So if youre a big Speed Racer fan, theres nothing standing between you and the car of your dreams except the time it takes to build one. How much is a 1955 Lincoln Futura worth? If you're interested in this unique build, it'll soon be listed for $89,995. No, It's Not The Lincoln Futura! MENTAL NOTE: CHECK SUSPENSION. Who Bought Gotham Garage Futura? Gotham Garage were silly to sell it, And that Truck he waited to own for 10 years! To restore autos! If you always wanted to be able to drive one of your toys from your childhood, these are the guys to talk to. I wasnt disappointed! To The Batmobile. 28, 2022 5:39 AM ET by Sebastian Cenizo Classic Cars / 7 Comments We bet this will grab more attention than any Lambo. Butfirst things first! Raise your eyes a bit and theyll be caught by the see-through, glassed-in cutouts in the hood that reveal the jewel-like velocity stacks on the LSs intake. While they outsourced the double cockpits made from bullet-proof lexan to an aircraft manufacturing company, everything else including the mold for the body was done by the talented team at Gotham Garage. For those who may not be aware, the 1955 Lincoln Futura was a Lincoln-based concept built in Italy by world renown Pininfarina in Italy. Tesla stans are figuring out how to spin this one even as we speak. By 2017, he finally had the Futura replica not only bodied, licensed, and insured, but ready for a brief test drive with Greg Hooper and Bruce Elder, the two guys he credited with encouraging him . The Corvette connection runs deeper though, as the hot rod is "built on a stretched C4 Corvette convertible platform." Let me know what you think. Please send a picture to fastest356@gmail.com. I think overall, they did great. GOTHAM GARAGE CREW!! After all I had a handsome payment for it so I was dealing with that good angel on one shoulder and the bad on another as I contemplated WANTS versus NEEDS. They built and drove 66 and 89 Batmobiles and even got sued by Warner bros. Im sure the story was nicely made up for the show as I personally spoke with a rep for the company 10 years ago and they were. Barris hired Bill Cushenbery to modify the car's metalwork. In pursuit of the highly coveted "six-figure car," this good-natured garage crew lives by three words: "upgrade and trade." The Netflix actors. 1. RELATED: This Insane 1930 Model A Hot Rod Hits Auction. Because Bob Butts had the talent and Batmobile molds at his disposal, he built the only known Futura Concept replica example of its kind, making it highly prized for his efforts to recreate a car that rivaled the original Lincoln Concept at that time. ONE shot to buy the Futura and I think I just blew it. A day or two went by with no further discussion. They build that steering wheel because there are pics of that steering wheel being made but they did not used it on the prototype for the World Fair. And yes I have over 4 decades of experience in paint work. Maybe you should listen to the show before insulting the person with the correct facts.they clearly state the car came with a 350 Corvett engine that just needs a little love. To help carry the additional weight and length and to ratchet up themind-blowing quotienta few notches higher a third axle has been added just ahead of the powered one. Parked next to some ordinary looking cars of today, it just goes to show wild styling like this wouldnt make it past the initial sketch phase in todays crossover filled landscape. What fun it will be to see the car take shape and again be seen by the public one of the great show cars of the 1950s. Everybodys got to say something!Im with the person who said maybe it will inspire someone to restore autos! As if that in itself wasnt anything short of amazing, he too shared my former replica with others which was always my vision for my former replica at the time, that has lived on under his comic genius and sharing it with other neat old car enthusiasts. There are customizers. There was quite a bit of film featuring the vehicle, even a chase between the Viper Defender and the Futura. There was a hidden button that was a door-popper that opened the door as it didnt have any exterior handles. The fact is I NEVER thought Id EVER part with that replica if you knew the struggle I went thru to acquire it in kit form and build it, but then the need arose and just like that life circumstance quickly re-directed my priorities for the greater good and the car was gone. A tow truck is meant to haul, and with a 454 motivatingthis 1940 Ford, you know itll do just that. No matter that is was an unusually frigid morning in the fall that would require driving my replica across town with no heat, I wasnt going to miss this opportunity at my chance to get a photo of MY replica next to HIS! Gothams is not a replica, its an approximation with a newer Corvette drivetrain. Did Gotham Garage sell the Futura? Theres to much talking just build itIts a tv show is it even a real shopThe folks seem a bit fake maybe Im wrongBut whats a motor girl? gotham garage futura lawsuit [1] February 25, 2021 No Comments. Thanks, John. I wasnt keen on the idea of transporting this old kit car in the dead of winter on an open trailer subjecting vintage fiberglass to the rigors of harsh cold winter air, but I didnt have any other option, so a friend and I made the 6 hour trip one frosty morning, loaded it carefully, and returned to Tennessee later the same day unscathed! David Lamberts Almquist Sabre Off And Running, The 1952 Yankee Clipper Debuts in San Francisco A Glasspar G2 Bodied Sports Car, A New MysterionJust for you (Now Identified as a Sabel), Check Out This 1957 Devin-Renault Now In Restoration In Valladolid, Spain, Roadster in Glass Joe and Henry Smiths Fabulous Fiberglass Sports Car (Hot Rod Magazine, April 1957), Hot Rod Pioneers by Ed Almquist A Great Addition to Any Library, Henry Covingtons Tiburon Coupe A Shark You Can Park September 1961 Road & Track. I found an unbuilt example and paid to have it built. He spent 25 hours straight, fueled by adrenaline, building its three-dimensional lofted form atop the 1957 Lincoln's chassis. If you were trying to describe Car Masters: Rust to Riches to a car buddy who hadnt seen it, you could simply describe it as American Choppers meets Wheeler Dealers Trading Up meets All Girls Garage. The deal was struck and the Butts Futura was now owned by a guy who shared my vision of keeping them together. Since then, the car has undergone many transformations. 2010-2023 CarBuzz Inc. All Rights Reserved, Corvette-Powered Lincoln Futura Hot Rod Brims With Gotham Style. But cut it up he did. OMG!!! One of our Undiscovered Classics friends, Chris Woodside shares with us the story of how a few intrepid souls have made or are in the process of making a reproduction of the famous Futura. The concept car was presented in a Pearl White, just like the premiere issue of the Hot Wheels version. In. Baja Bugs, drag racers, customized kit cars, whatever you can think of has probably been done to a Beetle. This never-produced 1955 Lincoln Futura prototype was transformed into Batmobile for 1966 TV show. As time went on, I leaned toward Corvettes. But its still just #10 on the list. How astonishing is that, that a video posted on Facebook would net the original design blueprints of the 1955 Lincoln Futura. The story goes that California custom car legend George Barris bought. And since the new body shaves about 1,000 pounds off the original car, performance is quite good for both acceleration and handling no matter what engine it has. Click the photo to find out the truth! Since you are such an expert please show us the Futura that you built. Well we know that sometimes life gets in the way and I guess its been a week since I checked your site but I must say what an amazing story by Chris. He seemed to light up slightly on the phoneor it could have possibly been my own ego leading me to believe I struck some chord that might lead to discussions of a sale? Inside, this car has everything Batman and Robin would need to fight Gotham City's worst criminals including Batram, Cat Scanner Activator, Detect-A-Scope, Time Repair Device and the Emergency Bat-Turn Lever. Agence Nouvelle Aquitaine - Poutet, Mont-de-Marsan. PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS INTERNATIONAL ORDERS MAY BE DELAYED AND YOU MAY HAVE A HIGHER SHIPPING COST. For those who may not be aware, the 1955 Lincoln Futura was a Lincoln-based concept built in Italy by world renown Pininfarina in Italy. The 1994 NBC TV series Viper featured a red 1955 Lincoln Futura called "The Baxley". Once the Futura replica was completed, it was painted bright red to rival the color that it was painted for the movie noted above and began to again garner traction and interest by those who knew its history. January 9, 1955. The concave front grille inspired the grille on the 1960 Mercury Monterey and the 1960 Ford Galaxie. In fact he told me, My Dad said its my car and I can sell it if I want to. I dont think it was really a Bob Butts mold, only because those molds were of the batmobile and then used to remake the Futura, Also the hood scope is to prominent in the front, looking at old picture you see it smoothed over more. The end price for one of Gotham Garage's creations is not only based on the materials used in every project, but includes the effort, long . MSN. What can we do?-Brandon agreed to negotiate with me on his price and reduced it slightly to what I felt I could affordyet not take too much away from the house fund. This thread is archived . I can recall thinking How is it a teenager ends up with this incredible replica??. In his spare time, he's either reading, driving, or looking to collect more BMW Performance parts for the E82 and E9X platforms. EUREKA! And in a way, it did come from the future. The colorful crew at Gotham Garage overhauls an eclectic collection of cars and trucks, trading up to a showstopper they can sell for big bucks. Imagination is. Barris went on to build three fiberglass replicas using the frames and running gear from 1966 Ford Galaxie cars for the show circuit. I JUST BOUGHT THE BUTTS FUTURA!! I suspect this information is discoverable for those wanting more specifics. Two Lincoln-Mercury Firsts at the Chicago Auto Show: World Premiere of the Lincoln Futura (display ad). VIDEOS. You may not feel exactly comforted if this truck showed up to your AAA call for help, but you couldnt help but be impressed. from Cincinnati Ohio Hello all, About a year ago we picked up a 1955 Lincoln Futura replica at a Mecum Auction, we believe it is the Bob Butts replica but we don't know much more. To my surprise, I found Brandon was very gracious and apparently started to contemplate what he could do with those monies if he DID sell his replica.