Some Barris Cars Had Bad Luck! Part 1 - Golden Sahara

Doing some research for the book that were working on "The Art of George Barris" I have come across several pictures of Kustoms that George Did that in one way or another have been destroyed yet rebuilt even better! Below are some fine examples of cars that got a little beat up.. It's interesting that its of the most famous cars to come out of the shop that got wrecked..

The Golden Sahara:

I spoke to George about this the other day.. I asked if we have any shots of the Jim Skonzakis 1953 Lincoln before the wreck and he said probably not.. All he did to it was "Nosed" and "Decked" before they laterally left days later for the show up north. On the way home the motor blew on Dan Landon's 49 Chevy, so they decided to flat tow it behind the Lincoln.. at some point it got really foggy and out of no where appeared a flat bed truck!!!  As they went under the truck they leaned over and ducked under the dash. After the smoke cleared and the cops came Geroge needed medical attention for some cuts on his face..well they were in the middle of no where and the officer said the only medical help is in the bar down the road..George ended up having to walk a few miles to the bar to find the Local Doctor!! A drunk doctor went ahead and cleaned a bloody faced George Barris.

Jim's 1953 Lincoln and Dan Landons 1949 Chevy
at the Accident Scene Notice the fog...

Photos: Rik Hoving

Dan Landon's 49 Chevy Before the Accident

also got a little beat up..

After allot Cutting the Golden Sahara now a blank canvas

Finished Product - Golden Sahara 1st Version

2nd more Extreme Version

Notice the Light Up Tires

Part 2 Coming Soon..

Today we lost a Legend... RIP Larry Watson

Its a somber day in Kustom history.. Today Larry Watson lost his short fight with brain cancer.

We will always have great memory's with Larry and we know he's up there hanging with the rest of fellas keeping an eye on us...  Larry you will be greatly missed.. 

Excerpt of one of Larry's great stories from the Barris Photography DVD

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Just Found.. 8 New shots of the Barris Fire!

I found these a few months ago at the shop and finally had the chance to scan them..

Pretty crazy seeing other shots of carnage that was once the head quarters for some of the best custom ever built. George had no insurance and he told me that out of all the cars that were lost only one guy tried to sue him.. The judge gave it to George said it was a act of God!!

This First shot you see is what looks like Archie Moore's 1954 Jaguar, A Cadillac and the back of the Wild Kat.. also the rear of a 40 Truck

Heres a step back shot... Chopped 40 ford truck

And from the front of the door

Out the back I believe Jane Mansfields Jag and the Wild Kat all gone... 

And the Pole that started it all..

The to the Shop Bays you see Ron Guidry's 1936 Ford and an Unknown what 

would of been an amazing Kustom..

The Shop bays with the doors closed

The shop doors open we find a 32 3 window that I never seen in any pix of another Jag
and to the far right you see what is the leaded Cowl of the AlaKat. George said it stopped at the paint booth and it sure did..

Thats all I found for now... I'll have other neat stuff to post soon..

See More Cool images Here:http://barriskustomcity.myshopify.com/pages/images

FUZZY'S CORNER: Some Shots From Back Then..

These are photos taken back in 1957 or around there when I first met George and his brother. We been good friends till this day, and a person couldn't have a better friend in the world then George and his family. 

Click the read more button:

Cleaning Up the Rafters at the Barris Shop Pt.1

So a few weeks ago I was told to help sell some Barris stuff online cause they are simply out of room.. So I climbed up in the rafters and I got to go through a bunch of boxes and what I came across so far is mostly magazines Some rare some not 
but there is allot!! All of them are mostly in perfect condition.. never been opened.. I'll be adding all the good stuff on 
the site soon once I figure out the price on everything.. Theres a bunch of cool signed stuff too.. This is just one side of the rafters.. who knows whats on the other side!! Stay Tuned for Part 2


Magazines For Sale soon!!

Sneak Peak of the Prints for the Lone Star Round Art Show!

So since i'm heading out to the Round Up and setting up the Barris Kustom City booth I decided to put 3 one off prints in the Art Show.. heres a little tease...