Every year, the SEMA Show is attended by dozens of high-profile celebrities from the world of racing (like Robby Gordon and Johnny Unser), fashion (Kathy Gardiner and Helen Fanik) and the automobile (Steve Saleen and Chip Foose).
Some don’t have a highly-recognizable name but their craft surely does. That’s the case of George Barris, designer of the original Batmobile, who made a brief but enthusiastic appearance at SEMA.
The name Barris might indeed not ring a bell with most people, but you’ve likely seen one of his many creations at some point in time. He’s also the man behind Kitt, the talking car of the ‘80s, as well as the Beverly Hillbillies and Munsters cars from the ‘60s TV sitcoms.
Even today, Barris keeps his imagination running. At 83, he’s still receiving orders from TV show producers and car collectors. While most of his designs are showcased in major North American museums, the original Batmobile and the Munsters car remain at his property. The latter has been slightly modified with a Rousch Racing performance kit!
As for the Batmobile, which was based on a Lincoln Futura, it occupies a position of choice in the collection.
At SEMA, Barris said he wanted to share his passion with visitors. Right now, he’s working on new concepts and shifting his focus from American models to a custom Toyota Prius! "Car tuning is my whole life," he told us.
No one will argue with that!
photo:Barris.com
Some don’t have a highly-recognizable name but their craft surely does. That’s the case of George Barris, designer of the original Batmobile, who made a brief but enthusiastic appearance at SEMA.
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The name Barris might indeed not ring a bell with most people, but you’ve likely seen one of his many creations at some point in time. He’s also the man behind Kitt, the talking car of the ‘80s, as well as the Beverly Hillbillies and Munsters cars from the ‘60s TV sitcoms.
Even today, Barris keeps his imagination running. At 83, he’s still receiving orders from TV show producers and car collectors. While most of his designs are showcased in major North American museums, the original Batmobile and the Munsters car remain at his property. The latter has been slightly modified with a Rousch Racing performance kit!
As for the Batmobile, which was based on a Lincoln Futura, it occupies a position of choice in the collection.
At SEMA, Barris said he wanted to share his passion with visitors. Right now, he’s working on new concepts and shifting his focus from American models to a custom Toyota Prius! "Car tuning is my whole life," he told us.
No one will argue with that!
photo:Barris.com