Home » I Wish I Knew Who Would Buy This Homemade Wooden “Batmobile” Project

I Wish I Knew Who Would Buy This Homemade Wooden “Batmobile” Project

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Sometimes I encounter a project car for sale that represents something so specific, so idiosyncratic to the person who started the project that I can’t possibly imagine how such a thing could be transferred from the originator of the project to someone new. That’s not a value judgement on the project, necessarily; it’s more that the project clearly had such a specific vision or methodology or aesthetic to the person who started it that the idea of another person taking over almost seems like an attempt for someone to inhabit the soul of the original owner. I’m not sure it can be done. And that’s what I think we have here, with this Chevy S-10-based Batmobile project.

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This ad was sent to us by a reader named Ryan, and I want to be clear that I’m not trying to disparage the amount of work that has gone into this already; someone clearly gave a great deal of shits about this, and had a vision, and that vision was to transform a Chevy S-10 pickup into something that resembled the Batmobile from, I believe, the 1989 movie Batman. I think the original builder definitely got the proportions right, at least.

You remember the 1989 Batmobile, right? It looked like this:

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This S-10 Project Batmobile looks like this:

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It’s kind of hard to tell, because none of the pictures is capable of showing the whole thing. The proportions feel sort of close?

It was just pointed out to me that they could be going for the animated version of the Batmobile, which looks like this:

Animbatmobile

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That feels a lot more plausible! Actually, it has to be this one, right? That triangular intake at the rear? This has to be it.

Other than the proportions, though? Well, I’m not so sure. It could be because it’s unpainted, but this feels very much like a carpenter’s gothic take on the Batmobile, lots of long, flat planes and right angles and blunt ends. (again, if the animated one is the goal, that’s about right). The body seems to be largely wood-framed, like a house or a shed, and covered with something I can’t exactly identify – it could be fiberglass or some sort of fabric? I’m not sure.

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There’s a Batmobile-style sliding canopy, a fake (I assume) jet engine exhaust, and up front there’s what looks like the S-10’s original V6 engine – no crappy Iron Duke for the Batmobile! There’s no radiator installed, but there’s some nice big openings for air intakes.

The passenger cabin is way at the back, pretty much right over the rear axle, where the rear of the pickup’s bed would be. That cabin looks pretty tight, with the S-10’s steering wheel having its top cut off, partially to make a cool-looking yoke, I suppose, and partially just to fit in there. Can two people sit in here? Maybe in tandem, but I don’t think side-by-side.

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There has clearly been a ton of work done on this thing: the whole body has been removed, and an entirely new body has been hand-built in its place. That’s not trivial! It’s not clear why this project has been abandoned and is now for sale for $2,000, but here we are.

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I just can’t stop wondering about who might decide to buy something like this; it’s very unfinished, and even if you put in the effort needed to finish it, you’d end up with, what, a very dramatically-proportioned and wildly impractical wooden-framed, blocky…something? Would you try and finish it like the Batmobile? With the right detailing and logos, I guess it could be recognizable enough as a Batmobile.

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I guess my fundamental question is still is it possible to sell this vehicle? And, to who? Who is going to pull this thing up to their garage? I bet there is someone out there. Would they drive this to work? Would you care about the compromised safety or comfort? Or would you just be reveling in driving something no one else has?

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Every car conveys something about its owner, culturally. What does this say, in, say, its unpainted state? Does the fact that the buyer isn’t the original builder affect this status a lot? How would you react if your friend or life partner told you they spent two grand on a car and then rolled up in this?

I have so many questions. I hope someone buys this, so I can ask them.

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George CoStanza
George CoStanza
8 months ago

Holy Mail Truck Donor Car, Batman. This looks less like Tim Burton and more like Been Hurtin’! It’s wood and can’t rust, so we know Tracy is out. Although, if there’s termite infestation, it may be a contender…
Perhaps Zack Snyder will buy it for his long-shelved Red Green-Batman reboot. It will be grittier than Nolan’s – because of the need for sandpaper to maintain the batmobile.

Data
Data
8 months ago

The Red Green Batmobile would be made out of Duck Tape, eh.

George CoStanza
George CoStanza
8 months ago
Reply to  Data

With a repurposed MiG engine taken from the maple sap pump!

Myk El
Myk El
8 months ago

This has me thinking about what features a Batmobile really needs. Easy to get in and out, so the canopy idea is solid. You’d need some speed for pursuit, but it’d need to also be able to turn and also navigate narrow streets and alleys so the longer Batmobiles probably aren’t that great in reality. Big fuel tank because range probably is needed. Of course, in comics there’s always supertechnology that doesn’t actually exist in our world to compensate.

Huja Shaw
Huja Shaw
8 months ago
Reply to  Myk El

Refrigerated glove compartment for Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard.

Huja Shaw
Huja Shaw
8 months ago

I’d weld some rusty, OEM Jeep parts on it, post a description about it on a certain car enthusiasts’ site in both English and German . . . . and then just wait.

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
8 months ago

There had to have been chainsaws and axes involved…

Data
Data
8 months ago

It doesn’t look structurally sound, but then again, how well did the S-10 hold up in crash tests? This one has miles of crumple zone.

Fuzz
Fuzz
8 months ago

It’s almost a perfect all-in-one, but just a bit too big for the convenience of a car-coffin combo.

Vetatur Fumare
Vetatur Fumare
8 months ago

Sometimes I encounter a project car for sale that represents something so specific, so idiosyncratic to the person who started the project that I can’t possibly imagine how such a thing could be transferred from the originator of the project to someone new.

I don’t know, I see hundreds of homemade Batmobiles (many with wooden elements; I just photographed such a thing parked on the street in Brooklyn) so I cannot consider them idiosyncratic. It’s kinda like someone thinking themselves unusual for liking hamburgers or video games. Although I guess the execution does reach a certain level of eccentricity on this one.

AssMatt
AssMatt
8 months ago
Reply to  Vetatur Fumare

Hundreds?! My city apparently sucks eggs!

Ted Fort
Ted Fort
8 months ago
Reply to  AssMatt

I saw at least 15 on my way to work today, one of them an actual Lincoln Futura.

Vetatur Fumare
Vetatur Fumare
8 months ago
Reply to  AssMatt

Most of those hundreds I’ve only seen online! I’ve probably only seen a dozen or so in real life; either on the street or semi-abandoned behind garages.

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
8 months ago

It is just sad to see these goofy unfinished projects up for sale. Something like this will just never be worth anything to anyone outside of its creator. It’s hard enough to sell a regular car that you have put some money and time into that you know you won’t get out of it. I struggled with this a little with my truck that I brought back from the brink, knowing I’d never get out of it what I put in but at least I’ve been able to use it and enjoy it which is worth a lot. That, and I know it would have ended up in the junkyard had I not rescued it. This guy put his soul into this, can’t even say he’s been able to enjoy it finished and has to sell it for scrap.

Hugh Crawford
Hugh Crawford
8 months ago

The material looks to me like Masonite
At least it isn’t Waynescoating.

Seriously though it’s a fairly reasonable first step in building a plug for a fiberglass mold or building a film prop that only has to look good for a few minutes. If you were in need of such a thing I guess it’s a bargain.

Ted Fort
Ted Fort
8 months ago
Reply to  Hugh Crawford

Waynescoating

That took me a second. Kudos.

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago
Reply to  Ted Fort

I can’t believe I missed that entirely.

I’m glad I didn’t try to correct him.

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago

There have been two wood bodied cars that have popped up in my FB feed recently. One was based on an F-150 and listed by the builder. The other was VW Beetle based and listed by not the builder. Both were delusionally priced, and both were listed for months.

Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
8 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

Was the Beetle one of those homebuilt woody wagons that were sort of popular in the ’70s (with or without the ’40 Ford front clip)? Because I actually kind of want one of those

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago
Reply to  Ranwhenparked

Nope. It’s a sporty car looking thing. Looks like it has 240Z headlights buckets and a rear end that looks to be made of stacked chrome tubing. It appears that a lot if effort went into it, but it’s not entirely successful.

Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
8 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

That sounds like the sort of mess that winds up under a tarp in somebody’s side yard for a few decades

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago
Reply to  Ranwhenparked

I wish I could find it and post it here, because it looks like the person who built it had some skill in fabrication and woodworking. Design, not so much.

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago
Reply to  Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
8 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

That looked decent until I got to the back end. Not sure how one would go about finishing it, just seems like it would be a soggy mess if you ever drove it in the rain, doubt there’s any waterproofing method that’s foolproof enough

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
8 months ago
Reply to  Ranwhenparked

Just put another coat of marine grade varnish on it every year or so.

Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
8 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

Not the Builder: can we fix it? No we can’t!

Chronometric
Chronometric
8 months ago

Seriously Bruce, how the hell am I supposed to keep this cave clean? Get this thing out of here.
Ok, Alfred. I’ll put it on eBat.

James Davidson
James Davidson
8 months ago
Reply to  Chronometric

Damn it, Alfred! I told you to always call me Batman when we’re in the Batcave! When I’m wearing my costume, I’m Batman!

Chronometric
Chronometric
8 months ago
Reply to  James Davidson

Well I did stop calling you Master Wayne.

James Davidson
James Davidson
8 months ago
Reply to  Chronometric

Now you just have to stop calling Robin Master Dick. He doesn’t think it’s funny and sometimes he cries a little. Snowflake!

Rollin Hand
Rollin Hand
8 months ago
Reply to  Chronometric

Batman: Gah, a Bat-sliver! Again! Alfred, where are the Bat-tweezers?

Alfred: (sighs) In the very clearly labelled Bat-medicine cabinet, beside the also very clearly labelled Bat-antiseptic.

Batman: Thanks, Alfred. What would I do without you?

Alfred (under breath) Probably die from a Bat-staph infection…

BentleyBoy
BentleyBoy
8 months ago

Why you should always have good ventilation when working with glue/resin.

Drive By Commenter
Drive By Commenter
8 months ago

This would work very well in a finished state as a parade car. Or cheering up sick kids stuck in hospitals. It would work even better during the nights where the first responders parade past the hospital with their lights going. How the kids would see it is a problem for future people.

TOSSABL
TOSSABL
8 months ago

Instantly reminded me of the wooden Lamborghini/Fiero Vice Grip Garage featured recently. Also quite compromised

Stef Schrader
Stef Schrader
8 months ago

Do you know how much PURE DOMINATION this would be if you Lemons Rallied it?

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
8 months ago
Reply to  Stef Schrader

It’s not the hero car Lemons Rally needs, but it is the hero car it deserves.

Kommkat
Kommkat
8 months ago

Torchy my guy, you got the wrong batmobile in mind! This is the one from Batman: The Animated Series. I’m actually shocked you didn’t recognize it given the incredible variety of art deco automobiles in that show.

Toecutter
Toecutter
8 months ago

If I had a girlfriend, and she told me she spent $2k on a car and rolled up in that, I would know she’s a keeper.

It takes dedication to operate something unique on the roads, especially when it sacrifices many things relative to most vehicles in traffic and/or is in an unfinished state.

AlterId
AlterId
8 months ago
Reply to  Toecutter

Not to mention that she wouldn’t be able to go very far in it if she wanted to leave, so she’d be a keeper that way too.

Cpt. Slow
Cpt. Slow
8 months ago

The whole is less than the sum of its parts. I love me a madman. I imagine this madman realized that this would go about 15 feet before it had to turn, and anticipating the inevitable crash and the 4-foot long wood shards that would serve as the passenger airbag, is trying to sell it before the insurance fire is set.

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
8 months ago

“no crappy Iron Duke for the Batmobile!”
No, only the slightly less crappy 2.8 v6, well known for being the worst engine ever put in the Jeep XJ.

That fiberglass/fabric covering kind of looks like poor man’s fiberglass, which is popular in the homebuilt camper community. Instead of buying kinda expensive glass fabric and super expensive epoxy resin, you buy canvas drop cloths and wood glue at Home Depot and pretty much lay it up the same way. Obviously it’s not waterproof, but if painted it holds up just fine, and is very hard and strong.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
8 months ago

Darkness is this Batmobiles ally.

Last edited 8 months ago by Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phil Layshio
Phil Layshio
8 months ago

I really expected Barberton OH to be closer to Kentucky or West Virginia. Even so, meth is a hell of a drug.

Eric Schliffka
Eric Schliffka
8 months ago
Reply to  Phil Layshio

I has its own special place in northeast OH. Known for their Fried Chicken and obviously Meth.

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
8 months ago

Holy Pinewood Derby, Batman! This thing would make a great scratching post for Catwoman.

Nic Periton
Nic Periton
8 months ago

This is one for the resident Autopian superheros, “I have a batman car, can I make it to Gotham city comicon? ”
Now with added sawdust and unique, bespoke taillights. Design expertly honed by experts, suspension and drive-train honed to perfection suitable travel trailer sourced and kitted out, this is the challenge we all need (to read about, not all of us are automotive geniuses)

Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
8 months ago

Maybe paint it green with a faux rusty patina and make it look a bit like a North Korean submarine?

It can’t go underwater, so that part is already pretty realistic

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
8 months ago
Reply to  Ranwhenparked

Flex seal it, and you can dive at least a couple hundred feet!

Church
Church
8 months ago

That is clearly supposed to be the animated series Batmobile, you uncultured swine! RIP the goat Batman, Kevin Conroy.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/batmantheanimatedseries/images/0/0f/BTASBatmobile.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20140831160554

Church
Church
8 months ago
Reply to  Church

Also, wow, choices were made with this thing. I know that metal working is harder, but oof.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
8 months ago
Reply to  Church

As long as it’s not the worst Batmobile, the one from Batman and Robin. Ugh.

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