The Barris Shop on Atlantic Avenue: A Letter from Jerry Weesner

To the City of Lynwood, California, regarding the historic Barris shop at 11054 Atlantic Ave.

You can’t think custom car without the Barris Bros., George and Sam coming to mind. George came to be known by one and all as “King of the Kustomizers,” as the man and his craft are inseparably intertwined. And yes, George spelled custom with a “K.” Still does too. It’s fair to say that the traditional customized automobile as now appreciated by fans, enthusiasts, and owner/builders worldwide, from Japan to Europe, as a genuine American art form, wouldn’t exist at all if it weren’t for the extraordinary creations that sprang from his bustling Atlantic Ave. shop during the Fifties.

George Barris had many extraordinary talents, using them all in his chosen field, from design, to metalwork, even to the painting of his creations, but his greatest gift may indeed have been in promotion, both for his shop and the emerging hobby/sport/business in general, for it was to yet another Southern California phenomenon he plied this inherent skill; the start-up automotive publications. Spearheaded by Robert Petersen’s Hot Rod and the many others soon to follow, such as Rod & Custom, Car Craft, etc., etc. it was to George Barris these magazines turned to when they needed technical story content to fill their pages. George was not only a good communicator, both verbal and via the written word, but an excellent and prolific photographer as well, fully documenting his shop’s work in step-by-step articles. When building model cars became popular with young boys, George also served as a consultant for both Revell and A.M.T. model companies, taking his expertise to the tabletop for yet another generation of kustomizers.

With all of this activity, how could Hollywood fail to take notice of Barris Kustoms as well? The nearby studios commissioned many a special car for the movies, as well as did individual actors for their personalized transportation needs, not the least of these being another “King” in his own right, the one and only Elvis Presley.

As a teenager 50-some years ago, my friends and I would pile into my ’48 Ford convertible to cruise north on Atlantic from Long Beach to see what was cookin’ at the Barris shop. We were never disappointed, as we saw many wondrous things. I feel privileged to have been alive during that era, experiencing first-hand what others can now only read about.

What Barris kustom enthusiast hasn’t come to our fair land of studio tours and theme parks, and not resisted the urge to do likewise and drive past the old Atlantic Ave. location to see for themselves where it all began? To see in person where such automotive icons of “customizing’s golden age,” as the Hirohata Merc, and two-time America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winning “Ala Kart” (both cars now offered as collectible die-cast models by the Danbury Mint) came from is to truly experience a touchstone of Southern California’s rich and diverse history. That the original building has escaped the wrecking ball is a miracle in itself, though albite somewhat changed, as in; what ever happened to the streamline Moderne front window, for one? Some previous owner, possibly not knowing, nor caring just exactly what they had, who just didn’t “get it,” would be my guess, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to see this cultural landmark returned to the way it was, and once again become a working kustom shop where today’s youth could be inspired by seeing “wondrous things” happen before their eyes?

I have to say, if it weren’t for the inspiration of the Barris shop so long ago, I probably wouldn’t have chosen my career path in photo-journalism. Upon retirement from which, I had worked my way up to being senior editor of the then Primedia (now Source Interlink Media) Street Rod and Performance Group. Note that as a freelancer, my byline may still be seen in Street Rodder magazine, as well as Koolhouse Publishing’s Car Kulture Deluxe and Ol’ Skool Rodz magazines.

All of the activity mentioned make this little shop in Lynwood one of the most important and famous automotive-specific locations on planet earth, rivaling even Detroit, whose “Big Three” took note, turning to Barris for concept and dream car fabrication as well.

In conclusion, I can think of no one better qualified to implement such an undertaking than Brad Masterson, who has apprenticed under both legendary custom builder Bill Hines, and the “King” himself, Mr. George Barris.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Jerry Weesner

The original letter

From the Archives of Brad Masterson. Select a page to view it full size. The phone number has been omitted from the transcription and obscured on the final photograph.