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.
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:
This S-10 Project Batmobile looks like this:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
The Red Green Batmobile would be made out of Duck Tape, eh.
With a repurposed MiG engine taken from the maple sap pump!
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.
Refrigerated glove compartment for Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard.
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.
There had to have been chainsaws and axes involved…
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.
It’s almost a perfect all-in-one, but just a bit too big for the convenience of a car-coffin combo.
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.
Hundreds?! My city apparently sucks eggs!
I saw at least 15 on my way to work today, one of them an actual Lincoln Futura.
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.
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.
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.
That took me a second. Kudos.
I can’t believe I missed that entirely.
I’m glad I didn’t try to correct him.
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.
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
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.
That sounds like the sort of mess that winds up under a tarp in somebody’s side yard for a few decades
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.
Found it!!!
https://www.facebook.com/share/UMjz7Du1AzaGQxxb/?mibextid=kL3p88
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
Just put another coat of marine grade varnish on it every year or so.
Not the Builder: can we fix it? No we can’t!
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.
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!
Well I did stop calling you Master Wayne.
Now you just have to stop calling Robin Master Dick. He doesn’t think it’s funny and sometimes he cries a little. Snowflake!
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…
Why you should always have good ventilation when working with glue/resin.
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.
Instantly reminded me of the wooden Lamborghini/Fiero Vice Grip Garage featured recently. Also quite compromised
Do you know how much PURE DOMINATION this would be if you Lemons Rallied it?
It’s not the hero car Lemons Rally needs, but it is the hero car it deserves.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Darkness is this Batmobiles ally.
I really expected Barberton OH to be closer to Kentucky or West Virginia. Even so, meth is a hell of a drug.
I has its own special place in northeast OH. Known for their Fried Chicken and obviously Meth.
Holy Pinewood Derby, Batman! This thing would make a great scratching post for Catwoman.
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)
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
Flex seal it, and you can dive at least a couple hundred feet!
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
Also, wow, choices were made with this thing. I know that metal working is harder, but oof.
As long as it’s not the worst Batmobile, the one from Batman and Robin. Ugh.