This
version of the Beverly Hillbillies Jalopy was built for the character,
Jethro, played by Max Baer. Max decided Jethro needed a automobile
that had more style and speed than the old jalopy, and that could
compete with the Clampetts. So the producer, Paul Hennning called
on George who worked on the original 1921 Olds Roadster.
After convincing a classic car collector to sell his 1921 Olds
Roadster, the car was hauled to the Barris shop and construction
began. The complete body was removed and the chassis modified
to accept the 69 Oldsmobile 442 engine, automatic transmission,
and rear axle. Brakes were brought up to date in order to handle
the added weight and power. Cragar chrome mag wheels were installed
and Firestone Indy Super Sport tires mounted. Specially tuned
dual exhaust was hand built to engine specifications adding to
the total power output. The body was reworked to bring the car
up to the high standard of the Barris metal finishers. The fenders
were bobbed in front and rear, and supercharger relief pipes fitted
from the hood side to the inside of each front fender. High rise
injector tubes were installed in the top of the hood, and chrome
nerf bars fitted to the frame horns acting as front bumpers. Once
the body was completed, a finish coat of Fire Red Metalflake paint
was applied with accent yellow racing stripes running along the
rocker panel. The pick-up bed was hand built in wood to simulate
a spoiler type platform with tow parachutes mounted at the rear
for emergency stopping. Four bucket seats were hand built and
fitted with head rests, and trimmed in matching yellow using black
as an accent color, stitching the vinyl in a crisscross pattern.
Two of the seats were installed replacing the old bench seat formerly
used in this vintage roadster, while the other two were positioned
just behind the driver passenger compartment on top of the specially
finished wood spoiler platform, much like the old park bench mounted
on the original pickup truck used on the series. The huge roll
bars were hand built, chromed and mounted over each pair of seats.
Just to add a touch of the old, a brass still type horn was mounted
aside the cowl within the drivers reach. MPC model company
made both roadsters avail as a model kit. |