George Barris, the man who designed and built the black,
fire-spitting vehicle made famous in the 1960s "Batman" television
series, has died in Los Angeles, his son Brett announced on Facebook.
Known
as the "King of the Kustomizers," the 89 year-old Barris died at home
in his sleep on Thursday.
"Sorry
to have to post that my father, legendary kustom car king George Barris, has
moved to the bigger garage in the sky," the Facebook posting said.
Aside
from the iconic Batmobile, Barris also created vehicles for the 1980s TV show
"Knight Rider," and the 1960s shows "The Munsters,"
"The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Monkees." His vehicles
also appeared in the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock movie "North by
Northwest."
Barris
opened a car rebuilding company with his brother in Los Angeles in 1945. The
company, named Barris Kustom Industries, remains in operation today.
Barris said that his company made the Batmobile in two
weeks from a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept sedan he bought for just a dollar.
In 2013
that Batmobile sold at auction for more than $4 million.
No comments:
Post a Comment