Comic Book Resources broke the sad news today that the great car customizer George Barris, who created the Batmobile for the 1966 “Batman” TV series, has passed away.
Barris died early this morning at his home. He was 89 years old.
The Batmobile, 1966.
“He was surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home,” his son Brett Barris wrote on Facebook. “He lived his life the way he wanted til the end. He would want everyone celebrate the passion he had for life and for what he created for all to enjoy.”
The Munster family Coach.
DRAGULA, Grandpa Munster’s car from The Munsters.
Known as “The King of Kustomizers,” Barris and his firm Barris Kustom created vehicles for great films like “North by Northwest,” and “The Time Machine.” He created The Munster Koach and Grandpa’s DRAG-U-LA for “The Munsters.” Remember the redneck wagon in “The Beverly Hillbillies”? Yep, that’s him too. Oh, and Kitt from Knight Rider? The General Lee, from the Dukes of Hazzard? George Barris played a role in both of those cars, too, though there’s apparently some car customizer drama about exactly who gets how much credit for which. The man was a genius, though.
The family jalopy from The Beverly Hillbillies
More: GEORGE BARRIS, DESIGNER OF ICONIC TV BATMOBILE, PASSES AWAY [CBR]
From the Barris Kustom Facebook.