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VINTAGE: The Batmobile’s Journey From George Barris To Barrett-Jackson
The one-and-only crime-fighting car from the ‘Batman’ TV series of the 1960s is coming to auction at the Scottsdale event in January.
Famed customizer George Barris (right) and grandson Jared Barris get the Batmobile loaded on the truck headed to Barrett-Jackson. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
George Barris, the legendary “King of Kustomizers,” bid farewell to his most-celebrated creation on Tuesday as the original Batmobile hit the road, bound for the Barrett-Jackson collector-car auction in January.
The gregarious Barris varied from sad emotion to hamming it up for the cameras as the one-and-only Batmobile was rolled into a huge transporter van for the 380-mile trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where Barrett-Jackson’s flagship event takes place.
And as usual with Barris, the Batmobile going-away party was a family affair.
“I’ve had this car in my family since 1966,” said Barris, 87, as he watched the famed TV car being loaded into the truck. “I just feel like it’s time to let other people share it.”
Along with Barris as the car left Barris Kustom Industries in North Hollywood were his daughter, Joji Barris-Paster; son-in-law Barry Paster; and the grandson who represents the next generation of custom-car builders, Jared Barris.
“It’s a big day for this family,” said Jared Barris, 23, who works at the custom-car business with George. “It’s been in the family since my Mom was a little girl. You don’t realize how much it means to you until it’s going.”
Jared drove the black-and-orange Batmobile as it emerged from its garage at Barris’ place, while George rode on the passenger-side door ledge, parade-style, pretending to talk on the Bat Phone, one of the crime-fighting car’s most-memorable make-believe gadgets.
Minutes later, it was on the truck’s liftgate. A small crowd gathered to regale Barris with memories of the 1966-68 Batman TV show and have their photos taken with the Batmobile. Two Los Angeles police officers were among the gawkers.
George Barris watched quietly as the truck door closed for the last time on his Batmobile.
“I’m getting like my daughter and starting to cry,” Barris said.
Barris and his crew famously created the unique crime-fighting vehicle for the campy new Batman TV show in just two weeks, using as its template the 1955 Lincoln Futura show car, a futuristic, bubble-top concept built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia.
By happy accident, Barris had the Futura in his possession when he was approached in 1965 by the Batman producers who needed it ASAP for the upcoming series.
Barris kept the car after the TV series ended, using it for shows and displays over the years. This is the first time the car has ever been offered for sale.
The North Hollywood business where Barris and his crew created so many TV and movie memories is a fun and funky private museum that celebrates the many custom cars built by Barris for TV shows, movies and an impressive host of celebrities.
Every inch of wall space is covered with movie posters and scores of black-and-white photos of celebrities and their cars, most of them posing with a younger Barris back in the day. They range from Clark Gable and John Wayne to Mister T, Michael Jackson, and John and Yoko Lennon.
Every inch of shelf space, showcases and desk tops are covered with a countless hoard of car toys, models and memorabilia, with more than 50 models of the Batmobile among them.
The gregarious Barris varied from sad emotion to hamming it up for the cameras as the one-and-only Batmobile was rolled into a huge transporter van for the 380-mile trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where Barrett-Jackson’s flagship event takes place.
And as usual with Barris, the Batmobile going-away party was a family affair.
“I’ve had this car in my family since 1966,” said Barris, 87, as he watched the famed TV car being loaded into the truck. “I just feel like it’s time to let other people share it.”
Along with Barris as the car left Barris Kustom Industries in North Hollywood were his daughter, Joji Barris-Paster; son-in-law Barry Paster; and the grandson who represents the next generation of custom-car builders, Jared Barris.
“It’s a big day for this family,” said Jared Barris, 23, who works at the custom-car business with George. “It’s been in the family since my Mom was a little girl. You don’t realize how much it means to you until it’s going.”
Jared drove the black-and-orange Batmobile as it emerged from its garage at Barris’ place, while George rode on the passenger-side door ledge, parade-style, pretending to talk on the Bat Phone, one of the crime-fighting car’s most-memorable make-believe gadgets.
Minutes later, it was on the truck’s liftgate. A small crowd gathered to regale Barris with memories of the 1966-68 Batman TV show and have their photos taken with the Batmobile. Two Los Angeles police officers were among the gawkers.
George Barris watched quietly as the truck door closed for the last time on his Batmobile.
“I’m getting like my daughter and starting to cry,” Barris said.
Barris and his crew famously created the unique crime-fighting vehicle for the campy new Batman TV show in just two weeks, using as its template the 1955 Lincoln Futura show car, a futuristic, bubble-top concept built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia.
By happy accident, Barris had the Futura in his possession when he was approached in 1965 by the Batman producers who needed it ASAP for the upcoming series.
Barris kept the car after the TV series ended, using it for shows and displays over the years. This is the first time the car has ever been offered for sale.
The North Hollywood business where Barris and his crew created so many TV and movie memories is a fun and funky private museum that celebrates the many custom cars built by Barris for TV shows, movies and an impressive host of celebrities.
Every inch of wall space is covered with movie posters and scores of black-and-white photos of celebrities and their cars, most of them posing with a younger Barris back in the day. They range from Clark Gable and John Wayne to Mister T, Michael Jackson, and John and Yoko Lennon.
Every inch of shelf space, showcases and desk tops are covered with a countless hoard of car toys, models and memorabilia, with more than 50 models of the Batmobile among them.
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