Everything about this ‘Kustom’-ized George Barris Ferrari screams early 1980s car culture harder than naming Chrysler’s Aries and Reliant Car of the Year. The caramel brownie motif is totally mondo when slathered over custom wide bodywork and a set of extra-wide gold Epsilon/Southern Ways mesh wheels.
I’m not so sure about the Italian tricolore touches on both the exterior and interior, but you’ll certainly never forget the car’s heritage. This car will be crossing the auction block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale next month, and it could be your own Italian stallion.
Look at this thing. It’s just so extreme in its 80s-ness. Aside from the fact that it appeared as a villain car in an episode of Knight Rider (as Dagger D-X), Barris personally tailored this car to his own tastes, and added all of the latest gadgets. This Ferrari’s center console received an NEC car phone, a Sony portable television, serious Kenwood audio system, a backup camera, and a security keypad with immobilizer.
While on the subject of the interior, take a peek at the gauge cluster. Barris replaced the Ferrari’s gorgeous gauges with a custom LCD readout that could display any number of units at the press of a button. Little LEDs embedded within the burled walnut panels also operate a quite visible shift light.
While I normally adore pop-up headlights, my favorite part of this two-tone beauty is that its pop-ups have been replaced with a pair of 512 BB-inspired amber-covered driving lamps. The car’s actual headlamps now lie behind the front grille. It’s a cool touch on an already wild-looking car.
Barris wasn’t known for sentimentality, often selling his Kustom creations as soon as they were finished. He only kept a small handful of cars, and he deemed this 308 worthy of lifelong appreciation. Though he only drove the thing about 8,000 miles from 1978 to his death in 2015, it was allegedly one of his favorites. It’s certainly one of his most subdued ‘builds’, and the coloring his handsome. I can see why he liked it.