Why settle for something everyone else has, when you could go for the extraordinary? And extraordinary could be this custom dragster’s middle name.
This is the 1964 Dragula Munsters Coffin Dragster, also known as Drag-U-la from the TV series The Munsters. It was designed by George Barris of Barris Kustoms (as if his name needed further explanation), and built by Barris himself and Dick Dean. It is one of the five vehicles built for one episode of the show, the last one of the lot, and the “most authentic in existence.”
It could be yours, if you’re in the market for such a unique dragster with impressive celebrity provenance. It will go under the hammer at no reserve with Mecum Auctions, in January 2022, at the Kissimmee event.
The Dragula dragster appeared in the TV series because the Munsters needed a second car to drag race against their daily driver, the Munster Koach they’d lost in a previous race. Grandpa Munster built it in the family garage, using a real coffin for the body, organ pipes for the exhaust, and his own headstone for the grille.
In reality, George Barris did all the designing and building, of course. He still used a real coffin for the body, with a T-bucket frame underneath and a Ford 289-ci V8 engine delivering some 350 hp to the rear wheels via a C-4 automatic transmission. Like most of his Hollywood creations, the Dragula wasn’t meant to just look good: its performance was on par with the extraordinary design.
Speaking of design, the attention to detail is incredible. You get antique lamps for front and rear lights, a purple satin interior with gold lamé for the cabin, and a transparent bubble that offers protection from the elements. Everything inside and out is outlandishly ornate, in a manner that would do any vampire of the ‘60s proud. Or any other undead with a certain penchant for more gawdy material possessions.
The Dragula dragster is offered with a Letter of Authenticity and Certificate of Authenticity from Barris Kustoms, and certified signatures on the body. Based on photos alone, it’s in mint condition as well, which is to say… if you like what you see, you’d better be prepared to pay a lot of money for it.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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