Batmobile (1966)

Infobox comics elements
name = Batmobile


imagesize =
caption = The Batmobile from the 1960s "Batman" television series.
publisher =
debut = "Batman"
creators =
type =
supports = Batman
altcat=BatmobilePerhaps the most famous Batmobile [ [http://www.batmobilehistory.com/1966-batmobile.php History of the Batmobile: 1966-1979] ] , the one from the 1966-1968 live action television show, began life as a Ford concept car called the Lincoln Futura, built over a decade earlier in 1955.

Origins and design

The body of the Futura was fabricated by Ghia, whose artisans hammered the car's panels over logs and tree stumps carved as forms to create the sleek manta ray-like car.

In 1959, the Futura was featured sporting a fresh red paint job in the film "It Started with a Kiss", starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford.

In 1965, ABC-TV chose famed Hollywood customizer George Barris to design a "Batmobile" for their soon-to-go-into production BATMAN show. With only three weeks, Barris decided that rather than build a car from scratch, it would be best to transform the Lincoln Futura (bought from Ford for $1.00)Fact|date=July 2007 into the famous crime-fighting vehicle of TV's caped crusader. Barris hired Dean Jeffries to do the metal modifications to the car. When filming for the series began, several problems arose due to the age of the car: It overheated, the battery went dead, and the expensive Indy type tires provided by Mickey Thompson kept blowing. By mid-season the drive train and chassis including a new 428 C.I.D. engine from a 1966 Ford Galaxie was installed replacing the original Lincoln Mark II units that were modified to create the Lincoln Futura.

Barris built three fiberglass copies of the original Batmobile for exhibition on the car show circuit (one of which was used for exhibition drag racing). Eventually, the three copies were covered with a black velvet "fuzz" paint, presumably to hide stress cracks in the fiberglass bodies. Later, all three were restored to their gloss black paint job. The 3 replicas are all based on a 1965-1966 Ford Galaxie. Barris has retained ownership of the original TV car, which is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The three Barris copies all reside in private collections.

pecifications

*Curb weight: 5500 lb
*Wheelbase: 129 in
*Length: 230 in
*Width: 90 in
*Height: 48 in
*Fins: 84 in
*Engine: 390 in³, V-8 (atomic turbine)
*Transmission: B&M Hydro Automatic (2nd transmission)

Gadgetry

This Batmobile gadgets include a nose-mounted chain slicer, lasers, rockets, an on-board telephone, radar, dash monitor, on-board computer, and police beacon. If needed, the Batmobile is capable of a quick 180° "bat-turn" thanks to two rear-mounted 10' parachutes, and it is equipped with a smoke emitter and a nail spreader to discourage pursuit. Some changes were made during the run of the series, including different license plates, a change in steering wheel, and the addition of extra gadgets such as the rear-facing camera and battering ram. [ [http://members.tripod.com/~AdamWest/equip.htm Batman's Crime-Fighting Equipment - Batmobile] ]

Appearance in the comics

The live action television series was so popular that its campy humor and the sleek Batmobile designed by George Barris were quickly introduced into the Batman comic books. But the high camp and general silliness of the television show did not sit well with long-time Batman comic book fans. So, when the series was canceled in 1968 the comic books reacted by becoming darker and more serious.

In other media

*In the movie "Rock Star", Mark Wahlberg's character is given to extravagant spending; one of his first purchases is the original Batmobile from the TV Series.

*An episode of "The Simpsons" guest-starred Adam West with the Batmobile. Another episode featured the Batmobile in a museum of famous cars next to Herbie the Love Bug and a car from "Mad Max". The latter episode featured a live Batman and Robin in the vehicle, who had both tried poorly to conceal the fact that they were not dummies.

*On an episode of "The Man Show", a lucky guest won a ride in the Batmobile with Adam West in the "Wheel of Destiny" segment.

*The Lincoln Futura version of the Batmobile is seen in the movie "The Benchwarmers", driven by Jon Lovitz.

*The Batmoblie appears as an Easter Egg in the video game "", accompanied by a version of the 1966 TV theme.

*In 2003, Adam West and Burt Ward reunited for a tongue-in-cheek telefilm titled "" which combined dramatized recreations of the filming of the original series (with younger actors standing in for the stars), with modern day footage of West and Ward searching for a stolen Batmobile.

*In issue 9 of the comic series "Justice" (February 2007), Batman dons a suit of armor visually influenced by the original Batmobile from the TV series.

Lasting impact

The most frequent visual influence is that later Batmobiles usually have a rear rocket thruster that usually fires as the car makes a fast start.

References

External links

* [http://www.batmobilehistory.com/1966-batmobile.php Batmobiles 1966-1979]
* [http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/batman%201966.htm Click on the title to see die-cast vehicles from that movie or TV series.]
*Internet Movie Car Database
** [http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_13597-Lincoln-Futura-Batmobile.html Lincoln Futura Batmobile in Batman, Movie, 1966]
** [http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_29506-Lincoln-Futura-Batmobile-1955.html 1955 Lincoln Futura Batmobile in Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt, Movie made for TV, 2003]