I heard the story quite the same as you. My issue is that Barris will steal credit from anyone who doesn't have the stones to stick up for themselves and even some who do. I was really suprised that his most famous creation was pretty much done by everyone else, the Batmobile. A production designer came up with the shape, Bill Cushenbery did the modifications and the prop department added all the doo-dads!
David, I love the shade of gold you chose here. VERY close to the original, and the trimwork on the lights sets it off nicely.