Batmobile creator turns out bespoke Camaro

George Barris is renowned as the undisputed "King of the Auto Kustomizers" in the US, and the legendary bodywork tweaker has now turned his attention to the Chevy Camaro.

Barris shot to fame by creating one-offs such as the iconic 1966 Batmobile, the Munster Koach, Beverly Hillbilly truck and Knightrider KITT, but the Camaro "Spirit" pictured alongside is an altogether more subdued affair.

The multi-hued coupe is designed to be an affordable package that's available to punters directly from dealer showrooms.

Explaining the rationale behind the Camaro Spirit, Barris said: "Today many kustom (sic) vehicles have entirely too much work done on them. I believe we have succeeded in developing a kustom vehicle with just the right amount of features keeping it affordable to the automotive enthusiast while being made in the USA."

Barris used the 2010 Camaro 2SS RS as a base, but then went berserk with the spray gun.

There's a custom painted bonnet with deep pearl and metallic accents that are meant to emphasise the "wide, aggressive stance of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro". Meanwhile, the aerodynamic "Spear" on the flanks are meant to convey a "striking burst of speed".

The Spirit name is emblazoned on both fenders, along with the Barris Kustom Crest insignia. Up front, there's a three-bar grille that harks back to the 1960s Camaro.

The Spirit will be offered in either red or yellow, and each car comes with a "Barris Kustom" dash plaque hand signed by George Barris, as well as a certificate of authenticity.

The mods don't have to end there, as also available are features such as colour- matched wheels, vertical doors, a convertible top and an upgraded sound system.

Barris will drive Camaro Spirit #1 to Community Chevrolet -- one of the oldest Chevy dealerships in California -- this Saturday (April 10), and the VIP event will be graced by an assortment of hot rods and the famed Barris 1966 Batmobile.

The guest list also reads like a who's who of Hollywood, as among those expected are Jay Leno, James Pitt (Avatar), Claudia Wells (Back to the Future), Cindy Margolis, Bo Derek and many others.

No news as yet on how many Spirit Camaros will be offered, or how much they'll cost.

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