Friday 4th December 2009

'Mk1' Batmobile Goes Up For Auction

Modified Lincoln is a must for all start-up crimefighting superhero outfits

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A 'Mk1' Batmobile has come up for sale. The car is technically a replica and was never actually used in the 1960s TV show, but it has officially represented the Caped Crusader at various events for over 20 years, and has even been driven on numerous occasions by Batman himself (well, original Batman Adam West).

The five original Batmobiles made for the TV series were lightly modified Lincoln Futuras, but this one is based on a 1973 Lincoln Continental Town Car. Though it retains the Lincoln's 7.5-litre V8 (don't get too excited - it only manages 219bhp), the rest of the car apparently required pretty extensive modifications to get the 'Batmobile' look.

The decals are all correct and the various flashing lights all work, but the most unusual and exciting thing about this replica is undoubtedly the jet booster at the back. At the time the original Batman series aired many American car companies were still considering whether jet cars could be the way of the future, so it made sense for the Batmobile to have a turbine. Okay, so the one on here isn't actually a jet engine - what's actually there is a propane burner, presumably this was more for giving the right effect for displays rather than propulsion - but you can't help but be impressed at the level of detail.

PH spoke to owner Mark, who explained that after it torched some bushes at a show one year (!), he took the decision to unwire and decommission the burner. He reckons it would cost around £2k to get the burner going again.

Mark bought the car in 1988, as an unfinished and slightly tatty project. He rebuilt and finished the car and soon found it became a ticket to a pretty glamorous lifestyle, with events and shows taking him and his wife around the world in their 'Batmobile' - they even got married in it. Most thrillingly, Mark told PH about the time he drove the car through Knightsbridge under Police escort, with Adam 'Mayor' West himself sitting in the car with him.

The Batmobile is road legal, with valid tax and MOT and has apparently been given a thorough sprucing up for sale. It didn't meet its reserve on its last eBay run, but is still for sale and will be up for auction again soon. And with an expected sale price of £40 - £80k, its a bit of a steal compared with the $1 million USD a Swede spent on his recently completed Batmobile project.

70s Lincoln Futura...	... a perfect transformation

[dibbers006]

I used to have the model car of this and it fired matchsticks out of the exhaust uprights

De ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne BATMAN!

[aarondrs]

dibbers006 said:

I used to have the model car of this and it fired matchsticks out of the exhaust uprights

De ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne BATMAN!

As did I.

I reckon the original Lincoln is pretty cool too. I have to admit to being a new convert to old American, large as a battleship cars having seen a number at the Classic Car Show.

I'm not sure whether I would look a complete knib in this at the local supermarket or not.

Oh and 219bhp from 7.9L. There must be somethinh very simple to do to increase this by 100% surely (assume this is down to the emmissions laws of the time which handicapped all cars in the US).

Edited by aarondrs on Friday 4th December 12:08

[Erijaso]

Just doesn't look correct IMHO

[Gruffy]

aarondrs said:

I'm not sure whether I would look a complete knib in this at the local supermarket or not.

I love that you're not sure

[Jonboy_t]

"And with an expected sale price of £40 - £80k, its a bit of a steal compared with the $1 million USD a Swede spent on his recently completed Batmobile project."

I don't care if he does like windows or talk to onions, he's got a million quid and still chooses to spend it on a Batmobile. That's just showing off, but fair play to him!!!

[GingerWizard]

Though it retains the Lincoln's 7.5-litre V8 (don't get too excited though - it only manages 219bhp),

christ a child with a pencil cold do better! how and why ? please tell me it has 2500ft/lb torque....

[SimonSaid]

GingerWizard said:

Though it retains the Lincoln's 7.5-litre V8 (don't get too excited though - it only manages 219bhp),

christ a child with a pencil cold do better! how and why ? please tell me it has 2500ft/lb torque....

360 lb ft @ 2800 RPM (full stats on this page)

[Ben Ja Min]

SimonSaid said:

GingerWizard said:

Though it retains the Lincoln's 7.5-litre V8 (don't get too excited though - it only manages 219bhp),

christ a child with a pencil cold do better! how and why ? please tell me it has 2500ft/lb torque....

360 lb ft @ 2800 RPM (full stats on this page)

Surly you must to have to just as hard to get such little power from that displacement as you would to get 1000bhp from it!

[aarondrs]

Gruffy said:

aarondrs said:

I'm not sure whether I would look a complete knib in this at the local supermarket or not.

I love that you're not sure

I think depends whether people think I think I look cool or whether they think that I think that they think I look cool as to where on the scale of knibness they think I am.

[Gruffy]

Would you be wearing your pants over or under your trousers?

[aarondrs]

Gruffy said:

Would you be wearing your pants over or under your trousers?

I guess that could also have a bearing on perception, both theirs and mine.

Under would be better but for full effect over would be more appropriate.

I never did get this whole style thing right.

[Belfast Boy]

Erijaso said:

Just doesn't look correct IMHO

+1 its like making a Back to the Future Delorean out of a grey VW Scirocco

[vdubbin]

the back's all wrong:

[Hugo a Gogo]

so's the front, and the sides

the real one

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Friday 4th December 16:05

[snolan]

saw what must have been this very car at south devon classic show at powderham castle around 88,looked a bit shabby so did,nt get to close in case the illusion was spoilt.

[locodude]

It's all wrong but what I can't get over is if you're going to all that trouble, why not do it right?

[hot metal]

I think this is the one that has been advertised in "Motorsport" for the last few months at £40k .

[OctaneBooster]

Erijaso said:

Just doesn't look correct IMHO

Its very badly proportioned, the rear fins, bonnet and front wing lines are all wrong. Because of this I doubt its worth more than £10k, however much it cost to build. And £2k to recommission a propane burner? Come off it!

[TheRoadWarrior]

Which ends the front... nobody knows!

[cazzer]

Worst replica of anything ever.