would you want to reproduce them ? If reproduced they are then not original to the futura/batmobile car. things such as these would need a careful plan as not to take too much away from the original car to keep as much originality as one can. In this case it may be possible to weld the extra screw holes and rechrome the part. Just making the point at what point do you start losing what makes the car special despite its faults and that a careful restoration plan would be needed to do it right. The car is an artifact from another age and needs some careful TLC by qualified people.
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- The 1966 TV Batmobile
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My visit with George Barris and the #1 Batmobile
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 hobbybuilder01 |
Makes you wonder | ||
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Posts: 155 (12/27/08 8:43 AM) |
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Mark Racop |
I agree | ||
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Posts: 2133 (12/27/08 4:30 PM) |
A person doing restoration work should keep as many of the original parts of the car as absolutely possible. The chrome kick panel holes could be filled in and the part rechromed, which is what I would recommend for the B pillar chrome as well. Lots of sanding, buffing and polishing! |
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66BAT |
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Posts: 2737 (12/27/08 5:34 PM) |
When we say "artifact" we also need to remember there are folks out there who would take this all a MAJOR step further, and those people are the
Futura fans!
To them, the Batmobile is as disgusting as the pink labels, and sprinkler heads are to us! They would strip away all things Bat and return the Futura to it's original glory! Being a Futura fan I must admit I too would like to see that done...but fortunately I am a bigger Batmobile fan so I will stay in this camp! |
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hobbybuilder01 |
66 | ||
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Posts: 162 (12/27/08 6:08 PM) |
even a bat restore would be closer to the Futura. Which begs a different question...What happened to other concept cars of the era ? Would reserve this topic
to the off-topic area however.
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66BAT |
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Posts: 2738 (12/27/08 8:32 PM) |
Most were destroyed shortly after they were used for shows and such, some have survived in museums or by the manufacturer keeping them, and once in a blue moon
they turn up unrestored in private hands. Without question the Futura would have been lost at some point had it not been for the Batmobile transformation, and
that's why I am ok with it being restored as a Batmobile, if not for the Batmobile there likely would not be a Futura to restore!
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nodeman |
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Posts: 327 (12/27/08 9:03 PM) |
Information on the RTTBC Batmobile can be found on Clint Youngs Site, as Eric said it was built by Bob Butts for Barris.
Clint Youngs Site |
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DonC |
Time will tell... | ||
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Posts: 1085 (12/28/08 6:52 PM) |
Hobby,
the other concept car parked next to the Futura in that vintage pic above was saved and is known as the 1955 Mercury D528 Prototype Sedan Built by Ford Mercury in 1953-55 and used as a rolling laboratory. Prototype Y block motor XY-3, fully cast fiberglass body. Used in a number of movies, including as a trick car by Jerry Lewis. Owned by Bob Butts then sold to Canada., now back in the USA I believe. As for the # 1 if it ever gets restored take it back to it's TV show status before all the stages of hackness it's gone through over the years. |
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hobbybuilder01 |
well | ||
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Posts: 166 (12/29/08 12:27 AM) |
the hard part will be to convince Mr Barris after that the rest will be easy. Thanx for the car info DonC
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RightHandDrive |
Has anyone tried? | ||
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Posts: 134 (12/30/08 12:00 AM) |
Has anybody mustered the gumption to actually ask GB what his plans are, or if he has any, or if he'd be open to such offers to restore the Bat?
I hate all the cheesy labels but I can imagine in the presence of the #1 and GB you could be too choked up to mention it to him... but what about people close to him, they could... suggest it to him, surely? |
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Mark Racop |
More Pics | ||
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Posts: 2135 (12/30/08 12:50 AM) |
Here is the current radio in the #1:
Another view of the trunk chevrons: 
You'll note that the gear shift indicator lights and the turn indicator lights are missing. They were on the car as late as 2000, so I wonder where they are? It looked like they weren't under the leather, so hopefully nobody threw them away! 
Here's another pic of the passenger door jamb. Is it just me, or does that not look like metal under all the fabric glue? 
And finally, a picture of the driver side trunk lip and pin lock area of the trunk: 
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RightHandDrive |
Fascinating... | ||
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Posts: 135 (12/30/08 2:59 AM) |
Wow a cassette deck and analog tuner! I'd rather see a crime fighting device there!!
Interesting the gear shift indicator lights and the turn indicator lights are missing yet they turned up on some Hot Wheels 1:18's. I wish HW hadn't included that crappy radio on the Elite... AWA Clarion? I remember the #1 having an ugly Kenwood endorsement on it at one time. I also note the CB radio (AM?) under the dash. Thanks for the pics!! |
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hobbybuilder01 |
Might be hard to | ||
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Posts: 172 (12/30/08 9:54 AM) |
accurately re-produce the turn signal and drive indicator lights if they are indeed missing. The really helpful thing with the photos if some kind of
restoration were to take place with some of the talented car building guys here it lets everyone here on the board be a part of the restoration decisions that
will have to be made for a plan of action. At least we know the car is reasonably safe for the time being in Barris's shop.
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chrisla213 |
The way that radio is installed | ||
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Posts: 295 (12/30/08 9:39 PM) |
goes to show you that any thing could be done to this car and still come out on top Which makes it easy on us all when it comes not getting it just right
Last Edited By: chrisla213
12/30/08 9:48 PM.
Edited 3 times.
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Mark Racop |
Accuracy | ||
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Posts: 2137 (12/31/08 12:37 AM) |
I don't think there will be any problem with making accurate parts for the restoration, if, indeed, it does happen. We have enough photo history now,
compared to when most of us started in this crazy business, to be able to make any part as close as humanly possible. Going the extra mile won't
be a problem. ;)
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DonC |
I agree Mark... | ||
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Posts: 1088 (12/31/08 2:07 PM) |
However I don't think even Barris could afford a correct resto down the last detail. Here we have the # 1 in vintage/poor condition, probably the most
valuable TV icon vehicle of all time.A top notch resto to bring the # 1 back to it's true original status would cost several hundred thousand dollars IMO.
I think only the likes of Bill Gates could afford the 'bill'.
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Futurabat6543 |
Barris has more money than fort freakin knox! | ||
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Posts: 468 (12/31/08 2:56 PM) |
We all know HE has the dough...but when it comes to a labor of love...is cost really the issue???
...Speaking words of wisdom...let it be.
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66Batmobile |
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Posts: 2171 (12/31/08 3:51 PM) Eric Seltzer |
I never noticed the "DEICE" or De-Ice control on the first dash panel
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66Batmobile |
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Posts: 2172 (12/31/08 4:05 PM) Eric Seltzer |
I forgot to mention the rear passenger side 1/4 panel has a nice size dent in it. It's tough to see unless you crouch down to look.
Here is a shot of the underside and the vintage cobwebbs. 
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Mark Racop |
Another view of the heater controls | ||
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Posts: 2142 (12/31/08 4:07 PM) |
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66BAT |
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Posts: 2748 (12/31/08 4:42 PM) |
That shot of the damage above, aren't we really looking at a round muffler? Granted that quarter panel IS damaged (I'll post a wide shot I took at
peterson showing outer damage) but in the pic you posted the seam is split, and there is round beaded edge, all of which look to be a badly mangled round-ish
muffler that probably got damaged the same time the quarter panel (not shown in that pic) also got damaged.
Can you post a wider shot of that same underside pic with damage just so we can see how badly the panel and the muffler are damaged independantly? LOVE THE PICS---CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!!!! |
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- The 1966 TV Batmobile
- The 1966 TV Batmobile--Archive
- The 1955 Lincoln Futura
- Replica Batmobiles
- Your Replica Batmobile
- Tips On Building A Replica
- The Hot Wheels Bat-Vehicles
- The Hot Wheels Bat-Vehicles--Archive
- Other Scale Models & Toys
- Message Board FAQ's & More
- Items for Sale, Wanted or Trade
- Off Topic
