The Batmobile driven by Adam West in the iconic TV show was a modded 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car. George Barris bought it for $1, a $249,000 markdown from its original price, and had less than three weeks to transform it into the vehicle it now is. The final paint job took 40 coats of supergloss black.
The Batmobile driven by Michael Keaton in 1989's "Batman" and 1992's "Batman Returns" also took inspiration from the 1950s. Designer Anton Furst looked to Salt Flat racing vehicles and Stingrays from that decade to create a unique look for the 20-foot-long car. It can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
As a new actor took over Batman's cape and cowl in 1995, so too did a new Batmobile arrive. Driven by Val Kilmer for "Batman Forever," this Batmobile could shoot a 25-foot flame out of its exhaust when its 25-gallon propane tank was filled. The production designer, Barbara Ling, intended the car to look like it was alive, so she gave its side ribs LEDs that change color to mimic breathing. The engine is a Chevy 380, and the car has independent rear suspension.
The simple lines of the 1989 design long abandoned, the Batmobile driven by George Clooney continued its drive toward glam. The car is a single-seat convertible, with enormous back wings that were originally intended to retract when the car stopped.
The tankesque Tumbler was co-designed by production designer Nathan Crowley and director Christopher Nolan, who kitbashed models of a Lamborghini with a Humvee until they got the look they wanted for Christian Bale's Batman.
The Tumbler sports an axel-less front end with Hoosier racing tires, and Super Swampers for the rear tires. It's much shorter than any of its predecessors, coming in at a functional 15'2". It has a top speed of over 100 mph, can go from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds, and unlike other modern Batmobiles, it can actually make the sharp turns seen in the movies.
