Lincoln Futura concept (1955)
Concept car · 1955 · Combustion
The shark-inspired concept that became the Batmobile.
The Lincoln Futura was a hand-built, Ghia-bodied concept designed by Ford stylists Bill Schmidt and John Najjar, inspired by shark and manta forms, with a twin clear-canopy top and dramatic canted tailfins. Built on a Lincoln Mark II chassis at a cost of about $250,000, it later gained fame when George Barris transformed it into the original Batmobile for the 1966 Batman TV series.
Key facts
- Designers: Bill Schmidt & John Najjar (Ford)
- Coachbuilder: Ghia, Turin
- Engine: 368 cu in Lincoln V8 (Mark II chassis)
- Legacy: Became the 1966 Batmobile (George Barris)
- Status: Survives as the Batmobile
Production
- Status: Concept only
- A one-off 1955 Ghia-built concept, never sold, later famously rebuilt into the 1966 Batmobile.
- Revealed at 1955 Chicago Auto Show (Jan 8, 1955)
Source: Wikipedia