On May 14, 2005 I went to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles to attend the auction of the George Barris Kustom Television and Movie Car Collection. I was hoping to pick up the 1975 Gran Torino that was used both on the original television series and as a camera car in the film.
There were some way cool cars up for sale, including cars from the first and second Fast and the Furious movies, and the Dukes of Hazzard!
Here is George Barris, builder of some of the most memorable cars of t.v. and screen. I really like this guy because he has been building cars since the 40's, and he wasn't born a rich kid who just inherited his family's car business.
Here is my baby. She still had a lot of camera mounts in the front and both sides of the car.
Here's some information on the car. Oddly, the company doing the auction had the engine listed as a 390 on the internet.
Here's the engine. Honestly I was rather disappointed. I've personally inspected the Torinos from Mike's Premiere Studio Rentals (who built hero Torinos for the movie), and their Torino's engines blow this one away.
Here's a little movie memorabilia that came with the car.
There goes my car. It went for more money than this poor working man could afford. Sad, I really wanted that car.
Here is where the car landed up. It's in Las Vegas now at the Imperial Palace Auto Collection! I talked to a guy who worked there, and I am 95% sure this is the same car I bid on at the Barris auction. Now you know why I lost bidding for the car - who do you think has more money, a working chump or a Las Vegas Casino?
