



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.

In addition to its starring role in SuperVan, Barris’ Love Machine also made appearances in Back to the Future II and the 1990 sci-fi flick, Solar Crisis as well as loads of TV shows. As I mentioned, the auction for Supervan does not list the asking price so just consider this: Barris’ “Batmobile” sold in an auction back in 2013 for a cool $4,620,000.

To help you cope with the fact that Supervan will never be yours, I’ve included a clip below from the super weird SuperVan featuring none other than Charles Bukowski being about as Bukowski as possible in his role in the film as a pervy water-boy for a wet t-shirt contest.



Previously on Dangerous Minds:

Elvis Presley drug paraphernalia up for auction

