Futura Center Canopy

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gotham citizen	Futura Center Canopy	Lead	[-]
Posts: 123 (07/20/08 1:11 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I was on the site "how stuff works" it has lots of info on the Futura and the following is stated. (The original Plexiglas center section that had been removed from the Futura was later cut into two sections. One half of it was used on a custom rear-engined speedster built for Richard Boone of Paladin TV series fame. The other half was later owned by a collector in Wisconsin.) My questions are, is this true? If so is there any pictures of Richard Boone's rear-engined speedster? Did Barris do the work?
Mark Racop	Futura Canopy	#1	[-]
Posts: 1981 (07/21/08 9:24 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks for the great link. There was a TON of great information in those pages, some that isn't common knowledge. Some of the Batmobile history was slightly skewed by George's many interviews/lack of memory/fanciful tales, but all in all it seemed pretty good. I had heard about the canopy story before, but MT claims he owns the original Futura canopy--and I believe him. Bob Butts probably inherited it when he took on the challenge of restoring the #5 Batmobile. The Futura canopy was tied to the #5 arch possibly as late as the mid-1980's:
gotham citizen		#2	[-]
Posts: 124 (07/21/08 10:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks Mark, that's what I thought. I seen the #5 in the late 80's. There were pictures with the Batombile before, during and after restoration. Some shots had the center canopy too.
66BAT		#3	[-]
Posts: 2425 (07/22/08 8:03 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Taking a more scientific approach---I agree MT got the canopy pictured on the "wreck of the #5" pictured above, but that doesn't meant this canopy was the Futura's canopy to begin with now does it!?!? Although (scientific priciples aside) I can't see a reason for anybody or Jim S back in the day to make a duplicate center canopy, unless maybe they wanted rain protection. So it very likely is the Futura canopy--but.......!
66Batmobile		#4	[-]
Posts: 1876 (07/23/08 9:57 PM) Eric Seltzer Admin/Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	You all make the call. Below are pics Mark Towle sent me of his center Futura canopy compared to original vintage pics. Last Edited By: 66Batmobile 07/23/08 10:09 PM. Edited 2 times.
Futurabat6543	Looks good to me	#5	[-]
Posts: 252 (07/23/08 11:53 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I would have to say...mystery solved. But if I may offer my two cents about #5? I don't designate it as such. I call it the thunderbat. It is NOT a Barris built Bat. To me there is the Futurabat, the three Fiberbats, and the abominable thunderbat. Not that it wasn't a good replica...but it's not a Barris.
66BAT		#6	[-]
Posts: 2434 (07/24/08 8:09 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	We sorta unofficially decided years ago "#5" worked since most folks already called it that, and Barris owned it (didn't build it) so it was Barris' 5th Batmobile. I have also heard it called the "Chirney car" for it's most prominent owner in recent times (Scott). Looking again at the canopy section it would be tough to duplicate the chrome trim and it appears to be a match, and from what I can see the L shaped corner bracket with a million screws in it looks to match also. We hashed this out years back and I think most felt it was the canopy and some folks have seen it in person and reported it had an "age" to it you could sense/see/smell, seemed authentic. Seems like if a guy owned it he might duplicate it so Bat owners could have decent rain protection and such....!
66Batmobile		#7	[-]
Posts: 1881 (07/24/08 8:33 AM) Eric Seltzer Admin/Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I know we are going off topic here, but interesting to note in the documents I have from 1/67, Barris does refer to the car as "Batmobile #5."
DonC	Center canopy	#8	[-]
Posts: 1095 (01/05/09 3:15 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The only reason the Futura center canopy was tied to the # 5 in that pic was for transport reasons only. That's Bob Butts car trailer in the pics after he brought the #5 to San Diego from LA...hence the heavy roping. I saw the # 5 in Barris back lot several times in the mid 80's and it had no such center canopy tied to it all the years it sat back there flat tires and all., I also personally handled the Futura center canopy at Bob's shop and it was very heavy cast metal. I do have a pic...somewhere. Unique Movie Cars and Props
Amazzen	Canopy mystery.	#9	[-]
Posts: 452 (01/05/09 5:56 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I too, believe that Towle has the middle canopy frame, but the plexiglass looks odd to me. Is it possible that something happened to the original plexiglass??? (and vent) Is it possible that it too, was made of glass? It would make more sense that plexiglass was used to save weight, but that pivot looks beefy enough to handle a substantial load. Do you guys know if a motor or spring was used to open the top? Where is the switch/lever? Was the brake "button" (mounted to the dash) a button or a light? Seems to me that the "t" handle on the lower dash would be the brake release and the lever (with ball handle) on the left lower dash was the hood release. Anyone know for sure???
66BAT		#10	[-]
Posts: 2767 (01/05/09 7:59 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That article I posted on the Futura claims a second canopy was made using plexiglass, now granted that story may well be incorrect, but let's say for a moment they actually DID make a second canopy like the article says, well then I could see MT having the original Futura chrome frame but not have the correct original glass. Probably not true, but still interesting. One thing is for sure---real or not, only a couple people in the world have a Futura center canopy!
DonC		#11	[-]
Posts: 1096 (01/05/09 11:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That sounds about right Paul and Dan. I would bet that Bob Butts had that center plexi piece made for his Futura replica which he was building at the time I was there. There was no 'glass' in the center frame when I handled it, perhaps the glass that was in the center frame originally cracked..hence the repop. Perhaps Mark R's video will reveal more unseen details too. Unique Movie Cars and Props
DonC	Plexi it was..or appeared to be.	#12	[-]
Posts: 1143 (03/07/09 1:54 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I had a good look at the # 1's canopy's last week..like the rest of the car...showing it's age and use. One thing I wasn't aware of how the center canopy seal at the door top was actually inset into the door itself in what appears to be a recessed pocket...not laid on top as I would have surmised. More kudo's to Ghia for the incredible detail work. Unique Movie Cars & Props
Mark Racop	Nice discovery	#13	[-]
Posts: 2241 (03/08/09 1:31 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I thought that was odd as well. No wonder they didn't remove the rubber seal from the door tops for the series--they would have had to fill it! Holy Double Vision, See Two Cars On the Highway!
66BAT		#14	[-]
Posts: 2906 (03/08/09 2:22 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	SOMEBODY has to write a book about the Ghia plant......besides our beloved Futura they did TONS of amazingly cool stuff, there HAS to be a pile of great pictures somewhere just waiting to get published, and what a book that would be!
Mark Racop	Missing Photos?	#15	[-]
Posts: 2242 (03/08/09 7:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Someone posted that Ghia used to have lots of pictures of the Futura at one point, but they have since mysteriously disappeared... Holy Double Vision, See Two Cars On the Highway!
chaschicago	the #5 and the futura canopy	#16	[-]
Posts: 1 (10/10/09 1:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	hi eric, i recently found your site..........the other site i'm on mentioned the #5 batmobile and i responded with my photos! and when one of the guys saw my photos he directed me to your site. george had that canopy hanging in his shop after Cushenbery customized the futura, i have photos of the #1 batmobile with its futura canopy sitting on top. as you all know Bob Butts was heavily into the futura/batmobile and he scored the #5 batmobile from george along with the futura canopy, as shown in photos of #5 on a trailer with the canopy straped on top. i was told back in the 80s that Butts cut the plexiglass in half and made a windshield for Richard Boones sports car, the other half went to Stuart Sternburg from wisconsin. I was told that by Sternburg, who was a futura collector he was confined to a wheelchair, he corresponded by mail. he sent me some photos and i sent him photos of the batmobiles and replicas as well as other customs. i always found it hard to believe that Butts would cut the original canopy from the futura in half, he loved the futura! he built replicas of the futura and he duplicated that canopy for his futura replicas.........its very possible he cut a duplicate canopy in half ??? i have photos i can share, how do you post them?
66BAT		#17	[-]
Posts: 3160 (10/10/09 3:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Click HERE for Eric's page on how to post pics, and PLEASE DO post them! There IS a post here someplace that I can't seem to find right now, but had many of the details and likely some of the photos you mentioned, maybe somebody else can locate it for you. If you have any pics though I'd love to see them!
66Batmobile		#18	[-]
Posts: 2596 (10/10/09 4:44 PM) Eric Seltzer Admin/Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	chaschicago wrote: hi eric, i recently found your site..........the other site i'm on mentioned the #5 batmobile and i responded with my photos! and when one of the guys saw my photos he directed me to your site. george had that canopy hanging in his shop after Cushenbery customized the futura, i have photos of the #1 batmobile with its futura canopy sitting on top. as you all know Bob Butts was heavily into the futura/batmobile and he scored the #5 batmobile from george along with the futura canopy, as shown in photos of #5 on a trailer with the canopy straped on top. i was told back in the 80s that Butts cut the plexiglass in half and made a windshield for Richard Boones sports car, the other half went to Stuart Sternburg from wisconsin. I was told that by Sternburg, who was a futura collector he was confined to a wheelchair, he corresponded by mail. he sent me some photos and i sent him photos of the batmobiles and replicas as well as other customs. i always found it hard to believe that Butts would cut the original canopy from the futura in half, he loved the futura! he built replicas of the futura and he duplicated that canopy for his futura replicas.........its very possible he cut a duplicate canopy in half ??? i have photos i can share, how do you post them? Welcome! Or just email them to me and I'll post em. futura_batmobile@yahoo.com Eric
A Pennyworth.thecaveboard		#19	[-]
Posts: 162 (10/10/09 6:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Chuck aka "chaschicago" wanted to show that these photos posted in the past were taken by him and posted by others in the past. This one is new of the #5 replica showing the center canopy on top. In a past topic these were discussed and posted, including the ones he got from Stuart Sternberg Welcome aboard and thanks for sharing! Last Edited By: A Pennyworth 10/10/09 6:50 PM. Edited 4 times.
Mark Racop	Welcome!	#20	[-]
Posts: 2377 (10/10/09 7:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Welcome aboard, Chuck! It's always great to have another Bat fan on board, but even more exciting when they bring new old stories to light about these great cars. I'll be in Chicago at a Dr. Who convention Thanksgiving weekend... Holy Double Vision, See Two Cars On the Highway!

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