Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham
Successful cars frequently get redefined for new generations of buyers. If done right, these remakes preserve the soul of the original. Ford’s Mustang is a great example of a car that has been reimagined several times without losing its fundamental appeal.
A similar process takes place with important movie properties. Stories get retold and updated for new generations of fans. One of the biggest in recent times is the Batman franchise. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics in 1939, inspiring countless spin-off comic books, movie serials, feature films, live action and animated TV shows, and video games.
In the 1980s, the Batman story was due for a retelling on the big screen. As the movie producers set out to update the Batman story for a new generation, part of that process included reimagining the Batmobile. And reimagine they did, creating a vehicle that was a star of the movie in its own right. This new flame-throwing Batmobile burned its way across the screen like a ground-bound fighter jet.
Audiences ate up this new vision of Gotham City’s heroes and villains. Starring Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight, “Batman” was the top grossing film of 1989, and its set designs and aesthetic were influential for years afterward.
One man who was influenced by the Batmobile was artist, historian, master craftsman and fabricator Casey Putschof Putsch Racing. He built the 1989 Batmobile re-creation shown here, offered with No Reserve at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 21-29 at WestWorld. No mere display piece, it is a fully functioning and driving one-of-a-kind custom with approximately the same power-to-weight ratio as a Dodge Viper and similar performance, according to Putsch.
Much like Bruce Wayne himself might have done, Putsch built his Batmobile re-creation out of race car and military parts. It is powered by a jet engine of the type typically used in helicopters. The military Boeing turbine engine produces 365 horsepower and runs on jet fuel, kerosene or diesel. To give an idea of the dedication behind this custom showstopper, Putsch taught himself about turbines so he could rebuild and install the car’s power plant. The turboshaft engine is teamed with a 4-gear semi-automatic, sequential-shifted transmission.
The bodywork is comprised of fiberglass and aluminum pieces, with a steel cockpit chassis. The suspension is fully controllable, able to raise or lower as needed. The 20-foot-long Batmobile weighs 2,800 pounds.
As a fully functional car, it is also equipped with a stereo, air horn and approved turn signals, taillights and headlights. Should any villains attempt to waylay the driver, there is a racing-approved on-board halon fire-extinguishing system. The top-mounted guns are functional, although in true Hollywood fashion, fire for sound effects only. The flamethrower in the rear will further deter any criminal miscreants.
Technologically, today’s world has advanced rapidly since 1989, and so this Batmobile uses a dash-mounted iPad to control vehicle systems. We think Bruce Wayne would approve.
The world’s only turbine-powered Batmobile made an appearance on June 12, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance, where it picked up three awards. Visually it is a stunner, but even more impressive is the dedication, skilled craftsmanship, attention to detail and pure audacity that went into its creation. If any car is worthy of a spot in the Bat Cave, it’s this one. Register to bid today for a chance to park it in yours.