What The Real Truth About The Batmobile?
George Barris; stored cars for ten years;
for the Ford Motor Company; after being in
the movies.
The Lincoln Futura; a $250,000 car; of an
experimental nature; was designed by Ghia;
for the Lincoln Division.
The car was a double bubble top; with a
sleek design. The wheel wells radius was tight
on this car; since the wheel wells; hardly had
an open wheel wells.
This article, is basic; as to the Lincoln
Futura's look. I covered that in this link.
Adam West Is The Real Batman
The Lincoln Futura was painted pearl pale
blue; but this car; was going to be; in the movie;
It Started with One Kiss; with Glenn Ford and
Debbie Reynolds.
The Lincoln Futura's color; wouldn't show
up; in the cameras; so they painted it red; for the
movie.
When the movie was over; George Barris;
stored this car too.
Dean Jeffries, was first to receive the
contract; to build the Batmobile; in 1964.
See; Greenway Productions; wanted the car
built; two years' before Batman television
series started.
Dean Jeffries had a 1959 Cadillac; with,
reworked; bat fins; a bat nose; on the front of
the cars grill; much like, the late thirties, comic
book, Batmobile.
However; with full crew with Jeffries; they,
Greenway Productions, wanted the Batmobile;
built faster.
When, Dean Jeffries, couldn't deliver; the
finished Batmobile; in Greenway Productions;
time frame; Dean passed on it; and asked to be
considered; when building The Black Beauty; for
Green Hornet.
When George Barris; received; the contract;
to build the Batmobile; he notice; now, a pale red,
Lincoln Futura; to be the ideal Batmobile.
False facts, from Joji Barris Pierce; said that;
this Lincoln Futura; George Barris; receive for
$1.00; to make into; the Batmobile. This is untrue.
Ford Motor Company; wanted their Lincoln
Futura; experimental car back; to destroy it.
Ford Motor Company; created an identical;
experimental Lincoln Futura; then asked, George
Barris, for $1.00. Then this car became the Batmobile.
Did George Barris create the Batmobile? No.
George Barris; hired out Bill Cushenbury; to turn the
car; into the Batmobile.
Stars of the Cars; copyrighted 1974; shows, what,
George Barris; was working on; which was; the chain
cutters; in pictures. (I've was paid; by Custom Power
News Letter; editor, for making, their new, hot rod business
card, with this book; sting in writing by the publisher. I
have, to copies.)
What happened, to the original; Rader One Ribbed
five spoke mags; and full knocks? George Barris; had them
painted white; and the bat knock offs red. He also changed;
the orange graphics to red. Talk about being stupid; this
explains why Hot Rod Show World; in the mid 1980's has
circle hole mags; with the large dust covers painted red.
George Barris was terrible; about keeping; the
custom cars well maintained. The original Batmobile for
years; had bent parts; or parts; that were replaced; but,
they weren't on them originally.
George Barris held on to lie for years; yet first
revealed; in one the older 90's Custom Rodder magazines.
Then when George sold off ; either Dick Dean's built
Monkee Mobile to have AMT/ERTL; bring back the
model kit; or Dean Jeffries Little B Porche' recreation;
of James Dean's Porche; on I Collector; auctioned off,
for $250,000.00; to have the original #1 Batmobile,
restored in Ranch Cordova, CA By Antique Restores;
off highway 50.
When George Barris in 2006; was given back;
the copyrights to Greenway Productions; he must have;
been out of his mind. He therefore, couldn't make money
off the Batmobile.
After, the original Batmobile; was restored; it had;
the mags he wanted on it; and there was no bat logo's on
the doors. This was 2010.
Now with no more royalties; to collect from
The Batmobile. He stated; that year, he didn't build; the
Batmobile. It was Bill Cushenbury; from removing the;
bulky bumper; that went into; the slots for the front
wheels; which he only used an air chisel; with no plans;
radius; the wheel wells; with flared fenders. He took the
hump on the hood; moved forward; created the bat nose;
custom black mesh grill. The Lincoln Futura; had air
dams; on the top of the fenders; these were filled in; to
flow; with Bill Cushenbury's bat fins. The Lincoln Futura;
had double bubble windows front and rear; the middle;
section; would slide back; like an airplane. This section,
was removed. A brace; had to be made; to house all the
features; like beacon; since Batman was deputy of the
law; by Commissioner Gordon. There was also the T bar;
that was used to turn; the car around; there were green
lights; in this brace; as well many more features. After,
the rear bubble tops; three holes had to be drilled for the
bat tubes; so Batman; could launch the bat rockets. The
V back truck and double fins; came that way; from Ghia's,
designed, Lincoln Futura. Originally, it had a Lincoln,
Y block V-8 with side canister air cleaner. It was replaced;
with a balanced; blueprinted Ford 427 CID engine. This
engine; had an igniter; then went to the back turbine back;
mock up. Inside was a paint can; to keep the fire go this
thrust area. The Lincoln Futura; had rear lights; but not
the Batmobile. That V truck; had the bat computer. On
the top part right side; was the bat scope in green; Robin,
would tell Batman about; when ask for it's signals. the front,
fenders needed reshaping; the headlights were covered with
chrome mesh; then leather covers over them. The only used,
the amber lights; which the original; design; be Ghia. There
was a brass X antenna; that in Batman; that could rip into
things; with its blast; of electricity. The Batmobile; was
designed; with slide up and down grill; like a curved; desktop.
There were keys; but also buttons; to push to start the car, there
was, also a hold down switch; that Batman; could push; so the
car wouldn't start. The car was equipped with two parachutes;
for it's 500 horsepower engine. The parachutes could be released;
with special vans; to pick up; Batman's parachutes up.
(Work In Progress; post)
Joji Barris Pierce; also stated; that this car was;
auctioned in 2013; made $4.200,000; but this only partial
truth. The fact is if George Barris auction the original car;
in an unrestored state; it wouldn't made that much; when,
being auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson in 2013.