The Fireball 500

A photo of the Fireball 500 captured in the mid-1970s outside Great Western Motors in Greenbrook, New Jersey. After its time in the spotlight, the car ended up as a promotional piece for the dealership, sitting outside, exposed to the elements. By the early 1980s, the Fireball 500 had fallen into disrepair, its bodywork crumbling due to its quick-build movie prop origins. Photo from The Tom Winger Photo Collection.

This rare close-up shot captures the Fireball 500’s distinctive dual-cockpit design, a hallmark of its futuristic styling. Built by Barris Kustoms, the car featured twin butyrate plastic windshields with flared headrests molded seamlessly into the bodywork. Photo from The Tom Winger Photo Collection.

This rear view of the Fireball 500 Barracuda, taken in the mid-1970s at Great Western Motors in New Jersey, highlights the car’s distinctive aerodynamic styling. Photo from The Tom Winger Photo Collection.

The Fireball 500 movie car at the Englishtown Swap Meet & Auto Show at Raceway Park in the early 1980s. Captured after its first known restoration, the iconic dual-cockpit roadster showcased its bold flame graphics and sleek styling to enthusiasts at the event. Photo from The Tom Winger Photo Collection.

A front view of the Fireball 500 movie car at the Englishtown Swap Meet at Raceway Park in the early 1980s. The famous car attracted plenty of attention, making it a challenge to capture a clear shot without spectators in the frame. Photo from The Tom Winger Photo Collection.

Built by Barris Kustoms, The Fireball 500 car was a high-powered, sleek performance vehicle featured in the 1966 film "The Fireball 500," starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, and Fabian. The car began as a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda before undergoing extensive modifications to transform it into a dual-cockpit roadster racing version, designed to retain elements of a stock Plymouth production car while incorporating a futuristic and race-ready aesthetic.

One of the car’s most striking features was its dual cowl cockpits, which were constructed in metal and seamlessly integrated with twin curved butyrate plastic windshields. Flared headrests were formed around each cockpit opening, extending into the back body panel with air foam pads for additional support. To enhance aerodynamics, four streamer extensions with razor-edged styling were molded as a single metal section, completely covering the rear seats and the original deck lid compartment. Additional red taillights made from reflected plastic were installed behind the streamlined headrest cavities.

The rear panel design further emphasized the car’s futuristic styling. The rear fenders were extended, incorporating slim vertical taillights that had been lengthened by four inches. These taillights blended into a canted, air-relieved, rolled-back body panel. Horizontal extrusions with an ornamental design were installed in the back panel and were made removable for easy inspection of the closed rear body panel compartment.

The wheel wells were enlarged to accommodate larger tires, specifically 700/12.50-13 Firestone tires, which were mounted on Rader spoked racing wheels. These wheels were crafted from an alloy with a chrome steel rim, enhancing both performance and aesthetics.

For exhaust, the car featured outside rocker A.I. racing exhausts constructed from Reynolds Aluminum extrusions. Dual pipes extended from each side of the racing engine, contributing to its aggressive styling. The hood housed eight Ram-thrust inlet air tubes, designed to direct air into the carburetion system, optimizing engine performance.

Under the hood, the Fireball 500 was powered by a 1966 Hemi 426 Plymouth engine, capable of producing up to 425 horsepower. An Isky drag racing cam was installed, paired with Jahns high-domed racing pistons to maximize power output. The drivetrain consisted of a four-speed Ansen posi-shift gearbox, working in combination with 3.55 rear-end gears and 13-inch wheels. Fuel delivery was managed by dual four-throat Ram-thrust manifolds and Holley carburetors, while dual Dupree chrome dome electric fuel pumps ensured a steady flow of gasoline. With this configuration, the vehicle was reportedly capable of reaching speeds of approximately 160 mph on a quarter-mile drag strip.

Attention to detail extended to the car’s safety and interior features. Flush pull-down door handles were installed to maintain the sleek contour of the door panels. A deep-dished 13-inch steering wheel was fitted to accommodate the smaller cockpit. Rectangular headlights, imported from France, were set into the grille cavity, accompanied by brushed aluminum extrusions to enhance their appearance.

The Fireball 500’s exterior finish was a testament to expert craftsmanship and artistic vision. The vehicle’s paintwork consisted of forty coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, a color scheme known as Fireheat. This multi-color blend transitioned from white pearl essence into gold Murano, then into reflective gold leaf. The color scheme further evolved into Kandy Tangerine before blending into translucent Kandy red, ultimately finishing in a deep burgundy. The intricate paint job required four men and six days of spraying to achieve the seamless gradient effect, embodying the fiery spirit of the Fireball 500.

As a movie car, the Fireball 500 became an iconic representation of high-performance customization, merging Hollywood glamour with the innovation of custom car culture in the 1960s.