George Barris used the Lincoln Futura Experimental Car For The Batmobile.Everything had to work.The Batmobile became it's own star.
Barris Kustoms Stay Alive Here
This was how The Barrister was in 10 with Bo Derek.
but the car, was gold. A nice metallic blue and white; with white leather and
blue buttons; with button tuck upholstery; is now how it looks.
There are other; custom cars, were at Barris Kustoms.
Just think, in 2007, the mayor; had the corner;
lot sign, changed to Barris Place.
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.
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.
