Holy Futura, Batman, it's George Barris! Batmobile creator Greets Volo Auto Museum Visitors June 30 - July 1

VOLO - To say George Barris is a legend in the Hollywood car customizing business is sort of like saying the Hope is just a diamond or the Kentucky Derby is just a horse race.

In the history of taking ordinary vehicles and retooling them into television and movie superstars, Barris is a Goliath. And the public is invited to meet the man who created the Batmobile, the Munsters' Dragula and so much more at the Volo Auto Museum June 30 and July 1, 2007.


July 1 will mark the Fourth Annual George Barris Collector Car Show at the museum, 27582 W. Volo Village Road, Volo, IL. Barris also will be on hand Saturday, June 30, meeting visitors, signing autographs and sharing stories. The public is invited to see Barris at the museum, which houses several Barris creations, including the world-renowned Batmobile, which Barris crafted from a 1950s Lincoln Futura on about three weeks notice from ABC Television. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Barris was born in Chicago in the 1920s and grew up in California with his brother, Sam. The brothers restored and modified a 1925 Buick while George was still in high school, sold it at a profit, and before long, found themselves in demand.


They moved to Los Angeles, where they customized designs for private buyers and where George also built and raced his own cars. The movie industry took notice, and the rest is history.

George Barris remains active in Barris Kustom Industries. Along with his impressive list of Hollywood and movie cars - including the K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider and the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 - Barris customized cars for numerous stars, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bo Derek and David Lee Roth.


Owners of all kinds of collector cars - vintage, muscle or customs - are invited to participate in the George Barris Collector Car Show starting at 10 a.m. July 1. More than 300 cars are expected. Sixteen trophies will be presented at 2:30 p.m., including favorite import, favorite custom, favorite 'vette, favorite muscle, favorite MoPar, and more.

Registration is free. For a form, call (815) 385-3644. Those participating receive admission for up to two adults and two children younger than 18. Museum admission will be $12 for others that day.


The outdoor event will include music and food, as well as a special appearance by the Madmaxx Custom Terminator Trucks. These incredible trucks are being built to honor the cast and production crew from the blockbuster "Terminator" series, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The only way to believe these custom vehicles is to see them. Glimpses are available at madmaxxcustoms.com, but for the true view, come to the Volo Auto Museum the weekend of June 30 and July 1.

These vehicles were such a hit at this year's Green Bay World of Wheels show that the artists and craftsmen building them signed more than 2,400 autographs, said Bill Maxwell, owner of Madmaxx Customs.

So, why visit the Volo Auto Museum for the Fourth Annual George Barris Collector Car Show? Meet a legend. See incredible cars. Be amazed by the incredible Terminator trucks. In short, have fun!