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George Barris - Barris Kustom cars Prius

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Hawk, Mar 6, 2006.

  1. Hawk

    Hawk New Member

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    George Barris
    IN THIS FEATURE
    The humble hybrid
    Barris kustom cars
    From green to mean
    A hybrid hotrod?

    Barris, best known for creating TV's original Batmobile, has been in the custom business for more than 60 years. At his workshop in North Hollywood, Barris has built countless star cars including such classics as The Munsters' Koach, The Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee, Starsky and Hutch's Gran Torino and Knight Rider's KITT.

    Barris Kustom cars - you have to spell it with a K, says George - are part of Hollywood history and, thanks to his latest project, he's a part of Hollywood's future as well.

    Barris explains: 'The New York Times contacted me and asked me what I thought of the Prius and I thought that style-wise it could be a nice project for Kustomizing.'


    George's most famous creation: the Batmobile
    Toyota USA provided the car, with the caveat that Barris wouldn't chop the Prius up in his trademark style or mess with the complex electronics.

    'They told us to go ahead and do some character work on the car without affecting the warranty.'

    On a budget of US$10,000 and in just nine days, Barris and his team transformed the unassuming Prius into a major head-turner.


    Full Story
     
    #1 Hawk, Mar 6, 2006
  2. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    #2 ScottY, Mar 6, 2006
  3. Hawk

    Hawk New Member

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    Ya, I was not to impressed either but you have to keep in mined this is the guy that made kit and the bat mobile. He is not exactly a relevant car customizer.
     
    #3 Hawk, Mar 6, 2006
  4. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    #4 Danny, Mar 6, 2006
  5. larkinmj

    larkinmj New Member

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    I don't care how famous George Barris is, I've never thought much of his "talent." And his bastardization of the Prius is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.

    Michael
     
    #5 larkinmj, Mar 6, 2006
  6. Hawk

    Hawk New Member

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    No worries, happy to contribute. This site was a huge help in my decision to purchase my 06 Prius. Just got it last week.
     
    #6 Hawk, Mar 6, 2006
  7. Begreen

    Begreen Member

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    Congratulations on the nice new addition Hawk. Thanks for the post. I'll be watching out for you around Seattle.

    Boy that Barris Prius bastard is butt ugly :p
     
    #7 Begreen, Mar 6, 2006
  8. tideland_raj

    tideland_raj New Member

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    #8 tideland_raj, Mar 7, 2006
  9. HAMMER55

    HAMMER55 New Member

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    Mild too Wild....I don't think it will sell.....!
     
    #9 HAMMER55, Mar 7, 2006
  10. BellBoy

    BellBoy Member

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    Looks more like Hawkman than Ultraman...still if my dog looked like that Prius, I'd shave his butt and teach him to walk backwards. :lol:
     
    #10 BellBoy, Mar 8, 2006
  11. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

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    I think George's Prius looks like a wart hog in drag.
     
    #11 Bob Allen, Mar 9, 2006
  12. xbdude

    xbdude opticat

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    Barf!
     
    #12 xbdude, Mar 9, 2006
  13. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    I give the guy credit, actually. It can't be easy to dream up ways of making these things uglier, but he pulled it off! :)
     
    #13 darelldd, Mar 9, 2006
  14. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    #14 richard schumacher, Mar 10, 2006
  15. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    Anyone who spells custom.. "Kustom" you already know they got problems with their identity.
     
    #15 flareak, Mar 10, 2006
  16. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    I'm no real fan of Barris (his wife yelled at me for taking a picture of the Batmobile instead of paying $20 for an "autographed" picture). But on the Back to the Future forum there was (now no longer) a picture of his attempt to covert a DeLorean into Doc's Time Machine. The result was very bad, but somehow it had information suggesting that he had done the conversion for the BTTF movies, rather than Universal. He may not have told the people who were displaying it (very ugly and not accurate), but shows that as "king of kustomizers", maybe it's time for a regime change. :)
     
    #16 aaf709, Mar 10, 2006
  17. bigbaldcuban

    bigbaldcuban New Member

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    I guess I'm the only wacko who thinks it looks pretty friggin' sweet.
     
    #17 bigbaldcuban, Mar 10, 2006
  18. hycamguy07

    hycamguy07 New Member

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    It does kinda grow on ya, "Not"
    It will end up in a museum or a private collection somewere..

    I think he could have made it look like a 70' superbird or something..

    It is one FUGLY lookin car though.
     
    #18 hycamguy07, Mar 10, 2006
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