Summary

Re-creation as seen on Season 2 of "The Munsters" TV series and 1966 movie. Built using 1923 Ford Model T at Basis Kustom Industries with period photos and George Barris' guidance. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection. Sold on Bill of Sale.

Details

This is a re-creation of the "Drag-U-La" Coffin Car as seen in "The Munsters" television series, which aired from 1964 to 1966. It is built from a modified 1923 Ford Model T. As the companion hot rod to the Munster Koach, the Drag-U-La "coffin car" capitalized on the red-hot car culture of the 1960s and heightened viewer interest in "The Munsters" TV show on CBS. Fictionally built by Grandpa Munster, portrayed by Al Lewis, Drag-U-La was created to help the Munster family win back the Munster Koach, which Frankenstein-like Herman, played by Fred Gwynne, had lost in a drag race in the Season 2 episode entitled "Hot Rod Herman." Drag-U-La was also used for the 1966 movie "Munster, Go Home," with an alternate origin involving a cross-country automobile race in England. Munster Koach designer Tom Daniel also penned Drag-U-La for George Barris' Barris Kustom Industries, using a modified Dragmaster dragster chassis and a real coffin for its body, sourced by Barris project engineer Richard "Korky" Korkes. Drag-U-La's 289ci Ford Mustang V8 engine was equipped with twin reverse-mounted carburetors and a special throttle arrangement to save interior space. Pipe organ-style exhaust headers reinforced the funereal character of Drag-U-La, along with the carriage lamps and headstone up front. Dragster-style rolling stock included narrow cycle-type spoked front wheels and tires, with custom Radir wheels and drag slicks out back. The driver sat dragster-style to the rear under a plastic bubble top and controls included a butterfly wheel and brake lever. Subtle changes were made to the automobile, such as the tires, for different aspects of filming for the television series and for the movie production. The original Drag-U-La resides in a museum. If this Drag-U-La replica from the Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection appears extremely faithful to the original article, that is because it was built by craftsmen Keith Dean and Jim Johnson of Barris Kustom Industries, starting with an actual 1923 Ford Model T and using original photographs with the irreplaceable and expert guidance of none other than George Barris. Dr. Berkowitz acquired the vehicle in 2013 from Galpin Motors of Van Nuys, CA, the highly successful Ford dealer and longtime guardians of Southern California's custom-car culture and heritage. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection. **SOLD ON BILL OF SALE**