Famed George Barris/Von Dutch Two Wheeler!
George Barris is a name that we all recognize for his custom cars that were featured in tv shows and on album covers, but what about the not so common to see custom bicycle he built for Eddie Munster? Partially a Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycle, Barris was not the only person to put his touch on this sweet custom ride. Both Skip Barber and Von Dutch had their hands on this bike, making the history of this bike even more interesting. With its heavily custom chain frame, Eddie of the tv show “The Munsters” had one of the first heavily customized bicycles but sadly it was not featured on any of the episodes of the show. With an extreme attention to detail, you could stare at this bike for an hour and see something new that you hadn’t noticed before. Butch Patrick(Eddie) is the current owner of this bike and is selling not only one of the first heavily custom bicycles with names Barris and Von Dutch tied to it, but also a great Hollywood piece of history tied to a great classic tv show. All of this collaborative history can be yours for a cool $50,000. Check out the Facebook listing here out of Macon, Missouri.
(Thanks to Heritage Auctions for the profile image)
So what makes this bicycle so special? Well, 1963 ½ marks the birth of the Schwinn Sting-Ray and the “muscle bike”/banana seat era in general. What I find so fascinating is that there are several elements on this bike that were borrowed from the Munster “Dragula” coffin car. The gold paint and the decorative figural work on the fenders and chain guard resemble that of Dragula. The tufted burgundy velvet seat also mimics the padding of a coffin. A well cherish tv show prop, this bike has lived a pampered lifestyle, and still shows very well. I would dare to say that the paint has aged, but the bike is like no other and original. Through researching, this bike has been shown a few times with the spider web windscreen missing, as well as the rear wheel “bumper”. It is my understanding that the windscreen is a reproduction, but is very close to what the original was. The tires are claimed to be original, and the rear slick is absolutely an early Schwinn part.
From what I can recall, I believe this bike was donated to Butch Patrick by a fan a few years ago which Butch has traveled and shown the bike and other Munster memorabilia at different events. Another reason this bike is so neat is that it did not make an appearance on the tv show. Certainly an amazing prop, and a great snapshot with Eddie for publicity, this bike almost became a part myth as it was not really publicly seen until the early 2000’s. Perhaps I am overly sentimental, but I feel the bike belongs with Butch Patrick or in a museum as a key piece, as this bike is considered to be the grandfather of all custom bicycles. The 1960’s brought on banana seat bikes, and many kids across America customized those bikes to mimic “Easy Rider”, and other cult classic films and tv shows. I like to think that this specific bike played a key role in that period of time as it was an incredible benchmark to set to show everyone that a bicycle can be anything, even a chain. If money was of no concern, would you be the caretaker of this incredible bike?
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Comments
Inspiration for Cheech’s steering wheel.
I had one of the first Schwinn Stingray bicycles in our town. Got it for my birthday instead of the Sears go kart I wanted. Funny seeing Eddie Munster here on Barn Finds as we are going to a car show in 2 weeks where he will be there with Herman and grandpa’s rides. Seen him last year at ShebyFest in Jefferson City, Missouri. Lot of $$$ for a bike even with the history attached.
Maybe they even influenced Indian Larry? https://www.google.com/search?q=Indian+Larry+welded+chain+motorcycle&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS783US783&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=Rogx8zHB03SUzM%253A%252CMNumh2FdCCf-JM%252C_&usg=__XIBSwdR91jJiN-5uc7eUNbkpFbM%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjy-qydnITcAhVE6IMKHaabDn4Q9QEIKzAA#imgrc=PDRJd4QFtMBEhM:
I have to admit Indian Larry could be off-the-wall at times, but I admit I liked some of his old-school bikes. Most people love or hate them, some I like while some I don’t. It’s a personal thing.
Big fan of the show! More endearing than the Addams family due to the subtext: while the Addam’s revelled in their weirdness, the Munsters actually thought they were normal! 50k is out of my range unless it was for a decent Dragula tribute!
Poor guy is still clinging to some 50 year old t.v. show to make a buck.
If the bike was never on the show, how can it be called a tv show prop?
Also it seems pretty crappy that the bike was given to Patrick and now he wants 50K for it.
I agree- the bike has more value if it actually appeared on TV. Maybe even a few thou- but not 50K. Sorry Eddie!
Before you’re too quick with harsh judgement on Butch Patrick, please understand he was a child actor, may have had bad/dishonest advisors/managers and perhaps ultimately made very little off his role on the show. It happened back then, he may very well be like the rest of us now and not knowing how exactly he’s going to make it on retirement. And while I think 50 grand for a bike nobody ever saw on television is pretty uh, well “optimistic” I wish him well.
PS – I just checked the Facebook post – it apparently sold, but I suppose we’ll never know for how much.
Fifty thousand dollars ? For 50K I could buy that rusty Mustang, repair everything and have some beer money left.
It is a fake..just go over it closely….plus it “appeared” in 2000. Yeah FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE
This brings back some related memories. I had a friend in high school, at the time there were chain steering wheels similar to the frame on this bike. My friend had a 64 Impala with one of these chain steering wheels, however his was very deep and the diameter was only about 10 inches. Did I mention his Impala did not have power steering. It took everything he had to turn that car. Funny memories.
Don’t get it. If money wasn’t a concern, I still wouldn’t want it. Not on tv show. …
It’s not even cool to look at. The author says “or in a museum as a key piece”?? Could go well in some sort Liberace collection maybe
Even if the bike had been used on the show it still would not be worth 50k no matter who built it. I bid 50 dollars.
Cool picture with Eddie, but 50K for the not so cool bike is all hype. I don’t care who built it. It doesn’t have much style.
It turns me the wrong way to know it was donated to him and now he thinks he can sucker someone out of 50 grand. Good luck finding fools with money.
I would think without a frame made of some tubular material: steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon, it would ride terribly.
Who cares? I wouldn’t buy it with $50K of YOUR money. Junk.
If money was of no concern, I’d be stoked to be the caretaker of such a cool, custom bicycle, and I’d actually ride it. It appears to be a single-speed, coaster brake bike with a small frame, so most trips would be limited to brief jaunts down the bike path. For the sake of awesome distinction, I’d ride the short distance of ~40 miles of El Tour de Tucson with Eddie’s pictures attached to each side. :)
Cool find!
This Bicycle was a part of the Movieworld Cars of the Stars collection here in California. I remember it at the museum in the 70’s and also saw it sell at auction in the 1990’s at the Brucker collection sale in Santa Paula. The bike was hanging in the rafters of the packing house covered in dust. 50k sounds crazy certainly, but it is a real thing…
I agree with the above poster Eddie didn’t become a Hollywood star like some other child actors of that era. I am 58 and didn’t get a banana seat bike till 1968. Eddie is probably about 8 years older than I am so he is looking to retire and get off the circut. Clearly a fan wanted it bad enough to at least pay close to the ask. It is a one of one after all.
Some of you might remember the ” Rifleman ” Chuck Conners. He never did become a big Star like John Wayne after that show canceled. Yeah he worked plenty. But never got to filthy rich status. Anyway a guy I knew that lived down the street from him as a kid and talked Chuck into buying old Winchester 92 rifles and installing big loops on them and selling them as belonging to the collection of Chuck Conners with a signed letter stating such. A lot of people would think that the rifle appeared in the show and would be hot to buy it and it would sell for 5k to 6k when it was actually only worth about 1k or maybe 2k if it was in good condition. It was true that it belonged to Chuck for maybe a month or a year, but it was ever used on the show. The two actual rifles used in the show were made up at Stembridge rentals and were owned by the company and eventually sold off when they liquidated part of their arms. Chuck needed money enough to be a part of this misleading scheme. So at least Eddie is being totally honest as far as I can tell. Better than most people selling a used car or whatever.
I remember this bike being in the Cars of the Stars museum, late ’60’s early ’70’s, in Buena Park, CA (between the freeway and Knotts Berry farm. I think my dad was going there to visit Von Dutch. They also had the BMW Isetta from Alice B. Toklos. Wonder where that is?
If it had been seen on the show it would have some sort of iconic status. Having been created by famous customizers and with “Eddie Munster” on it from back in the day, that does help some… but really one would have to be crazy about The Munsters to pay the big bucks for this bike.
Saw Butch Patrick at Springfield , MO this Memorial Day weekend at the Street Rod Nationals , He had a replica of Herman’s car and Dragula there. Seemed to be a nice, straight-up guy. Hey, if he can make a few bucks off a really cool old TV show, who cares. Remember Tattoo? The little guy from Fantasy Island. I heard he built some condos on a Caribbean Island that vertically challenged people could stay for no cost. He calls it Stay-Free Mini-Pads……….