Runs on Jet Fuel! Turbine-Powered Batmobile
What warm-blooded American boy didn’t want to be Batman in the 1960s and drive the Batmobile like on the 1966-68 television show? I know I did. Then fast-forward 20 years and Batman and the Batmobile reappeared in what would become a long-running series of movies. The Michael Keaton version of the Batmobile was nothing like the original, but who cares. I wanted to drive it, too! Here we have a one-of-a-kind tribute car that’s registered as a 1985 Chevy Corvette, which it’s nothing like today. It will be available in January 2023 here on the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona – with no reserve! Holy Super Find, Larry D!
As the story goes, master craftsman and fabricator Casey Putsch apparently got mesmerized by the Batmobile from the 1989 Batman flick. So, he set about to build his own replica of the way-cool car, and perhaps the roots of a 1985 ‘Vette are in there somewhere as that’s how the vehicle is titled. The result was a functioning and driving automobile that could probably run at the same pace as a Dodge Viper. But if you’re interested in the Bat treasure, do your homework as it may not be street or emissions legal in every state.
Putsch relied on a treasure trove of racecar and military parts to put this thing together. It’s powered by the same type of engine often found in helicopters and runs on jet fuel, kerosene, or diesel (kind of like Doc Brown’s DeLorean). The motor puts out 365 hp, so it’s no slouch in a machine that weighs just 2.800 lbs. thanks to the use of fiberglass and aluminum materials for the body. Putsch became a self-taught turbine guy to build this “Keatonmobile” and the turboshaft engine is paired with a 4-gear semi-automatic, sequential-shifted transmission.
Everything about this car shouts adrenaline. including the racing-approved on-board halon fire-extinguishing system and the top-mounted machine guns which are functional (sorry, sound effects only). And the flamethrower out the back is something of an illusion, too. This car turns heads wherever it goes and recently won three awards at a show in Ohio. “If any car is worthy of a spot in the Bat Cave, it’s this one!”
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Comments
Whoever buys this PLEASE share a photo of the managers face when you pull up for a Smog Check!!!!
Self taught on turbine mechanicals?? There’s someone with drive and initiative, no pun intended.
And this would be a perfect commuter, what with the Ma Deuce or chain gun on top and the exhaust flame out the back!
In all honesty this car is an amazing fabrication and speaks volumes of he builders grasp of mechanical understanding and knowledge. Is it one that I would own? Yes-If I were born rich instead of good-looking 🤣😂😁 and had a good place for it because it’s mechanized art IMHO.
Um, I never wanted to be Batman, even as a kid I thought that whole magila was hoaky, except of course for the racy costumes. Again, real life scenarios, American Grafitti, Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies. This Hollywood fantasy crap never did anything for me. The car? If that is a car, is nothing more than “I have one, you don’t” mentality of the very rich. I watch the faces of these spoiled brats, when stuff like this reaches 6( or 7 figures), they go into a “oh no you don’t, my bank account is bigger than yours”,mode,,this foolishness will cease, but in the meantime, I’m gonna sit back on this bank of sand and watch the river flow,,
How sad it sounds when a guy feels the need to lash out in frustration at the fact some people are in a position to buy the things they like while they don’t have the wherewithal. I love being able to go buy a car if I like it and there’s nothing foolish about that. I’ve worked hard to be in that position. I’m certain my comment will be deleted.
Your comment is as valid as mine, and the staff is tolerant, but you, as usual, are taking my comment out of context. It’s like I have to include a disclaimer with every post, and I’m tired of it. You want to selfishly piss away your grandchilds inheritence on some 6( or 7) figure GTO to relive faded dreams, by all means, have at it, but to spend an outrageous amount of money, to me, and most others here on this,,well, I don’t know how to finish that. What the heck good is this thing except for bragging rights. “Oh, look, Kyles dad dropped him off at school in the Batmobile again”,,,please. Hey, I just saw a piece of the homeless in L.A., and many other cities, but L.A. is the worst. The fact that this kind of activity goes on while people in the same city are dying in parks, it’s unacceptable.
Only “the Riddler” would say such things. Unless you look at every single post, then it made you look. The builder appears to be very talented. Nice build. I wouldn’t own it either, but that isn’t the point.
Way cooler than the electric pram being offered at Classic Auto Mall in PA, just because it actually runs and makes the right noises. But logically, there is nothing you can do with this other than taking it to car shows – and you’re limited there. Warner Brothers has a stranglehold on these replicas. Technically, they aren’t even supposed to be out in public at any time.
It looks like a generator turbine, rather than a helicopter. It would be nice to see any verification of the “Viper like” performance as turbines are very difficult to modulate the speed of. Especially when starting out. I also can’t imagine this thing at full throttle for very long with that tight engine compartment. Turbines make a ton of engine heat. Jay Leno figured it out with his turbine cars and motorcycles, but even then I’ve never seen his turbine car at full throttle or any performance slips. I think this is a lot of show hype that isn’t backed up anywhere. For me it is a strong pass. Plus I’m more interested in real barn finds than BJ stuff.
Any links to BJ, Mecum or BaT auctions are usually a quick pass for me.
Turbine car, full throttle-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdBahNZOg9o
I’d think you’d have a hard time purchasing jet fuel for it.
Some rich guy (with WAY too much money) will
probably buy this,& park it next to his “Investment” cars
that never get driven.
Kerosene … no issues with vapor pressure as would operate at, or near, SL Static
I was never a Batman fan, and I thought the car was ugly.
This is definitely a car for someone with little sense, but lots of bucks. If I saw it on the street, I would look at it up close just to satisfy my curiosity, but I sure wouldn’t want to take it home.
Russ you are a specialist for special objects.
What I have not quite understood now how does a semi-automatic
with a sequential gearbox? Force increase from the jet to the wheels?
I’d rather want the batmobile from the Christopher Nolan movies
than this thing. It looks far more from another world.
I think his films have the deepest intensity of all Batman films.
Anyone who buys this have fun and take care that you dont
accidentally burn the trees behind it.
” … it may not be street or emissions legal in every state.”
Ya’ think so?
Coool I Like it > There is a Pontiac 455 Powered Replica 60’s Batmobile out there – my style – Batman most realistic Super Hero does most with high tech :)
RKS,
he does that on a regular basis. he has some sort of axe to grind.
I sure do, and I like to think I give a little different perspective, instead of hiding my head in a pile of money, that daddy, or grandaddy probably gave them. MY axe to grind, is how unfair this whole mess has spiraled out of control,,because there is no control. Most folks don’t have the grapes to call attention to it, but I was blessed with a dad who didn’t care what other people thought. At least I give the other side a chance, but it’s a constant struggle. I’d put some therapist in a new mansion, but at 68, the heck with it.
Again, people today have such a different view of the things me, and others like me, held dear. It’s just a tough pill to swallow, and I don’t know if future generations will experience anything like it. Quite frankly, the hobby sucks, and it’s spoiled brats that encourage these shenanigans, that’s the smoking gun. Don’t worry, I’ll just “give up” soon, even I know a lost cause when I see one..
Howard, You are right. There are several different automotive economies out there. But unless you lived before computers and 911, you didn’t experience what the other one was like and so it isn’t missed. Ordinary people take financing out on a $40K new car, and a $80K truck isn’t all that unusual. I bought a house for less. So paying 10x new crazy prices for a 80’s malise era car seems nuts to us, but a bargain to them. On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the very wealthy, that look at cars as possessions ( and can afford nutty renditions like this) and not transportation and then there is the homeless/opioid addiction economy where a car is a home or unattainable at all. You and I are somewhere in the middle and I prefer to be grateful rather than bitter. I’m at BF to be entertained and don’t really think about the unfairness of it all. It only matters to me the 30 minutes or so I’m pursuing cars that I will never own, while I eat breakfast. I don’t even look at the prices,I just like the write ups. I suspect most readers are just like me. Click.
It is sad to so often read negative comments about how other people spend their money. It is really surprising when people on car enthusiast groups do it. I guess that those above look down on many of the rest of us who own “toys” that we don’t need to have to get to work or the grocery store.
For those that find this car “fun”, here are some videos from the builder/owner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZSBpFMWk-M&list=PLt3Qhjl4f69Inp4AkaxOVKVnyTAjiagBC&index=2
10 years ago I rebuilt a 327 and installed it back in my friends 66 vet, and I told my then 18 year old son that was the nicest looking motor job I’ve ever done. I hope the person that built this custom had a young person in the shop that he could say to, this is a very nice job.
Howard, there is truth is what you say. Huge corporations are buying up every single family home possible, with the stated intent of turning the total population into renters. They are driving up the prices of homes, making them unaffordable for homebuyers, but they, with their huge coffers, have no problem outbidding the working Joes & Jills. They are killing the dreams of home ownership, and not all young folks can move back in with mom and dad. In the meantime, grocers, and their suppliers, are price-gouging, providing, through trickery, less and less value for the dollar. Greed is rampant, and the dream, of working your way up, is dying. it breaks my heart. The power-that-be won’t do anything, other than keep an eye on the donations that come from big business. Average people being driven out of the collector/antique car marke is/are just a small part of the big picture.
Hey Howard A. Get off my lawn.
Coolest movie car ever. Inspired a realization of a movie fantasy rendered with real world mechanicals. Just amazing.
Naah. Coolest movie car ever is the Bullit Mustang, with McQueen behind the wheel. And the average Joe can buy a very similar car.
Just a Mustang. Give me the bad guy’s Charger all day.
Before you go and knock this guy, take a closer look. I see a Cheetah parked in his shop. Actually it is hiding in the background of several photos. I am not sure if it is intentional, or maybe that is just what Cheetah’s do? Probably just as impractical, but what a dream car.