Weirdest Barris Kustom?

Well, okay, George Barris’ shop made a lot of crazy movie, TV and celebrity cars; so this may not be the craziest all-around, but it’s remarkably odd given its late-90s build and apparent non-celebrity usage.

Under all this is a 1998 Cougar, and a low-mile car at that.  Compared to some of the fascia-job T-Bird and Cougar retro-rods, this is a more complete change, including the shooting brake body and, of course, the wood.  This car even has wood accents on the wheels.  Power comes from the 4.6L V8, but with an added supercharger and it runs through the stock 4-speed automatic.

Taste is a subjective matter, but I think most will agree this is an ugly car.  Can the Barris history help the seller get the very high asking price?

Click for eBay ad
Taylor, MI
$55,000 BIN with offers considered

Unlike others, this car really makes it hard to guess what’s underneath.

But that doesn’t mean it’s attractive.

Here’s a particularly odd angle- note the lower rear, which comes to a point.  The overall rear shape ensures it’s hard to load cargo into this shooting brake.  Any guesses as to whether those side pipes work?

Here’s the rear view – let’s leave it at that.

Yes, the rear does open!

Here are those wacky, wood-accented wheels.

As is often the case with modern customs, the interior received very little attention.  The tack-on wood trim is not original to the Cougar, however, and the center console looks like it has taller edges; but the overall feel is stock 1998 Cougar.

Ad text:

1949 FORD WOODIE BARRIS KUSTOM. Started life as a 1998 Mercury Cougar. Now it is the COUGAR WOODIE 2050. The GEORGE BARRIS creation was introduced at the 1999 Grand National Roadster Show. Complete front-end from 1950 Ford. Grille shell from 1950 Merc panel. Center is hand-carved & stretched Gold leaf BARRIS Crest. Head lights are English Lucas tri-beam. 1950 Ford Station Wagon rear body installed. Completely fabricated to fit undercarriage suspension and flooring. Front doors and top formed into the flooring section. Corvette finned and ribbed sidepipes. Wood hand-formed and stained side oak with round pegs. Exterior paint- Gold Pearl-of-Essence, 40 coats. Sprayed flowing-sequence of gold flake. Push button on Can-over Air Suspension. Gold Anodized foot and gas pedals. Colorado Custom Wheels ‘ Severance’ style with oak spoke inlay. DASH IS SIGNED BY GEORGE BARRIS!! PAXTON SUPER CHARGER 4.6 L V8, 4 Speed Auto Trans. 13,660 MILES. Many other details that GEORGE BARRIS the maker of the ORIGINAL BAT MOBILE is known for.  REASONABLE TRADES CONSIDERED CALL 313-xxx-xxxx