SWEETEST HOT ROD EVER BUILT!

[MotownMadman]

Kruise auctions are having a classic car auction in Grand Rapids Mi tommorow, I was at the auction house today delivering some sale cars, and low and behold......there in the lobby sat the Sweetest Rod ever built...none other than the George Barris Munsters Coffinmobile! I got to tell you guys, I have had a love affair with this car as long as I can remember....maybe it's the "Dark Side" of my personality,(yes, I am currently building a copy of the 66 Toronado used in the Stephen King movie "The Dark Half"), anyway, the Coffin car is a one of a kind statement to the world, kind of like, "So what,I know racing is dangerous, so I decided I would save the family some money with funeral expenses on this one, they can go ahead and bury me in the car if I wreck!" That Munsters episode depicted the perfect parody of the American high performance movement, another case of a garage(or Dungeon) built Hot Rod to go out and claim the familys Honor back, and win back the family sedan,(or whatever it was),how many times I wonder in this country has the same thing happened in the real world, get beat racing on Saturday night, and be out the next weekend with the changes made to the car to reclaim your honor through Victory. Somewhere along the way many of us has lost touch with the humble beginnings of the Hot Rod, Muscle Car, High Performance subculture in America, it never used to be about big money, or under the radar deals, or signs that say "Look but dont Touch", it was about Bench Racing in the dim lit garage, and Frienship, and Flat Black paint, and helping your pal with his car..but not so much that he could beat you, it was also a hobby that many people enjoyed together, not one that many can no longer afford, one that is now another marker of financial and social status. I think it would be a neat idea to get as many people as possible from this hobby, plan a date next summer, everyone involved build a low budget low tech street pounder without all the chrome and fancy paint, leave all the Supercars at home and have a run what ya brung meet next summer. Now that would be fun! Not only fun in the building of the cars, but fun from the standpoint of not having to worry about the car all weekend, stressing over people getting too close or trying to steal it, stressing over the possible accidents in transport or while participating, stressing over people picking at your car or wondering if it will be accepted. All this was the beginnings of our hobby, sometimes it dont hurt to take a trip back and find your roots. Me, hell I'll show up in the coffinmobile. I have been on the phone the last few hours trying to sell everything I own to raise the cash to bid on that thing, it gets trailered around like all the rest, that baby needs to be driven! So, if by chance someone goes blowing by you on the freeway in a Gold Coffin, playing "Born To Be Wild" through the organ pipe exhaust, just smile and wave cause you will know that was Motown taking a fast blast into the past.................... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Norm reynolds]

Hey motown

[Norm reynolds]

/

[68z302]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img]
Motown,
I really enjoy reading your posts, and no I'm not trying to blow smoke those organ tailpipes. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Barris made some crazy cars in the 60's for T.V. didn't he?
What an imagination. There should a website for his work!
Could you post the selling price when done?
Maybe you'll own it.

My memories about my early days with my '56 Chev 2 Dr Post was
Filling the rust holes with Galvanized mesh & Bondo! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif[/img]

Rob

[MotownMadman]

Rob, and the bondo was called Black Majic, harder then Hell to sand. Bet you did the headlight eyebrows? I will take some photos tommorow at the auction, maybe Hawaii Jeff will post them for me? Rumour has it there are going to be a few surprises there in the way of Muscle cars going on the block. West Michigan Auto Auction, 100th st and 131, 10Am, Moline Michigan, just south of Grand Rapids.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[68z302]

reynolds
Herman Munster, Uncle Fester, Morticia, Granpa, Eddie
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[MotownMadman]

68z, you got two shows mixed up, Uncle Fester and Morticia were from the Addams Family, in the Munsters it was Lilly and Marilyn. Somehow I suspect you were waiting on one of the BabyBoomers to catch that.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[COPO PETE]

If you buy that thing, I'm coming over for a beer. I agree, that is the coolest car ever built! What a great idea, and I loved it ever since the first time I ever saw it. Somehow I think the Clary's will have a soft spot in there heart for that car. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[Mr70]

Good Luck Matt.
Get the Grandpa Goggles with it too. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I like that car,but always prefered the Munster Coach first.Love the way that thing would pop a wheelie!
Al Lewis (Grandpa) is still with us and was just here in Chicago recently.You need to get a picture of him in the Coffin Car one last time.I don't think he has much time left? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[68z302]

You're right Motown I screwed up
I was always bad with names [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
Oh well, at least I got a couple right! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

The Bondo we used was called "White Lightning" it was tough to sand as well. We were to dumb to use those swiss cheese files, it was those disc ones you put in your Dad's drill to burn it out! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

A picture of the car with Grandpa Munster would be great but,
you'd have to get him made up!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]