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George
Barris' 'Drag-U-La' replica |
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| I love working on the classic cars we get. Especially since I get to design alot of the functions and come up with twists for just about every car. Original restorations can be rewarding as well, but trying to duplicate something that has already been done in most cases can be frustrating because there is no new design work, and also because you may find things that are subpar and your not allowed to improve upon, and this isn't even mentioning the cases where your faced with the impossible task of following in great footsteps almost decades later. This is one of the main reasons why everything we do here at BK Automotive LLC has its own little twist, even the ones that would be considered replicas. | ||
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Having said that, it is on VERY rare occasion that I am asked to replicate something that actually moves me. This is one such case. It was with great honor and admiration that I agreed to construct as best I could a replica of the George Barris built 'Drag-U-La' from the 60's to be added to the George Barris Star Car Collection of a very prominent museum. I have not always had appreciation for everything in the George Barris garage, but love them or hate them more than a few rise to the top as one of a kind showpieces of craftsmanship and design. Among these I would hold the Drag-U-La at the top of his list. My hat's off to Mr. Barris for such a memorable piece of art, and many thanks to the client for allowing me to pay such a tribute to the Barris Star Car Collection. |
| We were commissioned to build a Dragula replica that matched
the original as close as we could within reason in respect to the customers
budget. They already had an older replica that was built by the late, great
Dick Dean and was the actual car that Hot Wheels used for reference when
crafting their 1:64 and 1:18 models. This replica however was built many
years ago and was not very authentic to the original design. This fact,
coupled with the wear and tear brought by years of display prompted the
owners to commission a new replica to be built.
I was contacted in December and the details were worked out over the next few days. I spent most of December and January just doing research on the original car. It happens to be hanging 30 feet from the floor in an Atlantic City casino, but is not in its original state. I was able to review photos taken of the car in its current condition, but the car was modified at least once from the TV series version for a movie and then again for display at its current home, and the changes were rather dramatic. Most of what I had to go on were vague second hand descriptions and black & white photos from the 60's. Most of the calls I placed to Barris affiliates resulted in a resounding 'SCREW_OFF!' followed by dial tone. I was told to go Fu*^ myself on at least one occasion. To the right: We took a moment to pay homage to the original craftsmen exactly 40 years since the original was built. |
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With no blueprints available, I had to make my own. With all of the images I could find, I took scale measurements and went from there. Here you see the frame finished, and the ford driveline being test fit for more measurements. |
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The wheels were one thing that changed over time, but the originals were these custom Radir tri-ribs. Also, the rear end is cut, and the custom aluminum radiator is fabricated, complete with electric fan. (I upgrade where I can). |
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I had to stretch the casket as done 40 years previous. Only I don't have a fiberglass casket, which is better or worse depending on your skills. We routinely work in steel and fiberglass so this didn't make a difference to me, but I think allows me to make a more solid car. I hand built body panels to fill the gaps and welded them in place. We used square tube steel to reinforce the body. |
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When you need custom axles, who do you call but Moser. The correct authentic period drag tires mounted, and the authentic crossram intake installed. |
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Here you can see the wheels mounted and the casket stretched. The front spindles were ALOT of work and one of the parts on this car that I am most proud of. We started with forged ford spindles and cut it all apart and rebuilt the shafts from scratch. Its alot of work, time and money but in the long run replacing wheels will be easy for the customer. |
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Smoothing the body has started, here it is test mounted for about the 32nd time. |
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A couple more test-assembled shots. |
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Now to stretch the lid. Again, the body panels have been hand made. |
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Welded in place and ready for body work. |
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Cutting the opening for the driver, and starting bodywork on the lids. The canopy we were going to make ourselves, but after our material supplier gave us the wrong material and caused us to loose 4 days of work and break 2 good canopies, I decided it was time to start calling in some artillery. More on that later. |
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The bodywork complete, we cover the panels in surfacer to start smoothing everything out. |
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Sand, prime, sand, prime. Now I just want everything straight. We can finally get to work on the engine now as well. Here you can see Roy #2 stabbing the distributor. |
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The technical engineering on something like this is a nightmare. I don't have time to go through everything, but here is a quick list of a few items of interest: reversed corvair steering box, idler arm with chain drive, column is made from a 1988 Chevy van column and a 1969 charger column, gas and brake pedals are ford mustang, brake being installed upside down and shortened, and a wave of the ole' magic wand makes it all fit. |
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Here you can see the front shelf made, mounted and the fuel cell from MOON measured and fit. |
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| Finally, time to start decorating. If nothing up to this point has driven you mad, this will. Originally, George Barris used what are now antique picture frames made of wood. How he did it I'll never know, this stuff is foam and still nearly impossible. |  |
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I found some time this weekend to sit down and fabricate the engine scoops. I'll trim them and finish them up later. |
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With the decorations going on, its time to start finalizing them. Alittle body filler here and there and alot of sanding to get everything smooth. |
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Now it is starting to take shape. |
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This has to be the LAST time we install this body, please. You can see the fuel system is finished, it actually runs and drives at this point. It has taken a year so far to source parts, build parts and construct this hotrod of the undead, but the customer has a deadline coming up and I am running out of time. I have to consider the 12 month mark my sunrise, and if we don't have a casket to blast into the night with, we'll all be vaporized at the end of December! (just so you know, this update was made on the 4th of DEC) Now the car MUST be delivered before the last week of December. Read the date above, maybe read it twice. Time to kick it into high gear. |
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I looked and looked and just couldn't find a seat that fit or looked correct, so I made one by hand. After I got the shape I wanted I trimmed it with reinforcement and put in the spiderweb pattern as was done on the original. No one will ever see it except for these shots, but I know its there. |
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Our hand fabricated exhaust. I want everything on this car functional or as functional as possible. No bolt-on look-goddies if I can help it. I want everything to work or at least have a reason. |
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| The whole car, primed for the last time. Also, we installed gas shocks on the passenger lid to help it open and make it more functional. (Try to get into this thing without it) |  |
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Now we can start measuring and cutting the stacks. Lids primed. |
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Exhaust finished, scoops ribbed and trimmed and prepped for paint, and seat padded and upholstered. |
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| I think its time for paint... |  |
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| Paintwork complete. The original was covered in goldflake. 40 years later, its not something we can really do, the major factor being cost. We needed to paint, but still wanted an authentic look. A House of Kolors metalflake was suggested to me from a fellow builder, and it turned out perfect. I adjusted some coloring and played with my base for a more gold/copper hue, and I think the finished product speaks for itself. |  |
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Now, I mentioned the materials trouble with the canopy right? Another issue was the double curve, which is impossible to replicate by hand. I managed to get in touch with Keith Dean, Dick Deans' son. He seems like a very nice fellow to start with, and was able to supply the canopy for us. It is EXPENSIVE, but when you want it right, you want it right. |
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| Here we added the authentic lion head pulls to open the passenger lid, painted the scoops and fabricated the authentic radiator coffin cover. Now its time for upholstery. Its getting down to the wire, so not enough time to get everything just perfect, but I think it is coming out great. |  |
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Final assembly. I thought it would never happen, but here it is. We ended up re-cutting the lid to fit the canopy and had to repaint in a pinch but no troubles otherwise. I added a hangman's noose for a canopy pulldown to help the driver lower the lid. |
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Finished. The car rolled out of the shop for the last time on Friday the 22nd and by Christmas was on display for all the world to enjoy. We are finishing the headstone to be installed later, and will have finished photos of the car on display soon. We also have some video from the test drives that I will try to add later. With the design and headscratching involved on a first run product like this, added in with the customers VERY tight budget, we didn't make a dollar. I didn't bother to do the math but I am sure we have money invested by the end of this, but I knew that when we started. Some things you do you for money, some you do for fun, and some you do just so you can say you did. I think that's the case here. Its' not very impressive from the dollars standpoint and it was a real headache to build, but once its over, look at what we did. Now, how many people can say that? Thanks to everyone who read through the write-up and took the journey with us. Enjoy the finished photos, and we'll see you on the next build,... maybe it will be yours! |
| Here is the view from the cockpit, and other finished shots before delivery. The headstone will be added later. |  |
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Here is the car on display at the Volo Museum in Volo IL.. The headlights were changed for plug-in fake candle lanterns for a more impressive display and the headstone has been installed. |
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BK Automotive LLC is not a one man show, and we can't do everything alone. George Barris & Barris Kustoms for a history of timeless showpieces And the Lord God for giving us the opportunity to do what we love,... make things go dangerously fast with a reckless disregard for human life. |
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For information on
replica or restoration services: BKautomotive@sbcglobal.net
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