Even non-custom car enthusiasts know the name George Barris, and even though George has been around the car culture since the late twenty's, and has been at attendance at 100's of car shows and events, George has never had a car show of his own.
That all changed this summer in Culver City, California, a rejuvenated city that has done much to redefine itself, from the quaint and upscale downtown area to the unique shops and eateries scattered thought out. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and known as the "heart of screenland", playing host to Sony Pictures, the Culver City Studios and the new Kirk Douglas Theater. So with all that going on, it was befitting that Culver City would be the site for the first George Barris Kustom Car Show and a perfect day for a car show it was, blue sky and plenty of southern California sunshine.
George Barris, "King of the Kustoms" as he likes to refer to himself is no stranger to Rolling Art Television and has appeared on RATV several times over the past three years, as evident by the number of George Barris business cards that I have collected. (Inside joke, each time you meet George, by the time you leave you will notice that you have one of his cards in your hand and you won't remember taking it).
Since their first 1925 Buick that he and his brother Sam straightened, bolted on accessories, and was hand painted orange with blue stripes by George, the Barris brothers began their long, exciting, and rewarding road in creating the custom car culture that is still extremely popular today.
The brothers interest in cars intensified during their teenage years as they discovered "the black art" of body work by hanging out after school at local body shops, including Brown's and Bertolucci's in Sacramento. George created his first full custom from a used 1936 Ford convertible before he graduated from High School; this automobile lead to their first commercial customer. Shortly after George formed a club called, Kustoms Car Club where the first use of "K" for kustoms appeared.¹
The movie studios had taken note of Barris kustoms on the streets and at races and came to George for cars for their films. One of the first films Barris made cars for was called "High School Confidential". The success of the initial movie car venture motivated George to seek business in Hollywood. This included customizing the personal cars of the stars as well. As the past forty plus years have shown, this association with the studios and stars has been long and fascinating.²
Original kustoms and hot rods continued to roll off George's drawing board. They were built and decorated by the best fabricators and craftsmen in the business. This pool of talent included Bill Hines, Lloyd Bakan, Dick Dean, Dean Jeffries, Von Dutch, Larry Watson, Hershel "Junior" Conway, John and Ralph Manok, Bill De Carr, Richard Korkes, Frank Sonzogni, "Jocko" Johnson, Lyle Lake, Curley Hurlbert, "Gordo", and for a brief time Tom McMullen. Many of them went on to do their own notable work. As the sixties began, George shifted gears and bought a new shop in North Hollywood where he designed and built award winning cars. George continues to work out of this shop today.³
