Description
Lot #1324 - The world's only turbine-powered Batmobile, based off the 1989 Batman film. Built by Ohio auto restorer and designer Casey Putsch out of race car and military parts, the vehicle is incredibly faithful to the original — to the point that it's powered by an actual jet engine. Putsch built the replica based entirely on mental images of the movie car, producing only one drawing, which was of a special shaft he needed made by a machining company. He taught himself about turbines, so he could rebuild and install the car's power plant, a military Boeing jet engine that puts out 365hp and directly powers the rear wheels via a semi-automatic transmission. The Batmobile can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in as little as 3.9 seconds, managing a reported top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h), and getting between 3 and 10 miles per gallon (78 to 24 L/100 km) from jet fuel, kerosene or diesel. According to Putsch, it has about the same power-to-weight ratio as a Dodge Viper, and offers similar performance. The car made an appearance on June 12, 2022, in Cincinnati, OH, at the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance, where it won three awards. This Batmobile was completed by Putsch Racing, and only one was made. Putsch Racing is known for its exotic customs, along with professional racing and supercar projects. The bodywork is made from both fiberglass and aluminum, with a steel cockpit chassis. It uses a four-gear semi-automatic, sequential-shifted transmission, and has a stereo, air horn and approved turn signals, taillights and headlights. Like a Lamborghini, the suspension is fully controllable, letting it lower to the ground for high-speed pursuits and rise up for speed bumps at your local mall. It uses a Boeing turboshaft engine that is usually installed in helicopters. This produces 365hp, is easy to use and its maintenance costs are the same as a regular car. Included is a racing approved on-board halon fire-extinguishing system. It has an aluminum and fiberglass body, weighs in at 2,800 pounds and is 20 feet long. Thanks to advancements since the '80s, this Batmobile uses a dash-mounted iPad to control the car, including its suspension, digital avionics and jet turbine engine. The jet turbine produces a mostly treble sound (the opposite of big subwoofers in your trunk) and sounds loud up close, but quiets quickly as it drives away from you. It only takes a few seconds for the jet turbine to spin up and drive, with no warmup needed. Also, the exhaust gas is hot, but not enough to incinerate and blow away anything behind you. The top-mounted guns are fully functional that fire (for sound effect only) as well as a flame-thrower in the rear. A true one of a kind!
**TITLED AS A 1985 CHEV CORVETTE**
**MAY NOT BE STREET LEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES**
**MAY NOT BE EMISSIONS COMPLIANT IN ALL 50 STATES**