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BATMOBILE

BATWING

BATCAVE

GADGETS

GOTHAM

The Batmobile that would appear in the first two Batman movies would be a dramatic change from the Batmobile most people were used to seeing, that being the 1960's era George Barris version. Reflecting Tim Burton's more serious and true to the original Batman vision, the first movie version has an incredibly menacing and tank-like quality that reflects the harsh environment Batman must face within Gotham City.

This version was designed by the late Anton Furst, production designer of the 1989 Batman and built by a team of 12 all-round technicians, led by John Evans.

It was built within 12 weeks, measures 19ft 6in (5.9m) long and 8ft (2.4m) in width and a body made of fiberglass. Furst was unable to work on Batman Returns however, as contractual obligations prevented the possibility, so production design for Batman Returns was carried on by Bo Welch. Tragically, Anton Furst committed suicide in 1991, one year before Batman Returns released.

Anton Furst, "I wanted the Batmobile to look timeless. I didn't want a futuristic vehicle on a pastiche 1950's car. I went for the most brutal expression of a car, an image which also suggests sex and violence."

''For the batmobile we wanted to get menace, violence and all the intimidation that comes out of Batman's character into the car,'' he observes. ''Parts of the vehicle - front and back, the intake - were culled from actual jet airplanes. It's armed with a pair of Browning machine-guns concealed in the top of the wheel-housings, an explosive grappling hook and afterburners.''

''Three of us worked on the Batmobile and looked at every car ever made, I think. We ended up with something that has brute force and forbidding power coupled with form, shape and sculpture. Something that is, frankly, quite rude,'' comments Furst.

In eight weeks, Furst, Art Director Terry Ackland-Snow and Special Effects Supervisor John Evand had to produce two fully-functional prototype cars: 20 feet (6 m) long, 8 ft. wheelbase, 1,5 tons in weight.

That's a far cry from the souped-up Lincoln used in the old TV-series. There are many conflicts over the origins of the building of this version, some stating it was built on a limo chassis, others stating a corvette, and others off a classic impala.

The design of 1989's Batmobile was so good that it was used again for Batman Returns.

 Engine Type

Jet Turbine

Wheelbase

141.0 in.

Thrust

1500 lbs. @ 103% ROS

Length

260.7 in

Torque

1750 lbs. @ 98.7% ROS

Width

94.4 in

0 to 60 mph

3.7 sec

Height

51.2 in

Top Speed

unknown

Wheels

Cast alloy, 15 x 6.5

Brake Rating

excellent

Tires

Hight aspect L60-15