‘To The Batmobile’: Screamin’ Scott’s Greatest Bucket List Experience at Autorama
The 1966 Batmobile, featured in the TV show “Batman,” stole the show at the 2024 Detroit Autorama, surrounded by a fantastic display of cars.
The car, which is based on DC Comics, is the closest anyone can get to feeling like they are in the iconic TV series, starring Adam West as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/Robin.
Love Of The TV Show And The Batmobile
This is a dream come true, “Batman” was one of my favorite shows growing up. Luckily, my friend Tom Jeron, a curator for the car, showed me around.
The Batmobile Tour Car on display at the 71st Autorama at Huntington Place Detroit, Mi
Design Inspiration
Based on the 1955 concept car, the Lincoln Futura, the design weighs 3000 pounds and is powered by a 429 Ford Race engine and is designed to look like a bat, with a scoop on the front that makes it look like a nose, headlights that look like eyes, a mouth where the grill is, and two big fins at the back, making the car look like it has wings. The front window is plastic like an airplane, and the vehicle’s top is “bulletproof” to protect the dynamic duo.
All The Batmobile Gadgets
Sitting in the Batmobile has been on my bucket list for years, and I got to check out some of the coolest gadgets first-hand, including some of my favorite gadgets the caped crusaders used to to fight crime:
- Anti Theft Control
- Bat Ray Beam
- Bat Ram
- Detect-A-Scope
- Rocket Tubes
- Closed Circuit Camera
- Radar Scope
- Bat Ray Projector
- Bat Eye TV Screen
- Batman Fire Extinguisher
- Bat Photoscope
Although one gadget I couldn’t find was the ejector seat button, maybe it’s for the best. I’ll never forget this moment, and fortunately, no one arrested or kicked me out of the building for sitting in the Batmobile.
Can You Guess Which Gadget I Forgot?
Detroit Autorama History
Location, Location, Location
The first Detroit Autorama was held at The University of Detroit Memorial Building (today’s Calihan Hall) on January 31 and February 1, 1953, with only 40 cars. It was hosted by members of the Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA), which was made up of smaller clubs at the time such as The Motor City Modifieds, Bearing Burners, Spark Plugs, The Road Kings, Shifters, and Milwinders.
The Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum was home to Autorama from 1954 to 1960.
In 1961 , the 9th Annual Detroit Autorama was the first to be held at the new Cobo Hall (today’s Huntington Place). That year featured a new-record: 230 cars displayed in Cobo’s basement. The show started to gain national attention and attract car creators like George Barris (The Original Batmobile, The Monkee Mobile, etc. ), Darryl Starbird, Carl Casper, and “Big Daddy” Ed Roth. The 2024 Autorama features 5 generations of Gotham City vehicles including the original Batmobile.
American actors Burt Ward (left), as Robin, and Adam West, as Batman, ride in the Batmobile in a still from the television series, ‘Batman,’ c. 1967. (Photo by 20th Century Fox/Courtesy of Getty Images)
