George Barris creator of TV's original Batmobile dies

American actor Adam West as Bruce Wayne/Batman at the wheel of the Batmobile with passenger Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/Robin in the TV series 'Batman', circa 1966. Photo / Getty Images

George Barris, who created television's original Batmobile, along with scores of other beautifully customised vehicles that helped define California car culture, has died at age 89.

Barris Kustom Industries spokesman Edward Lozzi says Barris died on Thursday, following a lengthy illness.

Barris was still in high school in Northern California when he designed his first fully customised car, a 1936 Ford.

This 1966 photo provided by Lozzi Media Services and Barris Kustom Industries shows designer George Barris with the original Batmobile in Los Angeles. Photo / AP

Soon after he formed Kustoms Car Club and went to work in earnest with his brother, Sam.

Over the next 70 years he would design literally hundreds of cars for television shows, movies, celebrities, heads of state and just regular folks.

Two of the most famous were the Batmobile, created for the iconic 1960s TV show, and The Munster's Koach, built for the television show The Munsters.

- AP