Darrel Panfil's Munster Koach Tribute Car

Darrel Panfil's Munster Koach is a tribute to the original Munster Koach that Barris Kustoms built for The Munsters television series in 1964. The Munster Koach was the family car that was used in the show, and the producers contacted George Barris to provide the car. Darrel and his three brothers completed their tribute build in two solid years, putting in a total of 1600 hours. Darrel's Koach was completed in 2005 and it debuted at the Chicago World of Wheels where it won Top Honors/Best in Class. Behind the Koach in the photo is Darrel's brother Glenn Panfil's 1932 Ford Coupe with a 392 Chrysler Hemi with six 2-barrels carbs. The 1930 Ford Model A Coupe behind the Koach belongs to Darrel's brother Dave Panfil. Dave is running a 401 Buick nailhead with six 2-barrel carbs on his coupe. All cars built by the Panfil Brothers. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

A photo of the original Munster Koach that Barris Kustoms built in 1964

Darrel started researching the details on the original Munster Koach in 1991. In 2003 he and his brothers started the build. The chassis was hand-built with a 133” wheelbase, and it featured a dropped forged axle and Chevy 10 bolt rear. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Darrel's brother Glenn helped with the metal fabrication. The body is all steel, and Darrel started with a 1927 Ford touring body that he stretched and modified to specs. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Everything was done in-house, and according to Darrel, all of his brothers played a critical role in the build. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Power comes from a Ford Cobra 289 CI with ten 1-barrel carburetors on a custom-built intake and air horns. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Darrel and Glenn fabricated the fenders from scratch. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Darrel's wife insisted that they should use the Munster Koach as their wedding limo. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Built by the Panfil Brothers. The Munster Koach next to Glenn's 1932 Ford Coupe and Dave's 1930 Ford Model A Coupe. Darrel still owned the Munster Koach in 2022, and he had driven it 15 000 miles on the street. Photo courtesy of Darrel Panfil.

Auto World Munster Koach Diecast Model Car - Click here to check price and availability on Amazon.com.

The Munsters: The Complete Series - Check price and availability on Amazon.com.

Darrel Panfil's Munster Koach is a tribute to the original Munster Koach that Barris Kustoms built for The Munsters television series in 1964. The Munster Koach was the family car that was used in the show, and the producers contacted George Barris to provide the car.

A Boy and his Dream

Since he was a 10 yr old kid, Darrel Panfil of Lombard, Illinois watched The Munsters and was infatuated with The Munster Koach. Back then he told his brother Dave while they were building model cars, that someday he wanted to build his own Munster Koach. "And that’s how it started," Darrel told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in February of 2020, "so I started seriously researching details in 1991 at the age of 22 yrs old." Fast forward 13 yrs later and Darrel's dream finally started to become a reality!

Built by the Panfil Brothers

When Darrel set out to build the car in 2003 he wanted it to be street-driven. The body is all steel, and he started with a 1927 Ford touring body that was stretched and modified to specs. Once the fabrication and bodywork were completed, he sprayed it in spider black pearl with gold leaf accents and red pinstriping. It was also dressed up with glass etched spider webs. The chassis was hand-built with a 133” wheelbase, and it featured a dropped forged axle and Chevy 10 bolt rear. Ansen wheels with Radir drag slicks were installed in the back of the car. Power comes from a Ford Cobra 289 CI with ten 1-barrel carburetors on a custom-built intake and air horns. Inside, it features Stewart-Warner speedo/tach & gauges. The seats and interior were custom-built and wrapped in diamond tufted blood-red velvet with ermine fur carpet inserts, leather-wrapped coach enclosure, and linen curtains with tassels. Darrel's brother Glenn helped with the metal fabrication, and some of the custom features include scrollwork, fenders, headers, intake manifold, grill shell, brass lanterns, coffin handles, french phones, a Sony TV, and a Muntz 4 track and speakers. Darrel had three brothers that helped with the build. Glenn did also do the upholstery work, while he, Darrel, and Dave did the paint and bodywork. Jerry "Jay" Panfil did the mechanical and electrical work. "Everything was done in-house, and everyone played a critical role in this build," Darel tells us, adding that without his wife Sheryn's full support, "none of this would be possible." Darrel and his brothers completed the build in two solid years, putting in a total of 1600 hours. The Koach was completed in 2005 and they debuted it at the Chicago World of Wheels where it won Top Honors/Best in Class. Darrel still owned the Munster Koach in 2022, and he had driven it 15 000 miles on the street.