___ Mopar Max Magazine ___ Volume V, Issue 7 - July 2010

Volume V, Issue 7 July 6, 2010
But in my head, I felt a huge wave of cosmic connection. You see, as a kid growing up in West Brookfield, I
became aware of George Barris’ name when my Mom and I walked into Burnham’s general store on Main St., the
only place to get model kits in our small town. The kit selection was modest but I took my time and tested Mom’s
patience on every visit. Usually she shopped while I looked at the models, but she’d always have to pry me away,
telling me to hurry up and choose a kit to buy.
I remember one day in 1974 seeing a two-in-one AMT plastic model kit containing the Barris-built Munster Koach
and Drag-U-La from The Munsters TV show. Marketed as “The Ghoul Duo”, the fact that it contained two complete
models for the price of one was all it took. I recall the cool box art featured pictures of the actual cars and a funky
Dracula cartoon character that rang my 10 year old bell. Mom paid the $1.98 and I built both cars. They came out
pretty well but the fact they were already molded in black plastic spared me from the task of painting – which I
wasn’t much good at when I was 10. But I do remember smearing Testors cement all over the Drag-U-La’s clear
plastic canopy and really messing it up.
The crazy thing is that Burnham’s general store was located
right in the center of town. If you looked out the front
window, you could see Lake Street, where the Certicard
says Mrs. Poti and her Imperial once lived. I can’t say I
remember the car. In fact it would have been nearly 10
years old when I bought the model kit on that day in 1974.
But who knows, maybe Mrs. Poti drove the Imperial past
that very moment as Mom and I walked along the sidewalk,
my new Barris Munsters model kit eagerly tucked under my
arm.
I was honored to visit with Barris,
who at “80-something” has as
much energy me. Other
noteworthy Barris-customized
movie and TV Mopars include the
Fireball 500 Barracuda (based on
a 1966 273 Four-Barrel Formula
S), the Thunder Charger (based
on a real H-code ’66 Hemi
Charger) and Corky’s Cuda
(based on a ’68 Formula S 340).
Like many Barris customs, all
three were released as 1/25
scale plastic model kits. Round 2
Models has re-released the
Munster Koach and Drag-U-La
double kit. It should be available
as you read this.
ADVERTISEMENT
Today Mom is gone, Burnham’s is gone and my crudely
assembled Munsters models are gone. Even the lot at 10
Lake Street is bare (I checked). But thanks to a small
chance encounter at George Barris’ North Hollywood shop
some 36 years later, a flood of memories – and one very lucky ’65 Imperial - live on. May your travels take you full
circle too.
Steve Mags Speaks - May Your Travels Take You Full Circle - Page 3 of 3 - MoparMax.com