The Dragula was a coffin-shaped dragster created by George Barris for use in The Munsters TV show and its subsequent movie of the mid-1960s. This custom was the last of five that were built and could be the most authentic based on documentation from Barris Kustoms. It will be available here on Mecum at their Kissimmee, Florida auction in January 2022. Thanks for the heads up on this cool set of wheels, Rocco B.!
In the Fall of 1964, The Munsters arrived on CBS as a situation comedy with a gothic-like family who were placed in ordinary, everyday circumstances. Herman was the head of the brood and the reincarnation of the Frankenstein monster but played for laughs. In a first season episode, Herman lost the family transport in a snookered bet at the local drag strip. To win it back, Grandpa Munster cooked up his own roadster, the Dragula, to beat the other guy at his own game. The hot rod would also appear in the 1966 film, Munster, Go Home!
In reality, Grandpa didn’t build the car, but George Barris and company did. The Dragula is famous for its rolling coffin coachwork and is powered by a 350 hp, 289 cubic inch V8 paired with an automatic transmission. This car comes complete with autographs from both Barris himself and Butch “Eddie Munster” Patrick.
This machine doesn’t look like it would be comfortable to drive, but who cares because it’s cool as hell. And whether it would work well as a real dragster would be up for debate. This Dragula comes with alloy wheels and rear slicks from Radir and front bicycle tires by Duro.
Yawn .
Sorry doesn’t nt look fun to drive or own.
Its no Bullet 😉
I ran into Butch Patrick a few years ago at the Iola car show. He had this car with him, but he didn’t seem all that enthused about it. Didn’t even know the mechanicals. What I really wanted to discuss was Beverly Owen, who had recently passed away, and to see if he thought she was by far the prettier of the two Marilyn Munsters……but he didn’t want to talk about that or anything else for that matter. He looked supremely bored. Of course, who could blame him. He is famous for a part he played as a punk kid 55 years ago. Of course, I suppose it beats working for a living.
I’ve heard that Fred Gwynne could have given Butch a run for his money in the ornery competition.
Lol I was at that same Iola show! I thought the same thing. Fonzie was there and had a huge line to meet him, and poor Eddie Munster had only a couple people.
Here we go again….
With all the Munster Mobiles that are constantly being offered for sale, I gotta believe there are more than 5.
Gary, the problem is most of those people have been asked the same question a few thousand times. Eventually they get sick of the same thing over and over.
I’ve met some big time racers over the years and they will talk for a while about everything from what their family did sailboat racing 25 years ago to MIke Salinas taking 15 minutes at the US Nationals to explain to my friends how the air suspension in his semi truck works.
That’s interesting to them, not the same old stuff that they get asked about 20 or 30 times a day. But as you said, sponsors and the public pay the bills.
Camaro Joe, you couldn’t be more accurate. Don’t forget that many of the people asking questions are trying to clever by asking inane questions about the car and show just to show how smart they are. These are same sort of people that are more than happy to throw in a cheap shot about the actors earning a paycheck doing appearances at shows and run in how their career didn’t thrive for multiple decades.
Steve R
The definitive event is the SNL Star Trek convention featuring William Shatner. Another one would be the convention and restroom scene at the beginning of Galaxy Quest. I’ve seen celebrities and sports figures in public and I just leave them alone. After a morning “encounter” with Judd Hirsch in the Zagreb airport restaurant (he was coming in, I was going home after a month-long nuclear power plant outage) you’re better off to just walk away.
The encounter went like this…we were getting up to leave when Hirsch and his entourage walked in. I said to my friends “Hey, I think that that guy is Judd Hirsch!”, to which he replied “That’s Mister Hirsch to you!”
To be fair, my reply, given at the end of six 12 hour night shifts and about to go home after 28 days in country, wasn’t very charitable.
So, just leave them alone and don’t ask stupid questions.
I can understand if they are tired out answering the same old questions, but they have a contract to appear. Isn’t being friendly a big part of the job? Even if you feel pissy, can’t you at least “act” friendly? After all, they are actors. If my job is getting paid to shovel crap out of a cow bar, do I sit around and not do it? Face it, it is a pretty good gig for a paycheck, not like my job on the farm.
Right Gary. Musicians sing the same song thousands of times and don’t get grumpy.
I don’t suppose this car is road-legal, and if it is, who’d be crazy enough to drive it anyway, with other crazy drivers out there? It would cause accidents just by causing other drivers to rubberneck.
That’s a pretty interesting dual quad manifold.
Made by edelbrock
Ram box from Edelbrock, I ran the ford version on my GT350 at a vintage race at Lime Rock in CT
That’s the first thing that I noticed. I would not see the 289 lurking beneath if I had not been told about it.
That is a cross ram intake
That Barris autograph sure looks tacky.
It should be in a more discreet place,if there
at all.
I agree, it looks like graffiti.
Barris was a far cry from “discreet”
Always enjoy Russ’ writeups, but failed to mention, Herman was played by Fred Gwynn, and Grandpa was Al Lewis, both accomplished actors. If I remember, the drag racing episodes caused a lot of flurry, as it advocated street racing, but most thought it was just good old fashioned entertainment. Of course this isn’t street legal, and the arresting officer would go through 2 ticket books, but it’s pure Hollywood, and nothing more.
The kind of “car” that will Only be seen at shows, or placed in a museum, or placed in someones collection. Drive it? Noooooo.
Yeah, but just slide you down (or shovel you in, depending on the results of the accident) and put you in the ground. Cheapest funeral ever. Very practical hot rod.
For the “Ultimate Car Guy” (with LOTS of money) it could be the way to go out….You die, you are placed in the car for the “wake viewing”, put it on a trailer for the “memory lane ride” to the cemetery then the whole thing goes into the ground!
cool
Yes very cool, any guess on hammer price?
Illegal death trap, but cool nonetheless.
“Whom God wants to punish, he first makes successful in show business”.
Witness Butch Patrick and the recently late Tommy Kirk.
Yeah, and witness Tammy Faye Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.
Jeez Louise, seems to be a lot of jealousy on this site today.
Hmmm….I look at the seat….probably safe, but I dunno how good I’d feel about having something mechanical soooo close to my crown jewels!
this is nothing. You ever seen the mini rods at a tractor pull. Guys are sitting there with a big block literally between their knees.The guys that drive them have coconut sized kahonas.
Willie the wimp(chicago gangster):buried in a Cadillac
Sandra West(Texas socialite): buried in a Ferrari…in her neglige…. with the seat “comfortably” tilted back
Well the episode did not promote street racing it was just on and was at a sanctioned drag strip. Had the pleasure of hosting Butch patrick and his wife, we supplied a safe parking for the trailer with both cars and he had dinner with us at my friends house. I have to say he was great, we had a good time! Gave us autographed photos and gave my friends wife a ride in the Munster Coach!
WOW!!! Was it at Lyons Drag Strip?
Dave
I owned a garage in a small New Mexico town and have a lot of movie stares move in and out of here for the most parts people do not even know that they are the actors are left alone and those of us that know who they are just act as it they are just another local. But we have a lot of rich people and politicians come in and hunt for bear and lions. I had a call and ask if I could do a service call I replies no because I would have to charge from the time a leave till I get back. I was told that was OK I then had to explain that I just can not do it I would be 10 or more hours late on my work and that is not fair to the people waiting on their cars. I then got the do you know who this is for and I said I could care less I have so many hours in a day and I want to go home at the end of it. If it is for the president he can call a wrecker and they can leave him at a motel or where ever he want to be send me his # and I will call when his car is done. I give them the wrecker company phone # and hung up. The next morning the pick up was at my drive and keys in the ing. with the name and # for the owner. My helper come in and told me who owned the truck and I said just do as you would for anyone else check and see what is going on. It was a very simple repair they had tried to cross the 5 crossing on the GILA river and drowned it out then trying to start it burn up the starter. I finished the job I was on and my helper got that one done he did all the easy jobs and I did the one that needed to be scanned and required wiring work. I went in and did the bill and called and left a message that it was done and the amount to be paid cash or check would be fine I do not take credit cards. When they come in to pay he said you must be better known then me. I told him most people here owes me for their car repairs and I never have money because everyone here is poor so I carry them on the payment plan. I also raced Mud Dragsters and was known for that. He had never seen a mud truck so I showed them to him and he was quite impressed and I took him the next week end to places that the locals get to see but very few out of towners ever see. I then found out he had bought one of my older costumers ranch and ask that I not tell people so they would not be up looking for a look at him. He wore old jeans and t shirt and looked like any other rancher and very few people knew who he was. He was here for about 5 years and sold the place out and has never come back that I know of. But I know the ones I have met just want you to not act like they are someone special. But I think the younger ones are different and want to be a big shot and get into trouble. They think they are special and they really are not they are just spoiled brats that need to be ignored.
Those that have are very nice and normal.
Those who think they are something are a pain in the a$$ !
Chuck Barris was one of the “GREATEST CAR DESIGNERS EVER” Afterall he made the Batmobile & many other cool cars ,most people can’t even draw a cool car on paper.
Hammered sold Jan 2022 at Mecum Kissimmee for $473,000