AUTOS CARS CUSTOM

I imagine that the Fred Thompson named as owner, is the former actor and senator. 

 a 41 Indian frame and Boyd DeFrance made the adapter to link the Indian shaft drive to the engine and cast the valve covers

Later, Tony Nancy added the upholstery to the cut down T-bucket sidecar rig and Dean Jeffries did the pinstriping

http://movies.netflix.com/movie/The-Gnome-Mobile/60034053

 notice that the a pillars had semaphore turn signals

Premiering in 1965, what may be the strangest sitcom of all time is a reminder that borderline brain-dead TV executives have been with us for decades — and deserve no say in the big-budget boardroom. Jerry Van Dyke played a man who discovers that his mother's soul has been reincarnated in his automobile, enabling him to hear her voice through the radio http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/worst-tv-shows-100109

Hot Rod Deluxe, May 2010 issue page 69 says Norm made it, and it was owned by Kaye Trapp, Hollywood studio photographer who used it as a push car for the Zueschel, Fuller, and Moody dragster

But according to http://local.aaca.org/junior/starcars/mother.htm Barris built the car; The car's body (finished in Metalflake carnation red with a white top) was made up from various vehicles including a Model T Ford, a Maxwell (precursor to the Chrysler), a Hudson, and pieces of a Chevrolet, including drive train. The car had a custom-made hood and radiator shell.
2 were made, one is at http://starcarstn.com/index.html in Tennessee along with a lot of other cool cars like the Munsters Dragula, and a collection of Barris customs




The video is badly editted news shorts from a local tv station perhaps... it seems like it once had commercials, only the first half is really worth watching

Nov 2011 update, Carlustblog.com states that The no.1 car, or "hero" car was built by Craig Breedlove. The no.2 car or "stunt" car was built by George Barris. The cars was 1923-25 model t touring cars which is a different body style than the 1927.

Since I asked Norm Grabowski through email, and didn't get a reply, I don't have an answer, but I will ask George Barris about it next time I see him, probably at the Jan 2012 Grand Natioanl Roadster Show

http://www.carlustblog.com/2010/04/1928-porter-touring-car.html  has a comment that states that Craig Breedlove built on of the two cars for the show, and that Barris built the other