Concept Car Replica: 1955 Lincoln Futura
Holy Green Machine! At first glance, it looks like the Batmobile had a run-in with a bucket of seafoam green paint. But this car is really a tribute to the Lincoln Futura that inspired the vehicle driven by the Caped Crusaders in the 1960s television show, Batman. Under the skin, this car is a 1987 Chevy Corvette with an upgrade in technology that the Dynamic Duo wasn’t accustomed to. Located in Riverhead, New York, this one-of-a-kind automobile is available here on eBay for $79,500 (but offers can be made). Our thanks to Scott L. for this futuristic tip!
Before there was the Batmobile, there was the Lincoln Futura, a concept car developed in 1955 to help promote the senior FOMOCO brand. With Lincoln underpinnings and drivetrain, it was hand-built by Ghia in Italy at a cost then of $250,000 (10 times that today). The Futura’s styling was original by 1950s standards, with a double, clear-plastic canopy top, exaggerated hooded headlight pods, and large, outward-canted tailfins. It was a functional vehicle unlike many concept autos of the day. Styling elements of the Futura would find their way into other Ford products of the 1950s and 1960s.
The original Futura was modified by George Barris for the TV show, and he built four more copies that relied on a Galaxie or Thunderbird chassis. The seller’s car is itself a copy, custom built by Batrodz out of Long Island, New York, who has experience in producing cars like these. We’re told it’s the only one made that merges the Futura and the Batmobile with a C4 Corvette. It, too, is a functioning driving-quality car, but it’s not street legal by definition in many states.
Under the 20-foot fiberglass body is a stretched ’87 Corvette convertible that has 77,000 miles on it (as backed up by the odometer reading). The purpose of the transplant is to flaunt itself and the owner at various shows and parades, not to be driven regularly on the highways and byways. The ride height has recently been raised for added suspension travel and better ride quality, thus the Futura C4 may sit higher than the photos portray.
When you look in the passenger compartment, it looks nothing like what Batman and Robin availed themselves of. It has all the earmarks of a ‘Vette plus cool features like a media center with a fold-out touch screen. Besides not being DOT compliant, this C4 will not pass California emissions requirements. So don’t plan on running down to the corner store in this car – no matter how great the urge!
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Comments
I find it truly annoying when someone refers to a car’s condition as being “minty”.
But this one, well it is in fact, simply…minty.
Thank you for sharing. Sale is pending.
Sadly they cut corners and put the lazy boy recliner seats in it and an 80’s K car steering wheel. I suppose you could likely find a lincoln style interior from 55 to put in there to make it appear more realistic than an overpriced piece of fiberglass.
They didn’t “put in” anything to the interior, certainly not a Mopar steering wheel – that’s pure stock C4 Corvette.
That looks like a pretty big blind spot in the windshield.
I’m thinking this would be fun to be seen in, but a stock ’87 Corvette would be much more fun to drive.
Or be made fun of
weird.
Holy catfish face Batman!
I was thinking more along the line of “Holy Batsh_t Batman!!”
I think it looks great, but what were they smoking when they picked that color?
This is exactly what they thought a 2022 year car would look like in 1960. Surprised it wasn’t nuclear powered.
I’ve seen another one custom made on a hot rod show on California identical
I feel it’s a lot more of a tribute to the batmobile than the Futura… So many of design elements were changed or left off of this. Looks like a fiberglass Batmobile repop that was painted mint. Not a bad looking, or poorly executed car…just less Futura-like imo…
That is a stock ’87 corvette interior, except for the dash modifications. Even the console down to the buttons.
I have a ’87 corvette with red interior and changed my dash.
Fresh from the Palm Springs bat cave.
Of course, it an 87 corvette!! Why didn’t I see that.
Scott L: I posted this one to Barn Finds too. Good eye.
My link came from Hemmings.
https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1987-chevrolet-corvette-438606
It’s about the funkiest thing I’ve seen in a long while.
Definitely a mix of the two cars. it has the Batmobile fin extensions into the doors as well as the wheel openings and more of a Batmobile hood scoop. the front and rear ends remain more Futura. A good website on the batmobile and Futura: http://1966batmobile.com/
I think someone went through a lot of work to make a car that everybody and their brother will ask about. Unfortunately, they will all ask why the Batmobile is green.
“this one-of-a-kind automobile is available”, but with that color, it will stay that way.
Steve i will agree on that nasty color, but the listing is no more.
I wonder what happened to all the original futura parts after they were removed to make the Batmobile – such as the chrome bumpers, MOTORIZED clear bubble tops!!!, steering wheel with the SPEEDO/ODOM/WARNING LITES ON THE STEERING COLUMN HUB!, etc.
I sure hope those parts were not destroyed! Were they?
I would have made this replica as close as possible to the original – in color, interior, body, etc. The original also did not have fender flares or that green hood “scoop”, much less mag wheels & raised white letter tires!
https://www.carstyling.ru/cars.1955_Lincoln_Futura.html
& the last thing i want to see in a replica dream car of the 50s is an interior that looks like a modern blah colorless one!
The original Lincoln Future was made Ghia of Sweden. The original color was pale pearl blue. The original pictures of this X-car Lincoln Futura had green hues in the pictures. Another word for hue, is color. As for the Bat- Mobile, take a look at Cars of the Stars by George Barris and Scagnetti; you find; George Barris didn’t build the Batmobile. He just worked on the chain cutters. As far back as the early 2000’s George Barris said; in early Custom Rodders: “I didn’t build the Batmobile”. Then in 2006; George Barris signed the rights away back to Greenway Productions. The George Barris; had #1, original Batmobile restored. in 2010.When the Batmobile was restored; again; George Barris said: “I didn’t build the Batmobile.” Infact, George Barris, neither had the Radar mags or the bat logos on the doors until 2013; when the car went to Barret-Jackson Auctions. The reason why George Barris received $4,200,000.00 for #1 Batmobile; was it was fully restored. It cost another $6,000,000.00 for the buyer. Why? First, he lived in Arizonia. That added 6% in state tax. Then auctioneers get; a 5% tax. The grand total was $4,800,000.00. George Barris had the work paid out; to Bill Cushenberry. Bill Cushenberry used no plans. He removed the chrome from the hood and wheels; Cushenberry moved the hump on the hump forward. Cushenberry; made the bat nose and from grill. A matching black mesh gril was created for the front and rear. Leather covers covered the headlight buckets. Cushenberry used, only an air chisel to do the work. All four-wheel wells were radiused. By the way, George Barris didn’t buy the original Lincoln Futura for a dollar. Why? Ford wanted it crushed. Ford created a brand-new Lincoln-creation of Futura X-car; then this second car; Ford gave that to George Barris; for storing ten cars for ten years; in movies, that Ford; had stored at George Barris place for ten years. The Lincoln Futura had brake ventilation; to cool them. Bill Cushenberry took these out; to extend the Bat fins from the two doors to the back of the car. Cushenberry, made the rear bat fins perfectly. They were double fins. Three offset holes were drill out for the bat chrome tubes; behind; the rear canapé’s; three chrome bat tubes were made by Cushenberry. These were for the bat rockets. The sliding back lid, from the Lincoln Futura was tossed. A brace was to go through the bubble double canapé. The brace had both green and amber one-inch circle side lights; on both the left and right. A beacon was mounted on top of brace; after it was fully wired properly. Batman had a T bar in the middle to turn the car in 360-degrees. Inside the trunk was the bat computer. On Robin’s side was a bat scope. A roll type top in the middle of the dashboard; had a mini television that Alfred; as Batman, Robin, and Batman would watch. There was a fake button to keep the Batmobile from turning over the turbine engines. The real engine was a 390 CID Thunderbird engine. It had an igniter, which had kerosene; that went back to the paint can; that kept the thruster on from catching fire. The Batmobile never had orange welts; but black, that matched the black seats. A welt, is that clear plastic tube that; is used, then folded in half and sown in half; to sewn to auto upholstery; around it, to the foam rubber, and the sides of the seats. Even DC uses Fiberglass Freaks as the authorized DC comics Warner Brothers owned company.They only used black welts, no orange. The Batmobile was originally pale black; but wouldn’t show up in the camera. A graphic designer came up, with the Batmobile original graphics.The Batmobile was then painted pearl black first. Another fact is Micky Thompson Dirt Track; wider tires, were used first; but four tires popped under the weight; of the steel of the Batmobile, So, George Barris, first used, thin Uniroyal tires. I have a seven-half-foot custom car library. I own, most bound custom car books of George Barris, and other custom car designers. I have, a better custom car library; then the Library of Congress; of Washington D.C.
Both Bat Rodz in New York; and Fiberglass Freaks use only 1985 C4 Corvettes, for 1966 Batmobiles, licensed by DC/ Warner Brothers. A license must be bought from DC/Warner Brothers to build a Batmobile; otherwise, DC/ Warner Brothers could take you to court. Only Fiberglass Freaks, is allowed to build 1966 Batmobiles by DC/Warner Brothers. The cost for everything, including turbine with flames; for a complete Batmobile is $299,999.00