Don Fletcher's 1957 Chevrolet 210 - El Capitola

At the Compton Drive-In.

A photo of the El Capitola taken at the 1960 Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama in Long Beach, California. This photo appeared in Car Craft November 1960, in a coverage from the show. Photo by Bud Lang, courtesy of Car Craft Magazine.

Photo from the Barry Mazza Colection.

The El Capitola at an indoor car show in the 1960s. Photo from the Dave Jenkins Photo Collection.

The El Capitola as it sat after Chuckie Gollahon received the car as a gift from his grandmother.

Guy towing a Chris-Craft Cobra with the El Capitola. Photo courtesy of Guy Boucher.

The El Capitola was shown at the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show where it was part of a once-in-a-lifetime tribute to George Barris, celebrating 100 years of the “King of Kustomizers.” The display, curated by Galpin Auto Sports, gathered some of Barris’ most famous builds all under one roof in Building 9. Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

1957 Chevrolet 210 restyled by Sam Barris of Barris Kustoms for Don Fletcher of Del Paso Heights, California. Known as the El Capitola, this radical custom marked the final collaboration between brothers Sam and George Barris, and it was the last custom car Sam ever built before leaving the industry. Constructed entirely by Sam at his home shop in Carmichael, near Sacramento, the car was named El Capitola in tribute to its birthplace, Sacramento, the capital of California.

Building Sam Barris’ Final Masterpiece

By the late 1950s, Sam Barris had moved north to enjoy a quieter family life, but he occasionally accepted select commissions for Barris Kustoms. For Don Fletcher’s brand-new 1957 Chevrolet, Sam poured everything he knew into one final show-stopping custom.

He chopped the top three inches in front and five in the rear, removed the B-pillars to create a pillarless hardtop, and hand-formed drain moldings to fit the butted glass. The center of the roof was recessed a half inch by hand-hammering.

Up front, a pair of Studebaker grille pans were grafted into the nose and filled with expanded metal mesh, while vertical quad Lucas headlights were tunneled and peaked into the fenders. The hood opening was reshaped into a pancake-style hood with a beaded centerline.

In the rear, 1957 Lincoln fins, canted outward and capped with flat “T” fins—were sculpted 96 inches long and carried forward into the doors. They housed custom red lenses with frosted white bars for taillights. 1957 DeSoto split bumpers and a rear grille treatment echoed the front design, while quad exhaust outlets exited beneath the frenched license plate.

The sides featured hand-assembled trim composed of 1954 Pontiac, 1953 Oldsmobile, and 1954 Lincoln components, fitted with extruded inserts. The car was nosed, decked, and shaved of all handles, with the doors, trunk, and windows electrically operated, a futuristic touch for the time.

A Rolling Showcase

Inside, the El Capitola was upholstered by Eddie Martinez in white pearl Naugahyde and imported gold French frieze. The cabin and trunk both featured built-in televisions, while the cabin also boasted a stereo tape recorder, a telephone, and a center-console joystick steering control. The dash and moldings were fully chromed, and four swivel bucket seats gave the interior a show-car lounge feel. It was dressed up with custom made dash knobs.

Painted at the Barris shop in Lynwood by Junior Conway, the El Capitola wore a Dust Pearl White base with Kandy Burgundy Pearl panels. The hubcaps were made from polished aluminum and provided extra brake cooling via the finned openings. The hubcabs were designed by George Barris. He tried to market them; however, only a few sets were made.

The build took two years to complete. When finished, it debuted at the Sacramento Autorama in February 1960, where it immediately drew national attention.

Later History and Restoration

In 1983, Eula Gollahon purchased the El Capitola for her 12-year-old grandson, Chuckie Gollahon, of Brookville, Ohio. While later painted gold, the car remained remarkably complete and untouched. It was subsequently acquired by Guy Boucher of Lewiston, Maine, who, with his son John, embarked on a five-year restoration to return it to its original Barris configuration.

They stripped it to bare metal, exposing the original lead work applied by Sam Barris, and repainted by Norm Long it in its original candy purple hue, matched from a hidden area under the trim. The interior was in good shape and only needed a good cleaning. Guy rebuilt the 265 engine and transmission himself. The engine compartment was loaded with many details and chrome pieces, including finned valve covers and an Edelbrock three-deuce intake with Rochester carburetors. Legendary artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth added final pinstriping touches.

The Tim McMann Era

In 2019, collector Tim McMann of Vancouver, Washington, acquired the El Capitola. “My whole deal is to buy customs from the ’50s or earlier and bring them back to the exact build the first time they were built,” McMann told Hagerty in 2024. When he purchased the car, it had a 350 engine installed, but the original 265 V8 came in a crate, which McMann promptly reinstated.

“I think he used every trick he ever learned on this car,” McMann said, reflecting on Sam Barris’ craftsmanship. He noted that the car’s body contained 630 pounds of lead, all hand-shaped before the advent of plastic filler.

Award-Winning Legacy

In 2024, McMann’s El Capitola won Best in Show at the Greenwich Concours de Sport, an award typically reserved for famous racing cars. The judges cited its extraordinary blend of style, innovation, and craftsmanship, recognizing it as one of the most elaborate customs ever created.

With McMann’s care and attention to authenticity, El Capitola continues to stand as Sam Barris’ farewell masterpiece, a car that bridged the artistry of the 1950s custom era with the vision of what lay ahead.

Magazine Features

Car Craft July 1960
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual
Car Craft April 1961
Spotlite Book 526 Twenty Top Customs