Should it come as any surprise that George Barris’ personal car was just as off-the-wall as his creations for customers? Truthfully, this 308 GTS is actually quite tame compared to some of his creations, but taken as a whole, there’s no doubt whose handiwork is present here. Find this custom 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS here on Barrett-Jackson’s website, where it will be auctioned at the Scottsdale event in 2018.
Barris’ touches went well beyond the custom pinstripe and gold wheels. The entire front valence and nose panel was reconfigured, with the pop-up headlights removed and relocated underneath orange covers like the 512 BB. An additional set of driving lights were custom mounted behind the grill, and a one-off air dam was created. Fenders front and rear were also flared out quite liberally, and a rear spoiler was also integrated into the widened body.
Inside, the custom leather and striping is evident. You’ll also notice a Barris creation in the instrument cluster, with the standard analog gauges tossed out for a digital information pod. Next to and below the binnacle you’ll note an arsenal of period high-end technology, including a car phone, a mini TV, back-up camera, custom stereo system and a security system keypad. This doesn’t even address the arsenal of custom speakers mounted throughout the cabin.
The 308 has done just 8,000 miles from new, but one could argue this is no-longer an as-new car due to the extensive deviations from stock configuration. The engine has received a recent service, including a new timing belt, tensioners and clutch service. To own a Barris car is certainly an achievement for most collectors; to own the car belonging to the man himself is perhaps another tier of Barris obsession.
Bad taste is still bad taste, no matter who built and owned it. This coming from someone who owned a 308GTSi for more than five years and drove it more than 75,000 miles over that period.
I can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning but I still recall its VIN, 34047 (1980 Ferrari 308GTSi).
Once again, like putting a tattoo on Michelle Pffiefer’s face. Hard to improve on the original design.
Very, very bad taste. From a 6speed 360 owner from 2002 till 2010 and 100000 kms.
mine was “Tour the France Blue” ! Awesome car! Not a single problem with the car. But the worst dealership service you can dream.
You know those cheap Fiero-based replicas that kind of, sort of look like an actual Ferrari?
Well, this is the opposite: a Ferrari that does a convincing impersonation of a Fiero-based replica.
Ouch!, funny, but ouch.
J Paul you just won the BF Internet comment of the year. LOL. Nailed it.
Look at the engine pic. What is the damage / rust to the RH top area ?
….That’s CUSTOM man !!
If Bruce Wayne owned a Ferrari… this would nail it.
Perfect example of how to screw up a great car…tasteless body mods topped of by a horrible color. The only redeeming thing about this is that it was touched by George Barris — and it’s one of the most lame George Barris creations in existence. ..so now you have a Ferrari that no Ferrari guy would want, and a George Barris car that no George Barris fan would want either. This sure seems like a risky car to put in a no reserve Barrett-Jackson auction. I will be interested to see what it ends up selling for.
Rich people will buy anything and pay through the nose for it if they can brag that no one else has one. Obviously the case here. I recall about 40 years ago while working in Rochester, Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic, being at a nearby art gallery. There were two well healed looking types, maybe top surgeons wives, but who knows. They were gushing over this stupid “sculpture” It was two cement blocks cut into several pieces , then laid together at different angles and glued together. Someone then had put a paint job on it that looked like a flannel shirt. It was given a strange name and a price tag of $2700!. (a lot of money then and now) They almost got into an argument about who was going to purchase this from the “genius” for their fancy home. I was astonished, like, WHO in their right mind, right?!! But, the rich are different then us, bragging rights are important to them. Somewhere some guy who did that “art” was buying the local boys a round at the watering hole, laughing all the way to the bank. Trust me, this will sell for a foolishly big price. (Damn ugly if you ask me)
Well said…the axiom “fools and their money are soon parted” rings true today as when it was 1st spoken.
“Cover me Tubbs!” “Crockett, are you crazy???”
This is the Magnum PI car if Charles Nelson Reily had been cast instead of Tom Selleck.
SAM61, that was funny!
Thank you…I warm up the senior citizens before Monday night bingo at the Moose Lodge.
I like the body changes, and I even like the Italian color lines. But that color? YUCK!
Although I firmly believe that rosso corsa is the only color for a Ferrari I’m not completely averse to the treatment here, including the modest body mods. The dashboard, on the other hand, borders on grotesque. Considering whose car it was it’s not too surprising.
No way. Italian cars in red is OVERPLAYED. I for one prefer Blue and Silver Italian cars, with red interiors. Yellow with black interiors is a close second.
I worked at George’s place a few times, and recall seeing the stock instrument panel components and gauges sitting in a box in the rear shop. The digitals are truly hideous! The car itself, though, looks surprisingly good in person and it has only a handful of miles. GB was big on pearl colors and this was a good example. It’s also a monument to good taste in comparison to his Rolls or the motor home. Woof!
Oh, the stories I could tell…
Heck, at least it’s not another red Ferrari.
Thank you.
It looks surprisingly amiturish for the so called genius of the custom world. Most of his creations were but ugly. The bat mobile was really old Goerge cashing in on a Ford prototype where the lions share on the design came from Ford. Goerge’s touches to that car are quite lame and cheesy. Another example of Goerge Barris failed design are the Sunny and Char mustangs two of the ugliest customs I’ve ever seen, with their especially hidius floresent lens grille inserts, I can see why Cher no longer has them. They were on the auction block at BJ a few years ago. Sorry gents I just don’t get why folks rave about Goerge Barris
George Barris was a jerk and had really bad taste. He didn’t design the Monkee mobile, that was Dean Jefferies, he didn’t design the Deloren for “Back to the future”, He didn’t design the General Lee for “Dukes of hazard” There are probably many others. Yet Barris tried to take credit for each of these cars.
If you think the Sonny and Cher cars are bad check out the Travolta transam it will make your eyes hurt. Why he lasted more than 15 minutes I don’t understand.
Dang, I never knew about the “Firebird Fever”, and know that I’ve seen pics, I wish I’ve never seen it!
He actually didn’t design the Batmobile either. The Lincoln Futura that was the base for that car was redone by Barris’s brother. He was the actual metal fabricator and designer of that car but George had the mouth and gift of gab to sell.
And her is a picture of the twin to the Travolta car. THis one was in the Steve Martin movie “The Jerk”
Just as sickly, maybe worse.
Sorry, Healeymonster, but Sam Barris had gone to Sacramento to work for an insurance company seven years before the Batmobile project ever came around. The Batmobile was a last-minute deal that came up when Dean Jeffries wouldn’t be rushed on building his contracted car, a ’59 Cadillac.
GB had stored the Futura for several years, when the TV gig came up he called Ford’s storage bill due, OR sell me the car for $1.
I knew both Dean and George, worked with them both, and ‘understood’ George. Doesn’t mean I LIKED him…
I really liked his Mannix Dart GTS. A much nicer treatment when subtly applied.
Ha- that’s the only Barris car I like, too.
By far the best looking car GB ever did for TV. Car still exists in private hands, and is exquisite.
A perfect example of when you should leave well enough alone.
Dig your handle.
Only 8000 miles?? Obviously wouldn’t pass California smog requirements with the after market air cleaners so must not be California legal. Salvage title maybe??
Can’t believe ol’ George woulda bought this new to subject to such abuse and resultant non-use.
Car sat in GB’s showroom for 25 years or so, I used to walk past it when I went there for spot jobs.
I was digging this car, and then I read these comments. Now I am ashamed of myself.
Don’t be ashamed of what your like. It’s differences that makes the year go around.
And thank you as well! 🍻
The Liberacerarri.
If Lee had still been alive it woulda been perfect for him.
At least it didn’t give you a case of Temporary Tourette’s. I’ve been muttering obscenities followed by uncontrollable barking at cashiers at Walmart ever since I saw this Barris ‘Crustom.’ Pretty crusty dashboard.
That comment is crossing the line. Nothing funny, cute, or clever about autism. I know from personal experience.
I think this car has all the class of, say, our President! And it’s the same color!
So you are saying you love the car and the color?
So eventhough the rules clearly state no politics the snowflakes once again do not think rules apply to them
The rules apply to you as well my friend
They are suffering from TDS, they can’t help themselves and no cure has been found.
Nyet.
Worst commenters ever on this car. No one mentions that for it’s time this was state of the art. As for the Barris haters, you are all contentious jealous dweebs with no sense of history. Prolly all old men with dementia. I can see why so many leave this site.
I think IL Commenadore, Enzo Ferrari took the Barris makeover in stride. He reputedly once said: “I sell expensive cars to rich people to finance “la scudera”, the Brand’s racing team and his true passion.
I think the comments are pretty dead on. I think George was lucky to be in California during the years he was, when so many tv shows needed unique cars. I think he also benefitted greatly from the creative people that worked for him and his brother. I think most know he was no Boyd Coddington.
Every one is welcome to thier opinion no matter how short sighted or naive it may be. I welcome all opinions and just hope that they are not too short sighted to see what is out there for what it is.
I’d love this car and drive it with a huge smile on my face.
A part of history and you can love it or leave it but give it the credit it is due.
My personal opinion for what it is…
Hey, Slick, when I worked with GB in the 80s and 90s I’d often find him sitting on the showroom floor cutting out ads for model car stuff he’d licensed decades before, desperate to get a new $5k licensing fee.
I saw him through some better times too but overall he was neither the hero we held him to be nor the villain he was sometimes portrayed. He often ‘used’ people, including me a coupla times, and by the end, his account at the Karma Bank was probably pretty skinny.
That said, his wife’s ethics made his look pristine.
His advantage in his business was that he was the best promoter, in the right ‘hood’ (an old Desoto dealer, btw) and that the entertainment people he dealt with had tons of money but were dumber than a hat full of grapes.
No reserve ?
If it doesnt go for enough BJ will buy it back for a pittence and produce it for sale again 5 years from now.
There is a sucker with a museum born every minute
Yep. Like so many cars, I’ve seen this one sell before at B-J.
Personally, I think it’s pretty darn cool! Two-tone copper? …Coppertone? Maybe. Yeah, the Italian flag stripes are a touch garish, but why-the-hell-not! If yer gonna rock a custom Ferrari, then by all mean, rock it!
The tail end strikes me as similar to a modern ‘Vette.
And dig that crazy digital dash!
As for other Barris Kustoms you never heard of, be sure to check out Linda Carter’s Wonder-Cougar!
*Edit: hmm… may be some new information that came to light on the Wonder Cougar. No longer seems to be attributed to Barris?
I think IL Commenadore, Enzo Ferrari took the Barris makeover in stride. He reputedly once said: “I sell expensive cars to rich people to finance “la scudera”, the Brand’s racing team and his true passion.
I was low key liking the exterior as I first saw it. When it was done it was probably pretty radical dude. However when my eyes lighted on the interior I threw up in my mouth a lil. This thing though is not a total loss being as how it is a very low mileage car. Say you could buy this car for 10K or less cause the inside is so ugly. You could spend a little more money and restore the interior back to close to original as possible. Then you could drive a 308 that you wouldn’t be ashamed of. Even George Barris didn’t get them all right as we can clearly see here. Yeah that Dash and all that italian striping on the inside has got to go man. Just think you could yank out all the electronic stuff out of the center console and replace it with a 2 year old gen smart phone and do 10 times more entertainment and information wise. What gets me is you know some grease monkey was standing beside him when he drew all this up saying oh wow man that is so cool. Your an artist George, a visionary. Now about that raise? LOL. Then he hit the street and every 308 owner who saw him in this car probably laughed themselves silly and told him he just trashed a perfectly beautiful 308. He got so embarrased he quit driving it back and forth to work and only trotted it out to random car shows. I can see it all now
I worked with GB a few times, and I recall seeing the stock gauges in a box in his garage/shop. His daughter would probably sell them for $25k or so…
The interior is really pretty well done, but the Italian flag colors are a little like the signs telling the trick stuff on the Batmobile, a little insulting. Enough is too much…
And who was this fool, the car looks terrible but could be saved with a new paint job. RIP to the last owner.
Jeff,
I think you will find the Ferari 512bb also had pop up lights,however the 308 based 288 gto had headlights placed in the lower grill.
i am a Barris fan,but really don’t like this one so much.
If someone bids a dollar ($1), I hope they would expect change.
Yes, to the Fiero contest.
You know, thinking back, I recall that there wasn’t a single thing in 1978 that wasn’t tacky. Think about it: disco, glam rock, perms, Trans Ams, polyester clothes, shag haircuts, etc. What else ya got?
It definitely won this years ugly sweater party…. Though it probably doesn’t get invited to much of anything. Most phones won’t connect to Gordon Gekko’s Motorola.
About 170 tired horses maybe….
If this car could talk like the talking car “Kit” it would be on Access Hollywood talking about how it was inappropriately touched and abused by George Barris!
Could have passed it of as a custom Toyota. Maybe the comments would have been kinder.
Sort of like Barris said to himself, what should it look like if Gene Winfield were to re-design it.
Lots of big opinions with thin wallets.
let’s take a vote guys….if I put my car up for auction against that hideous George Barris miscreation, who would get more ? (see photo attached)
I met George a few years ago, he enjoyed viewing my car, and he has now gone on to the great scrap yard in the sky. I won’t say a bad thing about him, nor his creations. Do I like this 308? Hell Yes !!!
Wow, cool. I’m never a fan of haters and this car sure seems to be a magnet for them. Wild that you had the privilege to spend some time with the man. To each thier own but his name is known for good reason.
I’d drive the heck out of it. I’d also be sure to got to every Ferrari meet within driving distance, just to thumb my nose at the purists ;-)
These comments are cracking me up. People actually think the 308 is a good looking car. I bet they also think the Countach looks good. BAHA.
I love the 308, and I very much like the Countach. Always had, probably always will.
“Barn Find” ?
Nope.
After reading the comments I realize I was confusing George Barris with Chuck Barris
It looks like an early Nintendo Gameboy in front of the shifter.
David Lee Roth would have been right at home behind the wheel… Maybe heading to Studio 54 …
I too met George Barris, at the BJ auction where the Batmobile went for 4+ million!!! He was a nice guy, took a moment to talk with me, and had a never ending smile on his face. While he couldn’t please everyone/every time, I think for what he was commissioned to do, he did well. (think of the “times”) Also, a guy can live off of ‘reputation’ but for so long, before reality sets in and takes them out. To my knowledge, he never fell ‘out’ with those that wrote him the big checks!!
As for the car, like many of his creations, not my taste, but I respect the vision, talent, and work that went into it and most all of his ‘creations’.
For some reason, the saying “Haters just gotta hate” seems applicable with many of the comments rendered. Sad.
Just 1/2¢ worth.
If I had the cash and could get it dirt cheap, I’d pick it up. Put some money into getting the interior back to something close to factory spec as well as updating the front & back ends with stock 288 GTO bits. A respray in whatever color it actually left the factory in and then just drive it.
ruined (
sold $85000
It looks like they replaced the butt-ugly dash with the original gauges.
Smart move.
Correction: I replayed the auction, and the ugly dash is still there.