The Drag-u-la was a coffin-shaped dragster created by George Barris for use in The Munsters, a 1960s TV show that spawned a few subsequent movies. Barris built five of these interesting vehicles, but this isn’t one of them. It’s an incomplete project based on a 1969 Ford Mustang with a 4-cylinder engine. The seller is looking for someone to pick up where he left off and is adamant about the $2,500 asking price. You can pick it up in Kingwood, Texas after contacting the seller here on craigslist. Thanks, MattR, for “digging” this tip up for us!
When I was a child (and still today), I was a big fan of The Munsters (preferring it over The Addams Family; sorry, once a kid, always a kid). I thought the Drag-U-La and the Munster Coach were cooler than sliced bread. We covered one of Barris’ creations that was for sale at Mecum Auctions in Florida in early 2022. For more details on the fascinating vehicle, check out our review here on Barn Finds.
The original Drag-U-La came to be in a first-season episode of the show where Herman lost the family transport in a rigged bet at the local drag strip. To win it back, Grandpa Munster cooked up his own roadster, the Drag-u-la, to beat the other guy at his own game. The hot rod would also appear in the 1966 film, Munster, Go Home! Behind the scenes, the Drag-U-La was prepared by Barris, and it used a 350 hp, 289 cubic inch Ford V8 with an automatic transmission. So, it was more than capable of getting out of its own way.
When completed, the seller’s Drag-U-La tribute isn’t going to break any land speed records with the Pinto 4-banger chosen for the project. We’re told a lot of time and money has gone into the recreation so far and the engine works. However, the car still needs brakes, fuel lines, and a cooling system. There is no title, so we’re not sure what challenges you might find at your local DMV. Hopefully, the seller has documented his process to help make finishing it as easy as possible. Would it look anything like the real thing pictured last?
I too was a big fan of the Munsters. I know what I say about Hollywood, but as a kid, this was pure entertainment, not disemboweling zombies like today. The drag race scene was to capitalize on the biggest racing venue of the time, in S.Cal. anyway. The original TV shot was filmed at Lions Dragway, and look at the camera “Herman” is holding. My ex father in law, who took a lot of pictures, swore by his old Kodak “box” camera.
This? If one is going to make a tribute anything, I feel it should be accurate. Besides, as a kid, the Munsters, that clearly had death overtones( Herman worked in a funeral home, for heavens sake) and death, as kids was the furthest thing from our minds. Today, at 68, the thought of riding around in a coffin, doesn’t thrill me much. The Munsters must seem horribly drab to many today, but like all those shows, Gilligans Island, F Troop, Petticoat Junction, Beverly Hillbillies, and so on, when TV was fun and there was more program than commercials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMLZNwezGFY
Sorry about the stupid music, if that IS music, check out the cool “digger” in the background. Does anyone recognize who was driving the Munster Coach?
The guy driving the Munster Coach is Henry Beckman
Oh for the days of innocent, clean programs.
I’m curious…what part of this is a 1969 Mustang?
It’s going to be a Killer ride with Zero rear suspension: frame mounted directly to the rear axle.
“TV was fun and there was more programs than Herschel commercials.”
Wow, this is hardly Dragula anything , other than its a coffin on a frame, but that’s about where the similarities end. Even if this was finished, it still wouldn’t even be close- Kind of like saying the 74 Mustang II was a tribute to the 65 Mustang – at first glance it looks a bit like the original ,but the more you look ,you see its nothing like the original . ( and yes, I like both Mustang versions )
When this thing blows up or gets t-boned, at least your burial is simple and cheap.
Too much work needed to complete this one. Also no title no sale.
Howard Loved the video! It was actually very well done. It would be interesting to know its history. I would think it was used in one of the episodes. I worked for World of Wheels in the 90’s ,but all these Show Car Promotional Vehicles were not being used anymore. I can say ,I saw several of them in storage, I don’t know for sure and couldn’t say, but they might still be there.
I visited there years ago.I think it was on Orangethorpe Avenue.
Sad that it’s gone.
The guy who played Eddie now has both those cars. He’s shown them at the KKOA Lead Sled show in Salina Kansas at least twice.
Stu, that would be Butch Patrick, he has his own page on FB.
I would not have even looked at this if it weren’t for all the hate thrown against the Batmobile a few days ago. Anyone with a bit of scrap and an old coffin laying around could have built this. While it may tickle somebody’s fancy, it is not much on the automotive classic or fabricators front. I guess it might be a novelty to drive to “Cars & Coffins” or is that “Cars & Coffee”? The part that makes me laugh the hardest is that the Batmobile hater, loves this thing???
Some wrenches to remove the engine , an impact to remove the wheels and a shovel to bury the rest of it.
If not gone by Tuesday no sale, posted 20 days ago.
wow.
Pandemic-Mobile.
Have Coffin Will Travel !
Considering the price of coffins, this would be a bargain if the other half of the lid was available.