Some of Dean Jeffries famous creations. This level of custom work on a Prius, Volt, Smart car would be like polishing a turd. RIP
Posted on 05/12/2013 11:49:38 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
During the 1950s and 1960s, the American automobile industry arguably peaked both in terms of sales and creativity. Americans were obsessed with cars, buying them as fast as they could be built, and many a television show had cars we today consider cultural icons at the center of the action. Wildly modified versions of street cars became ever more popular both with private collectors and Hollywood, giving rise to a growing custom car industry.
Unfortunately that golden age of American cars is long in our past, and many key players are well beyond retirement age. Famed car customizer Dean Jeffries died this week at the tender age of 80 years, reports Hemmings Auto Blog. Though he will be missed, his contributions to the custom car scene will not soon be forgotten.
Born in 1933, Jeffries had always been drawn to art, but also gravitated towards cars. During a stint in the Army, Jeffries was stationed in Germany where he learned the art of automotive pinstriping. On his return to California, Jeffries continued his custom education from legendary car customizer Kenneth “Von Dutch” Howard, as well as learned to shape metal. Jeffries would famously pinstripe James Dean’s Porsche “Lil Bastard” as well as help build the ‘32 Deuce Coupe that was on the cover of the Beach Boy’s “Little Deuce Coupe” Album.
Jeffries would also paint the first Shelby Cobra, and was soon tapped by Hollywood to work on cars like the Lincoln Continental used in the “Green Hornet” television series. One of his most famous custom cars though was the Monkey’s Pontiac GTO “Monkeymobile.” Jeffries also feuded with another car customization great, George Barris, whom he accused of taking credit for his work.
The car customization world lost another legend this week, and our thoughts are with his family
Those guns on the hood would make most any liberal faint dead away, LOL.
He recently appeared on Pickers or Pawn. Forget which one. But seemed like a nice guy. May he RIP.
RIP.
One of his most famous custom cars though was the Monkey’s Pontiac GTO “Monkeymobile.” …Heh. Of course, the Beetles had different taste in custom cars.
The Green Hornet was not a Lincoln it was a Chrysler Imperial.
Yes, it IS an Imperial, a 1966.
Pickers.
But I think they picked Chuck Barris. According to Wikipedia, Jeffries started the Batmobile project and Barris finished it (hence “credit”).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batmobile_(1966)#Live-action_television
The Green Hornet was a Wuss. Bruce Lee drove the car, fired the weapons and kicked ass.
That is an insult to self respecting turds everywhere.
Tuner Prius LOL
Gotta love it.
I have to say (here in Indiana) I’ve never seen a Prius with big rims.
Maybe they have to get a few years older, lower in price, to slide down the economic scale of users that covet rims.
Will that even be possible? By that time I'm guessing the battery systems will be worn out and in need of replacement, and who wants a used car that they immediately have to sink $10K into for the special battery pack? And the rest of the electric systems on the car won't be far behind as far as needing replacement due to wear and tear as well.
Time will tell of course, but I'm thinking that an older used Prius will be a hard sell.
That, and the styling doesn't exactly exude virility like the 50's, 60's and 70's muscle cars did....but then I'm a shamelessly biased old stoat ;-)
Even if the batteries are shot, you can still drive it around on the gas engine, just not get as good fuel economy. And those Toyota engines are hard to kill, so I expect you’ll see Priuses soldiering on for decades.
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"Originally the auto stylist Dean Jeffries was contracted to build the car for the show in late 1965, but when the studio wanted the car faster than he could deliver, the project was handed to Barris.[5] With the short notice, Barris thought the Futura might work well, and using Jeffries initial car, decided that its unusual winged shape would be an ideal starting point for the Batmobile." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Futura
“cars like the Lincoln Continental used in the “Green Hornet” television series”
Or maybe on the Chrysler Imperial used in the Green Hornet television series.
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