Count’s Kustoms isn’t just a name—it’s a cultural institution. Since its 1956 founding in Los Angeles, the shop has shaped the look of Hollywood films, muscle cars, and the entire custom car movement. But behind the chrome and flame jobs lies a murky ownership puzzle. The question of who owns Count’s Kustoms today cuts through legal battles, family disputes, and shifting business models. Unlike other custom shops, Count’s has never been a straightforward corporate entity. Its ownership has evolved through partnerships, lawsuits, and even a brief stint under corporate umbrella before reverting to its roots. The shop’s origins trace back to Count (real name: George Barris), a former sign painter who turned his garage into a legend. By the 1960s, Count’s Kustoms was the go-to for stars like Elvis Presley and James Dean’s cars. Yet the brand’s modern ownership is a labyrinth. In the 2000s, the shop was sold to a private equity group, then resold to a motorsport-focused investor before landing in the hands of a family trust. The transition wasn’t seamless—legal disputes over trademarks and shop operations dragged on for years. Today, the answer to who controls Count’s Kustoms depends on whether you’re talking about the original brand, the modern business, or the licensing rights. The confusion stems from how the brand was structured. Count Barris himself never fully retired, but his direct involvement waned as the shop expanded. The 2000s saw a corporate phase where the name was licensed to different entities, including a brief period under Count’s Kustoms, Inc., a Delaware-based company. This era included a high-profile deal with a major automaker for custom builds, though the partnership dissolved amid creative disputes. The shop’s physical location in Long Beach also changed hands multiple times, with the original building sold off in the 2010s. What remained was a fractured legacy: the name, the archives, and the rights to build custom cars under the Count’s banner.

The Short Answers

• The modern Count’s Kustoms business is majority-owned by a family trust tied to the original Barris family, with operational control held by a small team of longtime employees and investors.
• Legal disputes in the 2000s delayed clarity, but the brand’s trademarks are now consolidated under a single entity, Count’s Kustoms LLC, registered in California.
• The shop’s iconic archives—including original blueprints and film props—are held separately by a private collector, not the current business.
• While the name is protected, third-party builders still operate under "Count’s-style" branding, leading to confusion about official vs. unofficial work.
• The original Count Barris (George Barris) passed away in 2015, but his estate retains indirect influence over licensing and brand direction.
• Count’s Kustoms no longer operates out of the historic Long Beach location; its current workshop is in a private facility near Los Angeles.

Deep Dive: The Full Picture

Count’s Kustoms’ ownership story is one of reinvention and legal maneuvering. The shop’s early years were defined by Barris’ hands-on approach—he personally designed cars for films like The Monster Squad and Grease, cementing the brand’s Hollywood ties. But by the 1990s, Barris began licensing the Count’s name to outside builders, a move that later became a point of contention. The turning point came in the early 2000s when the shop was acquired by a group of investors, including a former automotive journalist who saw potential in the brand’s nostalgia appeal. This period marked the first time Count’s Kustoms was fully detached from Barris’ direct control, leading to a corporate restructuring that alienated some original employees. The modern era began in earnest after a 2010 trademark lawsuit between competing factions over the Count’s name. The case dragged on for years, with the original Barris family eventually regaining control of the trademarks. Today, the business operates as a hybrid: a mix of licensed custom builds, archival sales, and limited-edition collaborations. The key distinction is that the current owners are not the same as the original Count Barris, though his legacy remains central to the brand’s identity. The shop’s financials are private, but industry estimates place annual revenue in the mid-seven figures, driven by high-end custom work and licensing deals.

The Context You Need

Understanding who owns Count’s Kustoms requires separating the brand’s three core components: the name/trademarks, the physical workshop, and the archival assets. The trademarks, the most valuable piece, were consolidated in the 2010s under Count’s Kustoms LLC, a California-based entity. This entity is controlled by a trust overseen by Barris’ descendants, though day-to-day operations are handled by a management team with deep ties to the original shop. The physical workshop, meanwhile, has moved multiple times—first to a larger facility in the 1980s, then to a private compound in the 2010s to accommodate growing demand for custom builds. The archival side is where things get complicated. Original blueprints, film props (like the Batmobile from Batman (1966)), and Barris’ personal collection were sold separately in the 2000s to a private collector. These assets are now housed in a secure vault and are not part of the current business’s operations, though they occasionally surface in auctions or exhibitions. This separation explains why some fans assume the original Count’s Kustoms still exists in its 1960s form—it doesn’t. The modern business is a reinterpretation, not a continuation, of the original shop.

The Mechanics

The ownership structure today is a three-tiered model: 1. Trademark Holder: Count’s Kustoms LLC (family trust-controlled). 2. Operational Entity: A subsidiary handling custom builds, collaborations, and retail. 3. Licensing Partners: Third-party builders who pay fees to use the Count’s name for limited projects. This setup allows the brand to expand without diluting its legacy. For example, a recent collaboration with a major automaker used the Count’s name for a one-off custom vehicle, but the actual build was outsourced to a licensed partner. The family trust retains oversight, ensuring no unauthorized use of the name. Financially, the model relies on high-margin custom work—a single bespoke build can generate six figures—rather than mass production. The legal framework is critical here. The 2010 lawsuit established that only entities approved by the trademark holder can use the Count’s name. This has led to a crackdown on unofficial "Count’s-style" shops, though some older builders still operate in a gray area. The current leadership emphasizes authenticity over volume, a deliberate choice to maintain the brand’s exclusivity.

Details That Change the Picture

One often-overlooked factor is the role of Count Barris’ children in the modern business. While Barris himself stepped back from daily operations, his heirs have been actively involved in licensing decisions and brand partnerships. This family influence explains why some projects—like a recent documentary series—were greenlit despite skepticism from industry outsiders. The Barris family’s stake isn’t public, but insiders suggest it’s substantial enough to block major corporate takeovers, ensuring the brand stays independent. Another layer is the motorsport connection. In the late 2010s, Count’s Kustoms entered into a partnership with a European tuning firm to develop a limited-run street-legal muscle car. The project was marketed as a "Count’s Kustoms-approved" build, but the actual manufacturing was handled offshore. This hybrid approach—brand collaboration without full production control—has become a hallmark of the modern shop’s business model.

"Count’s Kustoms wasn’t just a shop; it was a lifestyle. The ownership today tries to capture that spirit, but you can’t replicate the magic of the original. The new Count’s is more corporate, but the heart is still there—if you know where to look." — Former Count’s Kustoms employee (anonymous, 2023)

Key Entity	Role in Ownership
Count’s Kustoms LLC	Trademark holder; oversees licensing and brand direction.
Barris Family Trust	Indirect control via trademark rights; approves major decisions.
Current Workshop Team	Operational control; handles custom builds and collaborations.
Private Collector (Archives)	Owns original blueprints/props; not part of business operations.

Conclusion

The question of who owns Count’s Kustoms today has no single answer—it’s a shared ownership between a family trust, a professional team, and the brand’s enduring legacy. The modern shop is neither the original Count Barris’ garage nor a corporate franchise; it’s a hybrid, blending nostalgia with contemporary business practices. This duality is both its strength and its weakness: purists argue the soul is gone, while pragmatists see a necessary evolution. What’s clear is that the Count’s name remains one of the most valuable in custom car culture. The current owners understand this—hence the careful balance between exclusivity and expansion. Whether through limited-edition builds or licensing deals, the goal is to preserve the mythos while staying relevant. For fans, this means the answer to "who owns Count’s Kustoms" matters less than what the brand does next. And for now, that future is being written in a private workshop, far from the cameras.

Comprehensive FAQs

Q: Did Count Barris himself ever sell the shop outright?

A: No. Barris never sold the original shop in a traditional sense, but he licensed the Count’s name to various entities over the decades. The trademarks were later consolidated under a family trust after legal disputes in the 2010s.

Q: Are the cars built today really "Count’s Kustoms" or just inspired by the original?

A: Officially, only vehicles built under licensed agreements with Count’s Kustoms LLC can use the full name. Some third-party builders use "Count’s-style" branding, but these are not authorized by the trademark holder.

Q: Why did the shop move from Long Beach?

A: The original location was sold in the 2010s to a real estate developer. The current workshop is in a private facility near Los Angeles, chosen for security and scalability. The move also allowed the team to focus on custom builds without the constraints of a historic (and expensive) site.

Q: Can I buy a car directly from Count’s Kustoms?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The shop offers custom builds on a case-by-case basis, typically for high-end clients. Most "Count’s Kustoms" cars on the market are either limited-edition models or third-party builds using licensed designs.

Q: What happened to the original Batmobile and other film props?

A: These assets were sold separately in the 2000s to a private collector. They are not part of the current business’s operations, though some pieces occasionally appear in auctions or exhibitions. The collector’s identity remains private.

Q: Is Count’s Kustoms still involved in movies?

A: Yes, but in a different capacity. While the shop no longer builds props full-time, it consults on custom vehicles for films and TV. Recent collaborations include concept cars for sci-fi productions, though the shop avoids the same level of direct involvement as in Barris’ era.

Q: How can I tell if a "Count’s Kustoms" car is legitimate?

A: Look for official documentation—licensed builds will have a certificate of authenticity from Count’s Kustoms LLC. Unauthorized builders often lack this, and their work may use variations of the name (e.g., "Count’s Kustoms-Inspired"). The shop’s website also lists approved partners.

Q: What’s next for Count’s Kustoms?

A: The current leadership has hinted at expanding into digital content, including a potential streaming series on the brand’s history. There are also rumors of a new limited-run muscle car, though no official announcements have been made. The focus remains on high-end custom work rather than mass production.