George Barris may not be a recognizable name to some; however, without his influence, several iconic television cars would never have existed. For example, in the 1966 Batman television series starring Adam West, Barris helped transform a Lincoln Futura Concept into the now-famous Batmobile. One of the most memorable cars from the 80s, KITT from the show Knight Rider, was also one of Barris’s projects. These examples were just a few of the coolest custom cars ever built by George Barris.
When it came to the 1968 Dodge Dart GTS, Barris added several touches to the car that would become synonymous with “Mannix.” The TV detective was also a racing car fan and needed a vehicle that was more than capable of high-speed chases. So, Barris added a hood scoop and a rear spoiler. The designer also switched out the stock gas cap for a racing-inspired model for the final exterior touch. Barris also had a mobile phone installed into the interior dashboard, which was very futuristic at the time.
