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The Batmobile is one of the most iconic movie cars of all time, and here's how it has evolved over the years.
With no superpowers to speak of, Batman waged war against Gotham's seedy underworld with nothing more than a Bat utility belt and one of the most famous screen cars of all the time, the Batmobile. Over the decades, several cars have been used, from standard production models through to some serious gadget-laden custom-builds, and yet, ask any gearhead to pick a favorite, and the answer is more often than not George Barris' 60s original that comes out tops.
Save for a few rare examples, Batmobiles post the Lincoln Futura-inspired classic have gotten worse, an overreliance on tech-wizardry and one-off builds stretching the realms of reality versus pure fantasy. We're all for some CGI cinematic action scenes, but gravity defying, wall climbing cars? By the time Batman Returns hit the movies, the car had become a bigger star than Batman himself, and for all the wrong reasons too. Looking back over the various Batmobile evolutions, there is no mistaking the arrival of Batman, always in the nick of time to hand out some rough justice.
Long before the advent of CGI and special effects, Batman, Robin, and Alfred, yes the ever faithful butler, would speed to and from crime scenes in a humble 1939 Cadillac Series 75. No rockets and jet motors, just a 346 cu-in 8-cylinder running a single Stromberg downdraft carburetor putting out 140 hp.
Used in two roles, top down with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson going about their daily routine, and roof up with the crime fighting duo in disguise. How times have changed, in modern movie outings, the Batmobile takes center stage.
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Batman's second live action outing picked up where the original left off, a low budget show that used much of the first series' costumes and sets, only the Batmobile underwent a minor upgrade swapping from Cadillac to Mercury.
In total, the series featured six 1949 Mercury Eight Convertibles, frequently crashed during filming, largely due to poor handling. Despite packing a 4.2-liter V8 under the hood producing 110 hp, the Mercury Eight was overweight, topping out at 83 mph.
Drawing on Lincoln's Futura concept car, and easily the most recognizable of all the Batmobiles, the 60s TV show turned the wow factor up to eleven with a highly customized two-seater that finally saw our heroes take the wheel. Unlike earlier rides, the Futura-based design relied heavily on gadgets and raw power to "conceal" the crime fighting duo's identity.
The creative outpouring of George Barris' ingenious talents, the Batmobile featured a host of defensive, offensive, and down right ludicrous add-ons that made it a huge on screen hit. Most notable for its highly unusual choice of propulsion, a military grade jet-turbine spewing flames under acceleration, in reality using a more down to earth 390 cu-in V8 lifted from Ford's Galaxie.
Not every confrontation would take place on dry land, Penguin famously had a flipper-powered submarine, so it was only fitting Batman would have a range of "other" Batmobiles. The Batcopter making several appearances in the 60s TV series, based on Bell's Type 47 adorned with power sapping canvas covered frames mimicking bat wings.
On the rare occasions of water-borne antics, the Batboat carried the crime fighting twosome at speeds of up to 45 mph. Influenced by the Batmobile complete with jet-exhaust nozzle, red flashing light and near mandatory large batwing, the Batboat supplied by Glastron based on the popular V-174 series.
Two successful movie reboots, Batman and Batman Returns, from 1989/92 respectively, and one Batmobile, only this time around featuring little in the way of a recognizable car. Under the masses of sculpted foam lays the chassis of a Chevrolet Impala. By this stage, easily outshining its human co-stars, the Batmobile merged art-deco inspired styling with enough gadgets to make James Bond envious.
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Built to withstand literally anything, retractable ceramic armor adding both fire and bulletproof protection over its entire length, so long at 21-foot that tight turns at speed required a grappling hook to make its high-speed escape. Speaking of speed, in theory, or at least on-screen, capable of 330 mph thanks to a 10,000 hp jet-turbine.
With the changing of producers from the frequently dark Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher came a re-imagined Batmobile that, for the first time, was a ground-up custom-built car, save for a Chevrolet 350 ZZ3 V8 tucked away beneath the acres of back-lit rib like bodywork.
Taking a trip down the neon retro-gothic path, this foam and fiberglass creation divides opinions like no other Batmobile. In place of a dark, brooding image normally associated with Batman, gearheads were instead treated to a neon roadster that wouldn't look out of place at a custom car show. Adding to the wow factor, combining a redirectable jet exhaust with grappling hooks, the Batmobile could scale vertical walls.
Lights, camera action with even more emphasis on the lights, Batman & Robin hit the ground running with a new Batmobile in a clash with Freeze, the new Batmobile having more in common with the original comic strip than a dark, brooding superhero.
Built around a Chevy 350 cu-in V8 motor, for the movie boosted by the now obligatory jet-engine set-up that ultimately failed to save the Batmobile, falling foul literally of a freeze beam forcing Batman to eject. By this stage, the Batmobile had become more of a gimmick than superhero ride, fortunately this one only featured in one movie.
The Dark Knight trilogy thankfully witnessed a return to the Batman's darker side, shrouded in mystery that few ever managed to see was Bruce Wayne behind a rubber mask, superheros are always hiding in plain sight. The Tumbler, however, is another story there's little chance of mistaking this piece of military grade hardware.
Surely just a movie prop, right? Surprisingly, this monster is a fully functioning, road-legal behemoth powered by a 500 hp GM 5.7-liter V8 and could hit 60 mh in 5.6-seconds despite weighing in at 5,500 lbs. Other stand-out "functioning" features included a custom front suspension set-up, giving the Tumbler adjustable ride height.
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Coming full circle, the latest Batman big screen outing sees a return to standard road cars, more or less. The Batmobile of 2022 resembling a classic American muscle car, a modified one, naturally.
Gearheads with a liking for classic muscle should look away now, in place of big-block high-power V8s, the producers switched from front-mounted V8 muscle to a potent mid-rear Ford Triton V10 motor complete with twin turbochargers, putting down an estimated 700+ hp. However, there remains some doubt over the actual engine used, eagle eyed gearheads/movie buffs counting just eight coil plugs.
Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.