From an Article Called: Service Tips on
the Batmobile
Holy Ribicoff, the Batmobile's unsafe! Can you
imagine Gotham's dynamic duo pursuing the dastardly doers of evil deeds in a
customized 1955 Lincoln styling car that doesn't meet today's GSA safety specs?
It's like finding out about Santa.
Despite such exotic accessories as an automatic tire
repair device, three anti-theft rockets, and laser gun "eyes", that appear in
the TV script, you'd find something completely different if the caped crusader
wheeled his bat fuzz black chariot into your shop.
Exactly what you'd find is a 5550 lb, 129 inch wheel base Lincoln
Futura that a California customizer had 3 weeks to dress up in "bat fuzz paint"
and fins. Note: The Fuzzy look was to help with the camera shots in
the TV series, gloss paint would reflect with
all the lighting on the TV set.
They say in the public relations department of the Lincoln Mercury
Division that the Futura cost $250,000. It was a one-of-a-kind public opinion
tester. And it sported a 500 hp engine designed for racing, fender air scoops
for air conditioning and brake cooling, and a twin-bubble plastic
canopy.
After being dragged in and out of car shows for about a year, the
Futura went to Hollywood providing some interesting background for a Glenn Ford
and Debbie Reynolds movie. Then it went back to mothballs in
Dearborn.
A Los Angeles customizer George Barris bought the Futura at an
undisclosed price on the long shot that he could get it into a horror movie. No
luck.
Then, Holy Cloverleaf, he got the call from TV's stately Wayne
Manor. Ten men went on a double shift and when the cameras started rolling
three weeks later, Batman and Robin had wheels. The Batmobile was
born.
Futura's rear fins were extended to a seven foot length, the grille
was reshaped into a bat face, a roll bar was built between the seats, police
flashing light was installed, and three "anti-theft rocket tubes were mounted on
the rear deck, along with the laser.
The turbine exhaust outlet is just for effect. And the
parachutes? Well, they, of course, allow the Batmobile to make a 360 degree
turn on a two lane highway while running at a secret top speed. You never had
any doubts about that--did you? Would you believe 36 degrees? Three point
six?
1) The father of the Batmobile was an experimental 1955 Lincoln
Futura. Front was given a bat face, rear was given bat-fin motif and then it
was painted "bat fuzz" black. Three anti-theft rockets were also set up on the
rear deck.
2) This is not the work of Mr Freeze. It's just the work of Ford
engineers testing the Lincoln Futura in a cold chamber, before the car was
converted into the Batmobile.
3) The rear view exposes cowled lights "jet" tailpipe. The sound
and flames are merely special effects.