Customs The Destruction Of Perfection

[Ryan]

It would be easy to blame this mess on George Barris. He just couldn't stop himself. He couldn't leave functionality well enough alone. In the name of promotion, money, and ego, he created on top of a creation that needed to be left alone. In a few...

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[scootermcrad]

Did you mean "twinkle" in your old man's eye?

Favorite coupe of all time!

[Chaz]

This is just the ginchiest!

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by scootermcrad

Did you mean "twinkle" in your old man's eye?

Favorite coupe of all time!

HAHAHA. Thanks. Fixed.

[sodbuster]

I had this cut-out from the local paper and I asked George if he built this car and he grabbed the "sharpie" and signed it right across the front before I could stop him & he said "Yep, I built it, Next" (Oh yea, he didn't charge me for the autograph.....haha).

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[Django]

Call me crazy... I like em both.

[Shifty Shifterton]

If you could dis-associate what's underneath.......some interesting features on the barris version.

Those pontoons....if they weren't so crude I'd say they were actually very forward looking. That kind of styling gimmick, trying to put fendered flow onto an open wheel car, is getting a lot of attention today.

The hood and roof paint treatment is actually quite tasty. Side stripe has a great start but doesn't end with much flash.

[fuel10922]

Form follows Function......????

[bscottstudio]

You are so right Ryan, Thats exactly what happened to the Tom Peterson Roadster in its build. It got caught up in the fender pod trend and over the top chrome with a show car statement that became an undriveable show piece.
That is exactly why the car has evolved back to a fun and useable hot rod.

By the way I am still gathering your info for aa article

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Django

Call me crazy... I like em both.

If you ignore the absurdity of things like the two-way radio, air speed indicator, gull-wing doors, etc... It really isn't that bad looking. However, if I look at what is was built over, my stomach turns.

The Chrisman coupe is, in my mind, the most beautiful coupe ever built... and I think I consider it in that regard because it was built so purposefully.

It's just a hard pill to swallow when something with so much soul, depth, and direction gets replaced by something with so much surface jewelry... and pseudo-faux crap.

[scootermcrad]

Originally Posted by Ryan

HAHAHA. Thanks. Fixed.

I had to read that a couple times. I was trying to figure out if you actually meant it or not. HAHA! "tinkle in my Dad's eye" sort of had a nice ring to it.

[Kettleman]

The original is great, not sure I like the Barris version. As noted, seems to be a lot of "Gimmicks". Maybe without the Pontoons, just not sure. Did they help with the streamlining? It would be interesting to know if car was tested with or without them to judge effect.

[Buildy]

Barris sure Butchered that beautiful car......

Like painting a Moustache on the Mona Lisa......

[Django]

I had no idea they were even the same car until about 5 years ago. And you're right, the original car rules. Countless cars suffered the same fate. Even recently. How many really cool Deuce coupes has TRJ featured that show vintage pics. You see them and it is heart stopping. Then you look at the beauty shots of the finished car and it looks like every other pseudo-traditional looking street rod. And it's not like he turned it into the Monkeemobile. Hahaha!

I like the pontoons.

[Alex Yohnk]

Originally Posted by Ryan

If you ignore the absurdity of things like the two-way radio, air speed indicator, gull-wing doors, etc... It really isn't that bad looking. However, if I look at what is was built over, my stomach turns.

The Chrisman coupe is, in my mind, the most beautiful coupe ever built... and I think I consider it in that regard because it was built so purposefully.

It's just a hard pill to swallow when something with so much soul, depth, and direction gets replaced by something with so much surface jewelry... and pseudo-faux crap.

Right, it would've been like Johnny Cash ditching the black, donning a rhinestone suit and platform shoes, and doin' disco.......
In a way, they castrated that car, removed all of the masculinity and purpose, and made it into a metro-sexual.........."Queer Eye for the Car Guy". The car went from General Patton, to Liberace.

[333 Half Evil]

What a shame. The Chrisman coupe was as close to perfect as one could be. Built with purpose and style that was in my mind spot on. What a shame.

[Shifty Shifterton]

Originally Posted by Ryan

It's just a hard pill to swallow when something with so much soul, depth, and direction gets replaced by something with so much surface jewelry... and pseudo-faux crap.

Well, if soul the case, it followed a very human path.

First a purpose. Then success. Then excess.

[Larry T]

So, how many folks remember it as "The Dobie Gillis Car"?? Barris knew(knows?) how to promote from every angle.
Back then, I thought Barris was really cool to be able to build all of the different types of cars. Ah, the gullibility of youth.
Larry T

[2NDCHANCE]

I aggree with Django. I hadn't thought about how many really nice cars the "legends" have screwed up. It was business, they had to make a living. It's still happening to this day. I know I've screwed up a few myself. Gary

[BeatnikPirate]

Seems like things often got carried to extremes in the sixties. Many cars were gaudied up in an effort to attract attention or outdo everyone else. Ever see how Norm's Lightnin' Bug/Kooky T ended up?