNKEN RAGE. Or maybe Bobby Darrin was really Sam Barris. The possibilities are endless!

I'll be at the ol' Happy Days, you can't miss me, I'll be the one with the Blue 2 ft. Mohawk.... not really. I'll prolly drive the Ford or the '59 Cad.

-r

 

maybe florida built it?

well no, because it would be fenderless,
and have some SIDEBURNED DRUNK JERRY LEWIS. hanging out signing ORANGES

 

[ QUOTE ]

Not to be a smart ass, but the "Villa Riviera" was built for the 64 movie "For Those That Think Young" starring James Darren, not Bobby Darin, and James never owned the car.
Mick

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Mick, Thanks for the clear up. I saw Bill Ryan today after work and asked him about it & he told me the same thing you did. My mistake.

Billy