The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Enthusiasts will say that the Lincoln Futura was the most successful and dramatic Lincoln concept vehicle that ever landed on earth. The original Batmobile, the ultimate car that struck awe in countless fans for a decade, was originally a concept dubbed the Lincoln Futura. Designed by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, the Futura was constructed entirely by hand in Turin, Italy, for an extreme $250,000. Ghia is famed for having the best pane beaters in the world, and at the time of the Futura, Ghia craftsmen were famous for their workmanship and preferred to work in metal over fiberglass. Much like many other concepts, the Futura was never actually put into production. The Lincoln Futura made its official debut on the auto show circuit in 1955.
Even compared to other eccentric and exotic vehicles in the 1950s, the Futura’s design style was considered extreme and impractical. Unlike other concepts of the day, though, the Futura was fully operable and featured a complete powertrain. The concept featured a double, clear-plastic canopy top, huge outward-canted tailfins on both ends of the car, and exaggerated hooded headlight pods. The Futura was powered by a 368 cubic inch Lincoln engine and powertrain with a chassis that came directly from a Lincoln Mark II.
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