The #1 Batmobile is perhaps the most iconic and recognized piece of entertainment history in the world. The #1 Batmobile began life as a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car.

Mercury’s chief stylist, Bill Schmidt, was inspired by a scuba-diving experience with a shark. Schmidt drew a low, long, wide, and flat car with a full-width grille, hooded headlights, and extreme tail fins. In 1954, Ghia was commissioned to build the $250,000 dream car known as the Lincoln Futura. It took only three months to ready the concept car for its debut in 1955 at the Chicago Auto Show. The Futura played a prominent part in the 1959 movie “It Started with a Kiss”, starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford. After that, the car was destined to be forgotten, as most concept cars of that time were.

However, in December 1965 it was sold to the famous car customizer, George Barris. Despite the car’s cost of $250,000 to build, the Lincoln Futura was sold to Barris for $1.00 and “other valuable consideration” by Ford Motor Company.

In 1965, after a meeting with the producer of the TV Show, William Dozier, ABC hired George Barris to build the Batmobile for the upcoming Batman TV series. The Lincoln Futura was soon to become what will always be remembered as the Original Batmobile. However, there was one small catch. The show was weeks away from production and Barris was given only three weeks to build the Batmobile. The chassis and basic shape of the car was retained, but Barris redesigned the nose and tail with bat inspired shapes and designs. Later in 1966 Barris would assemble three more replica Batmobiles using bodies based on the prototype mold and built on a production car chassis.

Besides seeing the likes of the infamous, Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman and Robin), this car has been on a variety of television/movie sets, car shows and museums around the nation. This is the first time that the #1 Batmobile has been up for sale since it left Barris’ personal collection in January 2013. Included with the Batmobile will be historical memorabilia and documentation originally from Barris’ private collection, plus items from the current owner’s private collection – including a Batmobile pinball machine signed by Adam West. ***SOLD ON BILL OF SALE***