Built back in 1966 by custom automotive mad scientist, George Barris (and originally dubbed “The Love Machine”), the four-wheeled star of the 1977 film SuperVan has been fully restored and is currently up for auction for an undisclosed price. Which generally means that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
A view from the front of George Barris’ “Supervan”
Dean Martin’s tricked out Cadillac Eldorado by George Barris
Elvis Presley and his Cadillac limousine by George Barris
Barris’ has created some of the most recognizable cars in television and movie history like the “Batmobile”, the chatty “KITT” from the 1980s TV series, Knight Rider, the “Munster Koach,” and the “DRAG-U-LA” casket car from The Munsters as well as tricking out cars for celebrities like Dean Martin who requested a Cadillac Eldorado be modified into a station wagon for some reason. Barris even turned a Cadillac into a limousine for Elvis Presley. But let’s get back to the aforementioned shagadelic “Supervan/Love Machine,” shall we?
George Barris and his “Supervan”
The interior of the “Supervan”
George Barris’ signature inside the “Supervan”
With its crushed red velvet interior, rotating bed and disco ball hanging from its ceiling, the van certainly lived up to its original namesake. Modified from a 1966 Dodge Tradesman A-100, Barris even installed solar panels on the eight-cylinder van, which powered a television, radio and even a record player that were used during the downtime on the set of SuperVan. Ah, the 70s really were the best.
More after the jump…