While reviewing the episodes making a timeline for changes in the #1 during the
series I came across a very interesting discovery! I have found that a replica
was indeed on set and used on screen in a Batcave scene in
"The Contaminated Cowl" episode, 2nd season, airing Jan 4-5 1967.
This is easily missed as it is in the background and everyone is looking at
Batman's pink cowl so I've uploaded the scene for you to review, along with
several captures. They did their best to hide it with the Bat Computer and
Robin, so some of the detail areas we would like to see are not visable.
What I first noticed was the two large arch side lights (only seen in the
replicas!) with the specific order of red/yellow from front to rear. Also the
beacon slats are verticle and the beacon is cylinder shaped and not tapered.
Also notice the afterburner exhaust is missing its "burner box" which is
visable and included in every new shot filmed of the #1 during this second
season. Viewing the other shots as a whole group and comparing them to the #1
makes this clearer. Below is the replica...
The above scene takes place after a Batcave shot (see below) which does show
the #1, and if you look close you can notice some damage to the #1, a side
verticle dent, upper wing behind the door, so maybe it was out for repair for a
short time. (p.s. I do see this dent in several other following episodes, shot
in the batcave, not sure if multiple scenes from different shows were shot at
the same time?)
click for video clip uploaded to putfile.com
Now the question is which replica is it? The only thing we have for comparison
are the current available photos during this time frame, unfortunately there
are not many. I've checked the available pictures from this time period and
and have at least eliminated one of the 3 replicas. One key is the color order
of the lights on the side arch and how they are centered under the antlers, and
the door bat portion that is visable. The bat appears to be all red, no outline
and thin winged.
Now I don't think it's #2. The #2 door bat is not right, it's too fat, and the
beacon slats are too spread apart in the #2. Replica's 3 & 4 have the first
arch lights centered under the arch antler verticle, replica #2 first light is
set more to the rear in relation to the antler verticle. Another reason to
rule out the #2 is this shot,
the duo #1/ #2 is from the correct time period as "The Contaminated Cowl"
episode because the #1 sports the incomplete top outer nostril flair curve
pinstripes and does not have the BATRAY lens completly outlined, detail of
which are seen in this episode and the details of the #2 don't really match up
with "The Contaminated Cowl" replica. It's either the #3 (but the arch lights
are in the wrong color order from the vintage shots we have available from this
time period) or it could be #4/dragster if, (and a big if) the afterburner was
more normal at first and the center extension tube was added later. The #4 is
the only one with the correct red/yellow order in this time period from
existing photos.
click for photo
Now to the afterburner area, true it does look more like the #3 in vintage
photos but the #4 made it's drag debut around May 6th 1967 on Lion's dragstrip
click for newspaper article
which is 5 maybe 6 months after this episode, and it has alway been
photographed since then with that extra afterburner center extension. It also
had that verticle rear screen support and the vent holes thru the canapy, but
maybe this was not the look when it was first assembled? How would they know
what extra support/modifications were needed until after it raced or was tested
on the course?? It probably was made to looked like the others with a short
afterburner, and maybe only after the drag race tests were performed then the
modifications were made?
Eric has fowarded to me an email in which someone related a story and some
photos and told that it was his uncle who added the "flame thrower" to the
dragster, so maybe this afterburner modification was later after it's initial
construction?
So based on everything I have seen and compaired so far, it's between the #3 an
#4 and I am leaning to #4, based on the fact of the red/yellow arch light,
which was seen around that time in the vintage drag race video.
Remember we can base our opinions on what photos we have available from this
exact time period which are not as many as we would like..any photos after
this, the replicas details have been altered many times over. Maybe there is
also some paperwork yet to be discovered or released that might give us some
more information. Until we see some more vintage photos from this exacting time
frame or more information, we might never know for sure exactly which replica
this was, but this proves that a Batmobile other than the #1 was used on Batman!
As always these are only my observations and I am always open to suggestions,
corrections, criticism and any input from anyone else.
--John H.
series I came across a very interesting discovery! I have found that a replica
was indeed on set and used on screen in a Batcave scene in
"The Contaminated Cowl" episode, 2nd season, airing Jan 4-5 1967.
This is easily missed as it is in the background and everyone is looking at
Batman's pink cowl so I've uploaded the scene for you to review, along with
several captures. They did their best to hide it with the Bat Computer and
Robin, so some of the detail areas we would like to see are not visable.
What I first noticed was the two large arch side lights (only seen in the
replicas!) with the specific order of red/yellow from front to rear. Also the
beacon slats are verticle and the beacon is cylinder shaped and not tapered.
Also notice the afterburner exhaust is missing its "burner box" which is
visable and included in every new shot filmed of the #1 during this second
season. Viewing the other shots as a whole group and comparing them to the #1
makes this clearer. Below is the replica...
The above scene takes place after a Batcave shot (see below) which does show
the #1, and if you look close you can notice some damage to the #1, a side
verticle dent, upper wing behind the door, so maybe it was out for repair for a
short time. (p.s. I do see this dent in several other following episodes, shot
in the batcave, not sure if multiple scenes from different shows were shot at
the same time?)
click for video clip uploaded to putfile.com
Now the question is which replica is it? The only thing we have for comparison
are the current available photos during this time frame, unfortunately there
are not many. I've checked the available pictures from this time period and
and have at least eliminated one of the 3 replicas. One key is the color order
of the lights on the side arch and how they are centered under the antlers, and
the door bat portion that is visable. The bat appears to be all red, no outline
and thin winged.
Now I don't think it's #2. The #2 door bat is not right, it's too fat, and the
beacon slats are too spread apart in the #2. Replica's 3 & 4 have the first
arch lights centered under the arch antler verticle, replica #2 first light is
set more to the rear in relation to the antler verticle. Another reason to
rule out the #2 is this shot,
the duo #1/ #2 is from the correct time period as "The Contaminated Cowl"
episode because the #1 sports the incomplete top outer nostril flair curve
pinstripes and does not have the BATRAY lens completly outlined, detail of
which are seen in this episode and the details of the #2 don't really match up
with "The Contaminated Cowl" replica. It's either the #3 (but the arch lights
are in the wrong color order from the vintage shots we have available from this
time period) or it could be #4/dragster if, (and a big if) the afterburner was
more normal at first and the center extension tube was added later. The #4 is
the only one with the correct red/yellow order in this time period from
existing photos.
click for photo
Now to the afterburner area, true it does look more like the #3 in vintage
photos but the #4 made it's drag debut around May 6th 1967 on Lion's dragstrip
click for newspaper article
which is 5 maybe 6 months after this episode, and it has alway been
photographed since then with that extra afterburner center extension. It also
had that verticle rear screen support and the vent holes thru the canapy, but
maybe this was not the look when it was first assembled? How would they know
what extra support/modifications were needed until after it raced or was tested
on the course?? It probably was made to looked like the others with a short
afterburner, and maybe only after the drag race tests were performed then the
modifications were made?
Eric has fowarded to me an email in which someone related a story and some
photos and told that it was his uncle who added the "flame thrower" to the
dragster, so maybe this afterburner modification was later after it's initial
construction?
So based on everything I have seen and compaired so far, it's between the #3 an
#4 and I am leaning to #4, based on the fact of the red/yellow arch light,
which was seen around that time in the vintage drag race video.
Remember we can base our opinions on what photos we have available from this
exact time period which are not as many as we would like..any photos after
this, the replicas details have been altered many times over. Maybe there is
also some paperwork yet to be discovered or released that might give us some
more information. Until we see some more vintage photos from this exacting time
frame or more information, we might never know for sure exactly which replica
this was, but this proves that a Batmobile other than the #1 was used on Batman!
As always these are only my observations and I am always open to suggestions,
corrections, criticism and any input from anyone else.
--John H.
