Thanks Gary and Rik for the trip back in time to that Golden Era! Oh, the memories it has awakened. Can't wait for you to post the next batch!!
I just saw this post today, so I'm digging up this semi-old thread. The chopped 49 Ford pictured here that was built by Don Dobbins was put up for sale by Harrah's after it was restored. I saw it in Old Car Trader magazine in the late 90's for $14,000, which was a steal..I called the number, and as I suspected, it was sold already..But it gets better. I see the car driving around my neighborhood like a month later, a guy who lived about a mile from me bought it, it was awesome to see it. Last time I saw ther car, or the guy for that matter was like 3 years ago, so I'm not sure if its still around... This is how it looked last time I saw it...
I don't know about anybody else's shop, but I know we are!! Twice a day or more we are photographed and videoed to show progress to customers and to post on Facebook. It's hard sometimes, but I just smile and try not to look like a dork when I'm working.....
Even if they get to the point of being cliche' I still love Barris Customs. God. I've been lucky enough to see the Aztec in 2003, but that's it. The Golden Sahara is here in Dayton, but I don't know if I will ever make the right connections to see it.
I remember when I was a kid I sent away for the George Barris interior customizing kit , it "taught" you how to do custom interiors , aaahhhh mis-spent youth .
Some more photos from the Gary Birns Collection... again not taken at the Barris Shop. But they sure are nice.. and even better, more will come soon. Jerry Hirschberg 1956 Chevy.
A great photo of the "Aztec" with proud owner Bill Carr posing next to it. This photo from the Gary Birns Collection was taken in Cleveland, Ohio at a car show in the later part of the 1950's.
Look at the right of the last picture I posted... that building is Brad's shop. This building was later part of the Barris shop, but not when they first moved into this location. There was some sort of furniture business in the building next to the Barris shop, and next to that was the Atlantic Animal Hospital.
Looks like a dealer's showroom by the lettering on the windows. Buddy of mine's father owned the Aztek for about 25 years or so. Car was in great disrepair and needed total resto. He sold it to the present owner who has amazingly restored it. Great Pic!
Yeah I guess it is a showroom. Looking across the street and seeing the other car dealers there. It was the info that came with the photo, and I figured that perhaps it could be right... But I also know that Custom Cars where parked at Car Dealers for various reasons.
Here are a couple more photos of that Corvette from the Gary Burns Collection. Named "Jerry's Jem, and he was a member of the Kustom Kings Kleveland clubaccording the plaque.
The Jalopy Journal
