Nothing says nostalgia more like the famous cars the characters drive. These vehicles become as iconic as the film. They are extensions of the characters – more than just props, they become important parts of the character development. You don't have to be a car enthusiast to appreciate the coolness of these vehicles.
One of the most iconic movie cars is the Batmobile. For almost 80 years, it has cemented its place in history. It's been racing across the pages of comics and making multiple big screen appearances. The Batmobile is one of the most intimidating vehicles of all time. Along with its backstory, the car received amazing gadgets to go along with amazing adventures Batman uses it for. Over the years talented folks have created all sorts of machines to call them "Bat" automobiles. Here's what nobody knows about the Batmobile.
15 The Revelation Of The Dark Knight
The Batmobiles of the early '60s weren't very Batman-inspired. In 1968, these cars finally adopted a more eccentric design and a muscular look. The Batmobile got its signature black and gray color scheme and a huge bat's head on the grill. There were also modifications made to windows, wheels, and panels of the car.
14 The Very First Batmobile Was A Cadillac
In 1949, the world witnessed the very first Batman movie and the first Batmobile. It was just a plain 1939 Cadillac, which was luxurious, bulky, and slow. When the top of the convertible was up, Batman was in action. When it was down, he was on his way to have fun.
13 The Parachutes Are Real
The 60s Batmobile had functional parachutes that shoot out of its rear end. Even though the details are hazy, the word is that George was cruising through the city when he decided to pop the parachutes. The police officer had a laugh and said "it is just another day in Hollywood."
12 The First Batmobile Was Red
Who would have thought that stealthy Batman would drive a red car? The first Batmobile was a red hot rod. Introduced in Detective Comics #27, it had no special gadgets on it. The car was inspired by the fastest automobile of that time but had no modifications or bat-related emblems.
11 The Tumbler Was Real
Nolan mandated for more realism, which meant that the heavily modified Batmobile had to be functional. The Tumbler was also real, even though it looked like a product of CGI. The car had a Chevrolet-derived engine that could reach 110 mph. It could perform unassisted jumps and hit 60 mph in 6 seconds.
10 The Batmobile Wasn't Always Called The Batmobile
During the Christian Bale film era – Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises – the Batmobile wasn't called the Batmobile. It was a love child of a Humvee and a Lamborghini called the Tumbler. The car was created in collaboration with an aviation company; many things it does in the films are real.
9 There Is A Road Legal Batmobile
The Batmobile drives among us. A US comedian Jeff Dunham "has a road-registered Batmobile. He restored a Michael Keaton-era Batmobile prop, which is made of plywood and fibreglass, with a Corvette engine and roadworthy indicators and so much more. To the tune of $500,000, in fact. He regularly rocks up to car shows in it."
8 There Have Been Many Batmobile Designs
The Batmobile's design has varied significantly, from insane concept cars to supercars. The most memorable designs include The Dark Knight Returns tank, Legends of the Dark Mite’s long, train-like Batmobile and a Batman: Cataclysm’s monster truck. Each design maintains its uniqueness, even though some of them have been seen only in Elseworld’s stories.
7 One Of The Batmobiles Was Destroyed By A Drunk Driver
During the filming of Batman Begins, a drunk driver drove directly onto the Batmobile. His excuse was that he thought it was an alien craft, and he panicked. While Robin (Chris O’Donnell) in Batman Forever doesn’t have an equal excuse for having his own fender bender, he’s just crap at driving the Batmobile.
6 Unique Gadgetry Was Added To The Batmobile
The Batmobile is known for its lethal and non-lethal ammunition. Missiles are often used to enter an area and other ammunition is used to take down enemies. The car is stocked to the brim with separate gadgets. The Batmobile replicated the idea, and almost every version of the car had some unique gadgetry.
5 A 1955 Lincoln Futura Was Used As A Batmobile
George Barris spent three weeks designing and building the 1966 Batmobile. He found a perfect concept car for his project – a 1955 Lincoln Futura, which already had superhero-looking features and helped make the Batmobile iconic. It might be the most legendary movie car and Barris bought it for only 1$.
4 The Batmobile Has Built-In Fireworks
Beyond gadgetry, the Batmobile has built-in fireworks that can be remotely lit, which should scare would-be thieves away from the vehicle. Most Batmobiles have a device that can be remotely activated or automated. The 1997 Batmobile also has one of the most intricate interiors of all Batmobiles, but most of it isn't shown on screen.
3 Batmobiles Are Impractical
Batmobiles look cool and drive fast. However, the design of these cars and tanks is impractical. They are too long to make turns, too conspicuous to blend in and too heavy to accelerate and stop like a supercar. The 1992 Batmobile was handcrafted with one fin being curvier than the other.
2 Batmobiles Can't Fix Themselves
Maintaining Batmobiles is a time-consuming and difficult job. A team of engineers and mechanics help keep the cars in pristine condition. With the complexity of some Batmobiles, it is a challenge to constantly fix them up. Cars should be repaired quickly to ensure they get back on the street as soon as possible.
1 The 1992 Batmobile Wobbles At 90 MPH
The 1992 Batmobile was handcrafted and had visible flaws (e.g. the fins were off from each other). The car was scanned to make toys, so all toys also have asymmetrical fins. Besides, when the car gets to 90 mph, its back starts to wobble. Engineers attribute it to the difference in the fins.