George
Barris of Barris Kustom City was approached by the National Promotional
Director of VOX, with an idea to build them a wild customized, two-packed
roadster which would be completely functional as a car and as a VOX
amplifier! This vehicle was to resemble a VOX guitar in silhouette
and would create its own high-fidelity audio through the use of self-contained
VOX sound equipment.
Besides being a beautiful $30,000 show-stopping roadster, the VOXMOBILE
is a completely functional unit in every respect. Its primary purpose
is to project this new concept exposing the VOX guitar. This giant
amplifier, can facilitate no less than thirty-two compatible VOX Guitars
with input jacks located along the top of the side body panels and
has a VOX dual manual Continental organ mounted in the rear deck area.
Power is transformed from the primary source of supply, a 12 Volt
Auto-Lite automotive battery, to 110 AC through two 450 Watt inverters.
The
wild guitar sounds are powered by three powerful VOX Beatle amplifiers,
complete with reverb, treble/bass boost and mid-range boost. There
is an array of speakers hidden in the framework. In all, there are
2 main drive speakers mounted atop the intake manifold, five 12" speakers,
one 18" bass speaker, and four tweeters. As though this wouldn't suffice,
a Muntz Stereo cartridge tape deck was installed. It houses six stereo
speakers and modulators and will be used to produce music when you
happen not to have a rock 'n roll band handy. In order that the VOXMOBILE
might be utilized to the fullest, special chrome steps were mounted
astride the body and along the bottom of the rear deck compartment.
These steps make it possible for three guitarists and an organist
to belt out appropriate music while the car is being driven in a parade.
John Philip Sousa might say, "It sure beats a marching band!" Watch
for the fabulous VOXMOBILE as it tours the nation's big Auto Shows
and Exhibitions.