ONE-OF-A-KIND CUSTOMIZER
George Barris’ Canadian ties
George Barris, one of the bestknown car customizers of all time who passed away earlier this month at the age of 89, had connections to Canada — and even visited Saskatchewan, most recently earlier this year.
Barris became famous for creating custom cars for movies and TV shows, as well as Hollywood celebrities.
His best known car was the Batmobile he built for the 1960s TV series Batman. He built cars for other shows including the Beverly Hillbillies, the Dukes of Hazzard, the Green Hornet, Hardcastle and McCormick, Knight Rider, the Munsters, Miami Vice, and My Mother the Car.
And Barris built cars for stars, including the Beach Boys, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Sonny and Cher.
But sometimes overlooked is the fact that Barris also created one of Canada's rarest cars, the Esso 67-X.
For Canada's Centennial Year in 1967, Imperial Oil Canada wanted to come up with a contest that would attract lots of customers. The small prizes were cameras and colour TVs; there were also four grand prizes that Esso called “The Most Imaginative Travel Award Ever Conceived” — custom cars to promote family travel, designed by the legendary George Barris.
The Esso Reporter corporate newsletter explained why Imperial went to Hollywood to hire Barris: “Marketing department scoured the continent for a designer far-out, but realistic enough, to come up with a family car whose claim to fame would be every conceivable safety and travel accessory packaged in an eye-stopping body. Final choice was the Picasso of the automobile world, George Barris. A short, expansive Greek living in California, Barris rose to automotive prominence by building dream cars for films.”
I interviewed Barris about 15 years ago by phone from his office in California when I was working on an article about the 67-X. He returned my call promptly, and was patient and helpful in explaining to me how the 67-X came to be.
“It was not a concept car for glamour or movies or TV, but a family-oriented car,” Barris told me. “The car was equipped with all kinds of accessories for a family of five.”
Based on an Oldsmobile Toronado, the modified car had interior goodies including a picnic cooler, a swivelling front passenger's seat, a writing table, two radios and two tape decks. Outside, fibreglass panels were used to replace most of the sheet metal.
By the time Barris and his team were done, the 67-X was stretching to sit on a 340 cm (134-inch) wheelbase and was 612 cm (241 inches) long.
The four cars were awarded as prizes by Esso dealers during the summer of 1967. All of the winners sold their cars within a year or so, and two of these cars now are owned by former Saskatchewan residents — Roman Korpus of Texas and Trevor Weflen of Vancouver, B.C.
Weflen bought his 67-X from the U.S. in 2011, and earlier this year he had his 67-X shipped to Saskatoon, and put on display at the Draggins Car Show. And Weflen arranged to have Barris come from his home in California to Saskatoon to take in the car show and talk to fans about how he created the 67-X.
“George Barris designed a great car that drew large crowds 50 years ago — and it still does,” says Weflen.
“He always took the time to talk or sign an autograph. I understand the Draggins show attendance was up 5,000 people because of George — and I'm sure he signed autographs for each one,” says Weflen. “I've gotten to know George more and more over the past years, and admire the man for more than being King of Kustoms. He didn't drink or smoke, and always talked well about his family and his lovely departed wife. He had great stories about the celebrities he has met.”
Rod Daicon, the president of the Draggins Club, along with some other members of the club, got to visit with Barris when he was in Saskatoon.
“He was very gracious and friendly to all. When I was age 12 through 15 I fondly remember building AMT model car kits of George Barris. I never imagined that I would have an opportunity to meet the man and legend in my own city at our local car show. What a treat!”
Another Saskatchewan-born 67-X owner is Roman Korpus of Texas. His late father, Ray, bought a 67-X from a contest winner in 1968.
Roman remembers riding around in the 67-X when he was a kid — and people wanting to find out more about the car.
“The big question that always came up was 'Who designed this?' So then I'd tell them George Barris, who had designed the Batmobile — and everyone at the time knew what the Batmobile was,” he recalls.
A few years later, in 1985, George Barris visited Regina and was the star at the World of Wheels car show — along with some of his creations, including the Batmobile, and the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard. The Korpus family's 67-X was also on display, they had their picture taken with him and the 67-X for a Leader-Post article.
Roman's mother, Sonia, remembers chatting with Barris briefly, and recalls that “he was a real gentleman.”
Roman also remembers meeting the legendary car customer.
“To have a celebrity of his standing visit Regina was a big thing. He spoke mostly with my parents and primarily with my Dad," he says.
When I interviewed Barris he had a soft spot in his heart for Canada because of the 67-X.
"It was a project that I personally enjoyed. They flew us into the Montreal World's Fair (Expo 67) to introduce the car. My wife and I were the guests of honour,” Barris told me.
That was his first trip to Canada — but since then he returned many times, including visits to Saskatchewan.
“To have met Mr. Barris is was an honour,” says Roman Korpus.
Trevor Weflen echoes that sentiment, saying: “It was a great honour and adventure to spend time with him, and he will be sadly missed."