George Barris, ''King of the Kustomizers,'' Coming to the Chariots of the Gods as Grand Marshall

SAN BERNADINO, Calif.--George Barris, known to millions of car enthusiasts and collectors around the world as the “King of the Kustomizers,” has been named the Grand Marshall of the Chariots of the Gods Concours d’Elegance. The Chariots of the Gods is scheduled for October 14^th at the San Bernardino Golf Club at 1494 S. Waterman Avenue, near Hospitality Lane. The Concours will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

At this year’s Chariots of the Gods, George Barris is joining with other famous automotive notables such as Jim Wangers, Godfather of the GTO; Art Fitzpatrick, famed automotive designer and artist; Robert Genat, automotive author, and Dick Messer, director of the Petersen Automotive Museum.

George Barris has dominated television shows with his cars. For example, The Munsters, Beverly Hillbillies, My Mother the Car, Mannix and hundreds of television specials were just a few of the Barris projects that have generated millions of images and toy models. The most famous Barris creation is the “Batmobile” which is recognized all over the globe.

George Barris has judged at the largest and best known events such as the famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance, Rodeo Concours d’Elegance, Silverado Concours d’Elegance, El Dorado Concours d’Elegance, and the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance and is now adding the Chariots of the Gods to the list of quality Concours events.

Barris has received innumerable awards and tributes for his more than fifty years on the cutting edge of the car and design scene. Among them are the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Petersen Automotive Museum, Meguiars’ Car Crazy Award, “Sci-Fi Movie Saturn Award” from famed actor Peter Fonda, “Hall of Fame” award from Mattel Hot Wheels, honored by Ford Motor Company at the Grand National Roadster Show, and the 2006 recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Friars Club of Beverly Hills.

In 2007, Barris was honored with an exhibit of his life in the 1950s at the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona. Also in 2007, the street where Barris’ shop is located in Los Angeles was renamed “George Barris Place “King of the Kustomizers” as a historical monument.