| |
|
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!! |
| |
