History George Barris Aztec '55 Chevy for Sale on Craigslist...

FYI, it appears that the Aztec by Barris is for sale. It's on an auction site that I am not familiar with, which is somewhat surprising to me... Maybe I'm late to the party on this one, but anyways a link is below at the bottom of the description. I am in no way affiliated with this. It's also listed on the Columbus, OH Craigslist with the following description:


https://www.clasiq.com/auction/1955-chevrolet-bel-air-barris-built-aztec/

https://columbus.craigslist.org/ctd/d/hilliard-1955-chevrolet-bel-air-aztec/7697971830.html

"The Chevy Aztec goes back to the days when brothers George and Sam Barris were just getting started. The car first made its appearance at the 1959 Detroit Autorama. It was built by Barris for his friend Bill Carr. Based on a brand new 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible, the car was modified by Barris using the imagination and talent that resulted in some of the most innovative Kustom styling tricks of the day. The current owner has had it for 30 years and now it is time for a new caretaker to enjoy. Clean and clear title in the Florida owner’s name.

-Honey Gold Candy Paint by House of Kolor
-Custom lead and bodywork including hand-formed cantilever roof by Barris' Metal-shaping Guru Bill DeCarr
-Rear fenders extended 18 inches
-Custom tail fins from a Studebaker Hawk
-Hand-formed Red lucite tail lights
-Narrowed and peaked 1957 DeSoto bumpers and mesh grille
-Custom grille openings with cut and widened 1953 Studebaker pans
-1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser headlights and fender skirts modified with scoops
-Custom chrome and fluted aluminum trim for a two-tone effect

-Correct Copper Frieze and White upholstery
-Crushed velour and matching headliner
-Tuck ‘n Roll padded dash and door panels
-Barris Crest and Aztec script on speaker grill
-Custom knobs and switches
-Classically large original white steering wheel
-Padded sun visors
-Factory AM radio
-All systems & gauges in working order
-Custom targa style top

-350 Chevy V8 small block
-Automatic transmission
-4-barrel carburetor
-Chrome valve covers
-Chrome air cleaner
-Power steering and brakes
-Dual spotlights
-Wide whitewall tires
-Full size wheel covers
-Clean engine compartment


This car is being auctioned on a new classic car auction site. We provide a professional photos and a walk around video - See the auction here - https://www.clasiq.com/auction/1955-chevrolet-bel-air-barris-built-aztec/

Call/Text: (701)-645-1182

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Blake"

 

Interesting. I'd bet the car has a pretty healthy reserve on it, and this Clasiq auction site convinced the current owner to list it there to draw attention to the new auctioneer, who's probably trying to duplicate BringATrailer's success. Gonna be a tough road, Hagerty and Hemmings are both trying to do the same thing, and they have a lot more name recognition.

If the car sells, great for the owner, if not, I'd bet this Clasiq place isn't charging them anything. A kind of hand-picked sale for publicity.

As for the car itself, I do love old customs with history and this certainly has it. It's definitely a show-only type car, or a museum display piece, not something I could see anyone putting any kind of real miles on. Cool, and I'd certainly display it proudly in my garage if I had it, but probably not a large pool of potential buyers for it.

 

Wow, love that car. One of the all time greatest tri-five Customs.
Paging @Moriarity...

 

Thanks for bringing to our attention here.

 

Hmmm........

 

I’d drive it!

 

^^^^^ With a big ole grin.

 

I still would rather the ‘56 convertible that Mark and I share, but it’s a close second.

 

I’d love to own that. Any millionaires out there that want to adopt me?

 

That would be a nice addition to the collection…. So when are you going to pick it up?

 

Reading the listing, it debuted in ‘59. Does anyone know if it was a driver for some time? Reason I ask is in the description it says a 350 is in it. Were there updates/etc done to the car over the years?

 

I’m about $210,000 short myself…

 

I’m doing a tad bit better than you…I’m only
$199,999.75 shy

 

Survivor customs are rare.
Once styles changed you had to wait a few decades for em to be appreciated again. Show rides resting in back yards and junk yards a couple years after being popular.
wonder if pointy bras will come back in style?
Wonder when/if some fancy car brand will install whitewalls causing them to be everywhere?

Cool thing about today is you can pick and chose whatever era blows up your skirt.

 

One of my favorite kustom of all time. If I had the money it would already be in my garage.
I'd drive the wheels of of it, so probably a good thing I cant buy it....

 

I think it's a great car but I don't see it as having the value that some seem to think it has. As Mark has said, this car has been for sale for quite some time. I feel like perhaps it would have made more sense to show the car nationally and tour with it when the Hirohata sold and was making the show rounds. They would have looked great together. It would have afforded the Aztec the opportunity to get back out in public eye on a larger stage and capitalize on some of the Barris buzz that was occurring with the sale of the Hirohata.

I sort of get the impression that some feel because of the Barris pedigree, that this car is in the same class as the Hirohata, Sam Barris Merc, Matranga, etc., and I don't see that. Those cars are legendary, milestone builds that set the trends and have almost universal appeal from true car people through the general public. The Aztec, the El Capitola, etc., are much more polarizing builds that have much less historical significance.

There's also the issue of what to do with it. You can't really change it. It would defeat the purpose. But you also couldn't REALLY drive it as well. It has no roof. As much as I would love to own it, am I going to put my kid in it and drive to Waffle House?

Killer car though. The real deal.

 

At least at one point in it's life, it did have a "targa" (for lack of a better word) filler panel for the open area in the roof. I'm guessing it still does, and just isn't shown with it since this is a bit more dramatic looking. But otherwise yes, I agree with you fully.

 

Relevant (and quite fascinating) quote from Kustomrama

"In 2011 the Aztec was reunited with Dean Jeffries' 1956 Porsche 356 Carrera at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Bobby Wilcoxson who bought the car from Bill Carr in 1962 was a notorious bank robber, and his partner in crime Albert Nussbaum bought Dean Jeffries' Porsche at the same time as Bobby."

 

That's interesting, I never knew that. Come to think of it, I've never seen a picture of it with that targa top, would like to see that. Probably looks wack as hell, to be honest.

 

With the top:

 

Huh. Actually looks a lot better than it does with the top open. Restores the flow that the car was missing.

 

Thanks for adding pics of the car with the full top. I like it much better with the insert than without.

 

If it didn’t reach its reserve in 2020 what has changed that it’s worth more than $150000 ?
The car has quite a history involving shady individuals and the FBI . Built using a new car with 150 on the clock , then saved from the crusher and rebuilt to its former glory. WOW If sold the new owner should have a Padre bless it with Holy Water to be on the safe side lol

 

Thanks for adding the pictures, really makes the car!