Photo: Abimelec Arellano on Instagram
Superhero cars don’t get any better than Batman’s wheels of choice. Probably the quirkiest iteration of the Batmobile is the George Barris design for the 1960s ABC series, based on the bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful Lincoln Futura.
Bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin and penned by Ford lead stylist John Najjar along with Bill Schmidt, the Futura is a one-of-a-kind affair that toured the auto show circuit in 1955. Estimated to have cost approximately $2.4 million in today’s money, the concept car did inspire the grille design of the 1960 Ford Galaxie and the oft-forgotten Mercury Monterey.
Custom car builder George Barris bought the car for one dollar (!!!) from the Ford Motor Company, and because it was never titled, the Futura sat behind the guy’s garage despite its value and historical significance. In addition to the Batmobile #1, Barris built three replicas from the 1966 Ford Galaxie, running gear and everything. Fast-forward to 2013, and that’s when Barrett-Jackson auctioned off the 1966 original for 4.62 million bucks.
In other words, the Futura took on a life of its own albeit in a different specification over Ghia’s coachbuilt design. More than half a century since its inception, the ’55 Lincoln concept car has been revisited by pixel manipulator Abimelec Arellano. The fin-tastic oldtimer doesn’t feature the original’s canopy in these renderings but “a roadster-like short windshield.”
Lowered suspension and bigger wheels bring the point home, along with “a slightly sparkly blue metallic paint.” This reinterpretation is definitely impressive, but have you ever imagined the Futura with a different roof instead of the double, clear-plastic canopy top? A Starliner-esque fastback design would look amazing, and so would the Sunliner convertible.
Abimelec ends his Instagram post by asking what kind of concepts would you like to see Photoshopped next. “There’s amazing stuff out there like the Buick Y-Job and the Plymouth XNR which have never been seen hot-rodded.”
Custom car builder George Barris bought the car for one dollar (!!!) from the Ford Motor Company, and because it was never titled, the Futura sat behind the guy’s garage despite its value and historical significance. In addition to the Batmobile #1, Barris built three replicas from the 1966 Ford Galaxie, running gear and everything. Fast-forward to 2013, and that’s when Barrett-Jackson auctioned off the 1966 original for 4.62 million bucks.
In other words, the Futura took on a life of its own albeit in a different specification over Ghia’s coachbuilt design. More than half a century since its inception, the ’55 Lincoln concept car has been revisited by pixel manipulator Abimelec Arellano. The fin-tastic oldtimer doesn’t feature the original’s canopy in these renderings but “a roadster-like short windshield.”
Lowered suspension and bigger wheels bring the point home, along with “a slightly sparkly blue metallic paint.” This reinterpretation is definitely impressive, but have you ever imagined the Futura with a different roof instead of the double, clear-plastic canopy top? A Starliner-esque fastback design would look amazing, and so would the Sunliner convertible.
Abimelec ends his Instagram post by asking what kind of concepts would you like to see Photoshopped next. “There’s amazing stuff out there like the Buick Y-Job and the Plymouth XNR which have never been seen hot-rodded.”
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