The Barks family at a photosession in San Francisco, California. At the time it was common to pose in props like this vehicle in front of a painted background. Here young Carl got his first taste of the dawning automobile era. He is the 'driver' with brother Clyde next to him, and mother Arminta and father William in the back seat.

1915

The only means of transport on the ancestry farm were the work horses. Young Carl used them with the large farm equipment, and throughout all of his school years he used to ride a horse back and fro.

1916

Barks was never interested in personal sports activities. He was never a boyscout, either, and he never even owned a bicycle. So this is a rare photo; young Carl is seen skating (X marks the sport!) with friends on a nearby lake.

In later interviews Barks was never asked about his private means of transport, which is not surprising as this was never an interesting topic. But there can be little doubt that he was not different from the average American when it came to automobiles. Up to this day the USA is well-known for its unconditional reverence for private transport over public transport, and automobiles were every man's property. When the family in 1911 briefly settled in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California, young Carl got his first taste of big city life - and automobiles. He simply loved them. But he probably did not own a car until he was married in 1921. In the previous 3 years from 1918 he had been working at a print shop in San Francisco, and he lived in a nearby, small furnished room in a hotel at 13 dollars per week and was able to afford eating his meals at nearby restaurants. But there was certainly no money to spare for a car.
From 1921 to 1931 Barks was busy with work and marriage and he must have had a number of cars just like most other young men at the time. When he moved to Minneapolis in Minnesota (by train) for a 4-year period it is plausible that he then bought a car, because he was earning good money at The Calgary EyeOpener, and besides he began dating his next wife.
After obtaining a new job at the Disney Studios in 1935 in Los Angeles, California, Barks and his wife lived in various apartments and bungalows within walking distance of the studio most of the time he worked there. Still, he would undoubtedly have been a car owner anyway!
From 1942 on the couple lived in the greater San Jacinto area east of Los Angeles, but despite the fact that Barks was now able to work for Western Publishing from his home he had a series of cars, not only for shopping and joyriding, but also for driving to Western's branch office about once a month with finished stories.

1952

Barks was now divorced and in July he took a short vacation in Northern California, where he among others visited the Lava Beds National Monument. His car - an older Plymouth Special Deluxe Sedan - is seen on this photo that Barks shot. The car came to play a role three months later (see HERE).

1955

In June Carl and his third wife Garé took time out in their busy schedules to visit the Yosemite National Park in California. Garé flanks the couple's brand new Ford Fairlane 292 cubic inch V-8 station wagon.

In those years Barks stepped out of the famous Disney anonymity, when fans began to identify him. The first one to meet him was Malcolm Willits, who shared Barks' passion for cars. Here is Garé and Carl seen after a trip in Willits' 1938 V-16 Cadillac limousine.

1982

21 years later the couple is immortalized in the same car with Mickey Mouse artist Floyd Gottfredson and his wife.

Barks took this photo of his new car in the driveway of his home in Grants Pass, Oregon. His next car later in the 1980s was an SUV (a sort of heavy station wagon), which he liked to floor down the street.

1994, June 4 - Norway

Barks gets a ride in Il Tempo Gigante, an oversized cartoony prop vehicle from a famous Norwegian puppet film. *

1994, June 4 - Norway

Later in the day Barks embarked on a replica of a genuine Viking ship manned with 16 rowers. A cruise on the Oslo Fjord followed. *

1994, June 9 - Denmark

Barks arrived in Copenhagen by ferry from Norway. Despite the early hour hundreds of fans were down at the dockside to welcome him. He was then taken to his hotel in a limousine.

After having arrived in Helsinki by plane from Norway, Barks was driven off to his hotel in this vehicle, that could almost pass for one of Uncle Scrooge's armoured bank wagons...

The city held an open car parade to the City Hall, in which Barks sat in a large gas guzzler. Here seen at the start when Donald and Mickey are about to take their seats in the back.

Barks is about to board a ferry to Sweden. As a VIP he is escorted by the ship's white-uniformed captain, of course...

Barks arrives to a meeting with fans in a white limousine.

Barks arrives in Stuttgart by plane from Poland and is greeted by the Ehapa representative Marion Egenberger. She had managed to bypass all usual procedures by getting special permission to pick up Barks in a limousine directly at the plane.

Barks was leading a special Donald Duck 60th Birthday Parade in Euro Disneyland. Both celebrities are seen here in one of the park's fire engines just before the start of the parade.

1994, July 12 - Holland

As Barks' visit to Holland took place in Amsterdam it was only natural to invite him on a cruise in the city's famous canals.

Barks' daughter Dorothy, as well as a few other family members, live in Washington State north of Oregon, and he would take the local car ferry in order to reach the destinations.

1997

Barks and Uncle Scrooge are driven in an open cabriolet, escorted by a marching band, to the copy of Grauman's Chinese Theater at the Disney/MGM-Studios in Florida. A banner on the side of the car announced Carl Barks - Disney Legend, an official title that was bestowed upon him in 1991 (see more HERE).

2001

In June all of Barks' private possessions except the work-related ones were auctioned off. Among the numerous objects was his last car (the photo is of a similar vehicle): a 1998 Buick Century Custom, 4 door, 4760 miles, red with tan cloth interior, concert sound.