KUSTOMS and HOT RODS GALLERY
Brett Barris’ RAT-U-LA

The RAT-U-LA is Brett Barris’ version of the infamous DRAG-U-LA, Grandpa Munster's ride from the the hit 60's TV serious "The Munsters".

The original DRAG-U-LA was unfortunately sold years ago to the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Atlanta. You can still see it hanging from the ceiling. Brett decided it was time to build a new one, but built for this generation. This generation of hot rodders are building and driving what they call Rat Rods. A Rat Rod is a nostalgic hot rod that resembles what kids were driving when hot rods were young. The jalopies were usually built on a budget incorporating used parts from many different makes and models, kind of like how Frankenstien was created. Today this type of rod has gained it¹s own style and following. Since Brett had to build this car on a budget, it fell under this classification and merging the design of the original DRAG-U-LA.... you get the RAT-U-LA...

Brett Barris
Brett put the word out that he was going to build this car and a good friend and car builder, Jim Johnson, found the perfect base vehicle for the project, a 1927 T-Bucket that he found for a reasonable price. This car was a Rat Rod already. Back in the 60's it was supped up with a 427 for drag racing and had it's history, but it's history was about to change.

The next step was the body. We tossed around the idea of stretching out a casket that would fit 2 people side by side. Though caskets were hard to find and the ones we liked were too expensive so we decided to build one out of metal. This is when the RAT-U-LA took on a life of it's own. Jim came up with the idea to make the body like the old wood caskets. The shape would work perfect for what we wanted and could be built for less than purchasing a casket and stretching it.

Jim Johnson and Brett Barris
Jim had the casket made out of metal with help from Marvin Shue and they placed the casket on the chassis. Though the casket was too tall, so they sectioned it which made it sleeker and looked more like a casket. It was a go...

Marvin Shue
Then came time for the engine. Jim just happen to have a 350 Chevy small block in his shop and he threw in a 700 R automatic overdrive transmission. This baby was built to drive the distance. We initially were going to have the exhaust pipes go vertically like the DRAG-U-LA, but then we decided that it would take away from the casket plus the exhaust wouldn't be blowing in the drivers face. So we decided to go with custom headers that trailed along the bottom side. We were also going to use lanterns for lights like the DRAG-U-LA, but again, it took away from the look of the casket. Which brings us to where we are now, adding the lights, gauges, steering wheel etc. Brett was discussing the spider web grill that Jim was designing with friend and artist, Sara Ray and she offered to make the hood ornament, a black widow spider that is hovering over it's web grill.  Sounded perfect to Brett.

Hopefully the RAT-U-LA will be finished by the Mooneyes Xmas show. Keep checkin' in to see how we¹re doin' and see what we decide to do as far as paint and stripping. This will be Brett¹s daily driver, you better not cut him off!!




BACK TO KUSTOM GALLERY

BACK TO RAT-U-LA

MORE GREAT CARS COMING SOON
 

ALL CONTENTS ©2004 Barris Kustom Industries unless otherwise noted.
All rights reserved.