October '65 pre-production photos
When the pilot started shooting in October (1965), the car wasn't finished and was delivered to the studio with only the primer coat applied. "In the first shots the car was in the black primer, which really didn't come on so strong," said Barris. "They wanted to get more of a gloss on it. We then airbrushed white highlights around the outside edges, but that didn't come out as strong either. That's when we went into the 3/4 inch red fluorescent glow edges to accentuate the Batface and fins. It made it much more dramatic 1966 TV BATMOBILE HISTORY Year built October 1965 Original car used 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car Original sale price & date Sold to George Barris for $1.00 in December 21, 1965 Designed by George Barris with input from Eddie Graves from 20th Century Fox Customized by George Barris with Gale Black, Bill Cushenbery, Richard "Korky" Korkes, Les Tompkins & Roy "Tubs" Johnson Contractual owners (1965) George Barris, Irvin Kuns, Lester E. Tompkins, individuals d/b/a Barris Kustom City Time to build 3 weeks Cost to modify Futura $30,000 Approx. value in 1966 $125,000 SPECIFICATIONS Curb weight 5500 lb Wheelbase 126 in. Length 225 in. Width (Front) 84 in. Width (Rear) 79 in. Height 48 in. Fins 84 in. Owner George Barris Current location North Hollywood, CA Current estimated value $2,000,000+ ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN Engine 390ci, V-8 Transmission B&M Hydro 3-speed automatic (2nd transmission) CHASSIS & BODY Layout Front engine/rear drive Body Construction Steel Tires 15" Firestone Wide-Oval, Mickey Thompson and US Royal Laredo Tires currently in use 235/75R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A Wheels 15x7 single rib Rader cast-alloy five spoke Wheels currently in use 15x7 Tri-Ribb III full polished by Radir Wheels Bat knock-off Cast aluminum material and screwed to the Rader's hub INTERIOR & EXTERIOR DETAILS Exterior paint color "Velvet Bat-Fuzz Black" from Metalflake, Inc. Trim color 3/4" Fluorescent Cerise Safety belts Cumming & Sander impact safety belts Emergency Bat-turn lever Ansen "T" handle in "Candy Red" Power Accelerator T-Arm Ansen "T" handle in "Candy Silver" Gas tank Moon Aluminum tank Exhaust turbine Made from a 5 gallon paint can Parachute info 2 Deist parachute packs with 10ft. in diameter parachutes California License plate Temporary Registration Plate 037 Gotham License plates 4 quantity used during the TV show: TP-6597, BAT-1, 2F-3567, ZEF 451 '65-'66 Steering wheel A modified "U"-shaped steering wheel (originally from the Lincoln Futura) '67-'68 Steering wheel In April 1967, an uncut 1958 Edsel wheel replaced the original BATMOBILE TIMELINE August 20, 1965 Meeting with George Barris, Charles FitzSimons (from Fox), and Ike Danning (from Fox Transportation Dpt.) to discuss building a Batmobile August 25, 1965 Batmobile proposal submitted by Barris Kustom City, including 2 sketches. I II September 1, 1965 Contract signed to build the Batmobile October 11, 1965 "Batmobile I" completed and delivered October 15, 1965 Mechanical issues (headlights, battery, exhaust, ignition and tire) with Batmobile December 21, 1965 "Futura Show Car" aka the Batmobile, officially sold to George Barris for $1.00. January 12, 1966 Batman airs on ABC TV. Original Batmobile "News Release" February 3, 1966 First Exhibition of the Batmobile at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in CA. August 3, 1966 The Batman movie premieres August 15, 1966 Contract to "construct two copies of the Batmobile." September 15, 1966 Expiration of the option to either continue renting Batmobile I or to require Barris Kustom City to construct Batmobile II September 21, 1966 Amended contract regarding exhibition of copies of the Batmobile, and refurbishing of Batmobile I. October 12, 1966 Batmobile exhibition agreement synopsis written by Charles B. FitzSimons October 18, 1966 Patented by George Barris. US Design Patent # Des. 205998 November 1966 Barris Kustom City replicated Batmobile I and created 3 fiberglass copies January 11, 1967 Barris in "process of acquiring a fourth Batmobile" March 9, 1967 Delivered to Barris Kustom City to be "refurbished." Refurbishment included, "put Batmobile I in first-class operating condition by completely refurbishing the interior and exterior of the body...and all mechanical moving parts therein, including the installation of a new engine and drive train." April 15, 1967 Batmobile due back to 20th Century Fox fully refurbished June 16, 1967 Barris requesting the intention to acquire an additional Batmobile ..."known as Batmobile #5" January 23, 1968 "Prop-return time on the Batman Series. This is the property of George Barris and must be returned to him. Fox has the right to remove any props installed by the studio. This may be more expensive than to return the car intact." March 14, 1968 Last episode of Batman airs January 19, 2013 Batmobile goes-up for auction through Barrett-Jackson