April 26, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Batmobile Car Maker George Barris Dies at 89

The Batmobile from the 1966–1968 live action television show and its film adaptation began life as a Ford concept car called the Lincoln Futura, built over a decade earlier in 1955. Image via Batman Wiki/ Duel44.
The Batmobile from the 1966–1968 live action television show and its film adaptation began life as a Ford concept car called the Lincoln Futura, built over a decade earlier in 1955. Image via Batman Wiki/ Duel44.

George Barris, the custom car maker who designed the Batmobile made famous in the mid-1960s “Batman” television series, died today at his Los Angeles home at age 89.

Barris’ son, Brett, announced his father’s death via a Facebook posting.

“Sorry to have to post that my father, legendary kustom car king George Barris, has moved to the bigger garage in the sky,” he wrote. “He passed on peacefully in his sleep at 2:45 a.m.”

Barris — who died 15 days shy of his 90th birthday — also created vehicles for the TV shows “Knight Rider,” “The Munsters” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” and the films “North by Northwest” and “Teenage Confidential.”

Born in Chicago on Nov. 20, 1925, Barris and his brother Sam migrated to California as children and developed a keen interest in automobiles.

Their first rebuilding project was a 1925 Buick given to them for working in a Greek restaurant family members ran in the Sacramento area. They sold it at a profit.

By their teenage years, their hobby was a business.

Barris and his brother moved to the Los Angeles area and in 1945, they started a company that grew into a multimillion-dollar businwss enterprise. Barris Kustom Industries is still operating in North Hollywood.

His brother — who died in 1967 — left the business in the 1950s, but Barris, aided by his wife, Shirley, pressed on.

His auto creations caught the eye of Hollywood, leading to work for the big screen and small screen.

The Batmobile — which Barris’ company made in about two weeks from a 1955 Lincoln sedan he bought for $1 — became arguably the most famous car ever created.

It sold in 2013 for more than $4 million.

Barris spokesman Ed Lozzi said the popularity of Barris’ work prompted Detroit automakers in the 1950s to seek his design advice, leading to innovations used in some of the most iconic American car models.

Barris’ work also was the impetus behind the model car rage fueled by young baby boomer in the 1950s and 1960s, according to Lozzi.

“He was the man who started the American pastime of building plastic model cars,” Lozzie said.

In 2002, NASA contacted Barris for permission to incorporate one of his hot rod “funny car designs from the science fiction film, “The Moonwalker,” into one of the manned Martian vehicles, Lozzi said.

Barris was a generous man who let him drive the original Batmobile on some dates, said Lozzi, who had worked with Barris since 1981.

“It has been a thrill ride,” the publicist said.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

Related Posts

West Hollywood Braces for Controversial Rally, Reaffirms Commitment to Equality

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

City of West Hollywood Condemns Harmful Rhetoric Ahead of Planned Assembly City officials and public safety leaders in West Hollywood are preparing...

(Video) The Willows: 30 Years Going Strong

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Founded in 1994, The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, California, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational...

ASTEME Camps Explore Science, Technology, Math and Engineering

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Many teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When am I ever going to use...

Skirball Center’s Puppet Festival Promises an Afternoon of Imagination and Play

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

SoCal’s Top Puppeteers Will Perform Alongside Live Music, DIY Puppet-Making The Skirball Cultural Center is set to transform into a...

Q&A: No Age Limit on Home Care Management & Home Safety, Tips from a Care Manager

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

In-home safety issues that go unnoticed — cracked sidewalks, broken railings or uneven flooring for example — are often the root...

Culver City Police Hosts DEA Drug Take Back Day on April 26

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Dispose of Expired Prescriptions Safely and Anonymously The Culver City Police Department will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back...

Former Cedars-Sinai OB-GYN Accused of Sexually Abusing Patients for Four Decades

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Ten Women Say Their Reports Were Ignored as Brock Continued to Practice for Decades. A group of 10 women has...

LAX/Metro Station is One Step Closer to Transforming the Airport Commute

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

New Multi-Modal Metro Station Connects Angelenos to the Airport Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced...

FBI Unravels Alleged Plot to Sell Stolen Andy Warhol Print in Beverly Hills

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Mid-City Pawn Shop Owner Charged in High-Stakes Art Scheme The owner of a pawn shop in Los Angeles’ Mid-City neighborhood...

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Drops New Double A-Side Ahead of U.S. Tour

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Legendary Psych-Rockers Set April 25 Release and Fall North American Tour The Brian Jonestown Massacre is set to release a...

(Video) Matú Kai Brentwood: The full experience

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills, located at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills,...

Uncle Stevey’s Bagels Wins Westside Hearts with Next-Level Bagels, Premium Sandwiches, and Local Coffee

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Family-Run Shop Serves Delicious and Thoughtfully Curated Bagels With Love By Dolores Quintana A little more than a year since...

Santa Monica’s Socalo Toasts Pali Wine Co. with a Five-Course Culinary Celebration

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Enjoy Celebrated Central Coast Wines, Including a 100-Point Red Blend Socalo, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant from celebrity chefs Mary Sue...

Go Go Bird Teams Up with Chef Chris Oh for Korean-Inspired Fried Chicken Sandwich

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Crispy, Saucy, Spicy: Chris Oh’s Fried Chicken Sandwich Lands in Culver City Go Go Bird, located in Culver City’s Citizen...

Fogo de Chão Hosts Wine Lover’s Dream Night with Chilean Winery VIK

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Diners Will Enjoy a Chef-Curated South American Menu, Highly Rated Wines Wine lovers and culinary connoisseurs are invited to gather...