1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

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JimmyVale
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1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

1949 Movie Serial Car
1949 Movie Serial Car
This screenshot from Chapter 2 of the New Adventures of Batman and Robin, 1949 features the stuntmen for Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan, and this hardtop car. It’s not their usual 1949 Mercury convertible.

What car is this? I’m a novice when it comes to vintage autos.

The headlights resemble a 1930s Lincoln Zephyr.

The grill resembles a 1930s Ford Sedan.

However - I can’t figure out exactly what this car is. As trivial as this seems, it’s the first hardtop “Batmobile” ever seen on film! The next non-convertible Batmobile wouldn’t appear until Batman 1989.

Thoughts?
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

Image
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JimmyVale
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

Lou Szabo wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 9:30 pm Image
Yeah, that’s very close. The hood, grill, and headlights are similar but not quite the same. I’m still not sure what the exact car was.

I’ve been watching the serial again and for a low budget affair, they sure did abuse a whole bunch of new Ford and Mercury cars! They were new at the time and in just about every scene, they’re splattered with mud, missing hubcaps, shown with scuffs on the doors and roofs, etc.

If you’re interested in cars of that era, you’ll see them in action!
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

It’s a Lincoln Zephyr, naturally. Bruce and Henry Ford are friends. They may have debadged it, removed the hood ornament and removed the rear wheel cover. I searched for suidcide rear doors, and Wikipedia’s site listed all the odd doors and the cars that had them. Probably a 1939 or 1940

I started here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... or_designs
Ended here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Zephyr
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

It might be the 1939 version. Mighty V12 under that bulge
The grill change a lot during the 1930’s
As a Sedan
EA560B07-B266-40C5-901E-63FCAD5D96F9.jpeg
As a Coupe
3A8FFD43-71EB-4236-9594-FC6352301C8D.jpeg
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AndyFish
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by AndyFish »

While I've seen the first serial well over 100 times I've only watched the second serial probably a half dozen times-- wasn't this car the one they 'borrowed" from a bystander? That wouldn't make it an official Batmobile would it?

It's an interesting discovery-- all Batmobiles until 1989 were convertibles. I guess it never rains in Gotham City.
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A. Pennyworth
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by A. Pennyworth »

interesting, in the same episode later on they use the convertible?
time 18:08 and top comes up 18:24

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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

Zephyr was available as sedan, coupé, and rag top. This is kind of fun…
FA5F07A2-3250-46A0-B37E-2ECBC2E9D726.jpeg
036885B0-4570-4AF3-BD3B-CFB209D45A17.jpeg
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JimmyVale
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

AndyFish wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:40 am While I've seen the first serial well over 100 times I've only watched the second serial probably a half dozen times-- wasn't this car the one they 'borrowed" from a bystander? That wouldn't make it an official Batmobile would it?

It's an interesting discovery-- all Batmobiles until 1989 were convertibles. I guess it never rains in Gotham City.
The car they borrowed from a bystander was in Chapter 9 (and was IMMEDIATELY destroyed, lol) was this giant beast:

Image

I did not realize how hard they were on the cars until I read Johnny Duncan said they went through SIX cars during filming!

http://www.batmobilehistory.spencer1984 ... mobile.php

I’ve been enjoying rewatching this serial and am only now realizing how much stunt driving they did. They were not easy on that 1949 Mercury!!!! And it was brand new at the time!!!!

The mystery hardtop “Batmobile” just popped up in Chapter 2 and wasn’t seen again in the serial as far as I know.
JimmyVale
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

These are close but the grill and headlights are still off….
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

5290D346-8FE5-4F98-AFA5-6DEFB7DE5CD5.jpeg
Which serial had this one?

I buy the 1939 Ford, that’s it!
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JimmyVale
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

Lou Szabo wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 5:28 pm 5290D346-8FE5-4F98-AFA5-6DEFB7DE5CD5.jpeg
Which serial had this one?

I buy the 1939 Ford, that’s it!
It makes me feel good knowing there are slightly eccentric fans like me out there! I never went so far as building my own Batmobile and it is very cool that somebody actually did it!!! It’s also awesome that people are making their own costumes!!

Like most of us here, I’m pretty obsessed with the Batman TV show, mainly because we didn’t have access to it when I was a kid.
Now that I’ve watched the Blu rays over and over, I’m interested in what came before. It’s well documented that Dozier read a bunch of comic books before making the show.

I also think Adam got inspired by the serials too so in a way, this is somewhat connected. I’ve got other projects in the works but eventually assembling a model of that car and recreating that scene in 1/25th scale would be epic!!

Ok - I think this one is it….1940 Ford 4 Door Sedan

Image

Image
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

Nailed it, it’s the 1940. Darn that Wikipedia!
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JimmyVale
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by JimmyVale »

Lou Szabo wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:09 pm Nailed it, it’s the 1940. Darn that Wikipedia!
No worries, it was quite an investigation. Thanks for the research! Now to find a model kit of that car. It doesn’t seem to exist in a 4 door version, not even in die cast.

To recreate that scene in plastic, a little kitbashing may be necessary.
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Lou Szabo
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Re: 1st On Screen Hardtop Batmobile!

Post by Lou Szabo »

Some days you just can't get rid of a ... SHARK!
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