Comments on: 1961 was the year of the Batmobile http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 04:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028616 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028616 Exactly what I was thinking. Somebody gave the designers a picture of the D-type (or possibly a lotus 11) and told them "Like this...but with chrome!" Exactly what I was thinking. Somebody gave the designers a picture of the D-type (or possibly a lotus 11) and told them “Like this…but with chrome!”

]]> By: malathion http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028643 malathion Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028643 The 1961-era cars have a special isolated weirdness all their own, especially stuff from Val Exner. The 1961 Pioneer is one of my favorites. The 1961-era cars have a special isolated weirdness all their own, especially stuff from Val Exner. The 1961 Pioneer is one of my favorites.

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028905 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028905 Gotta go with the Festiva as the worst: gutless and looked like a shoe. The Chevette at least has some retro 70's vibe, even if a poorly made automobile. My buddy in high school had an Omni: and I have to say that 2.2l was surprisingly fast (at least compared to my 81 Ford Escort. . .) Then the Omni failed somehow in the weatherstripping department and the cab would fill with water after it rained: thus to be renamed Lake Omni. Gotta go with the Festiva as the worst: gutless and looked like a shoe. The Chevette at least has some retro 70′s vibe, even if a poorly made automobile. My buddy in high school had an Omni: and I have to say that 2.2l was surprisingly fast (at least compared to my 81 Ford Escort. . .)

Then the Omni failed somehow in the weatherstripping department and the cab would fill with water after it rained: thus to be renamed Lake Omni.

]]> By: sam1148 http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028178 sam1148 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028178 The second car's grill work makes it look like it's feeling rather depressed. The second car’s grill work makes it look like it’s feeling rather depressed.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028450 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028450 The Plymouth is a lift from the Jaguar D type racing car of the l950s The Plymouth is a lift from the Jaguar D type racing car of the l950s

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028195 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028195 You've put the car before the bat. Batman the TV show premiered in 1966. The batmobile was futuristic already. :-) You’ve put the car before the bat. Batman the TV show premiered in 1966. The batmobile was futuristic already. :-)

]]> By: IamInnocent http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028460 IamInnocent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028460 Batman was a horror transportation comic? Batman was a horror transportation comic?

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028208 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028208 That would have been the best-looking Corvette ever, by far. The '63 was but a pale, watered-down Chevette by comparison. Hell, all three of these are incredibly cool. That would have been the best-looking Corvette ever, by far. The ’63 was but a pale, watered-down Chevette by comparison.

Hell, all three of these are incredibly cool.

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028216 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028216 Plymouth Want. Plymouth Want.

]]> By: Webbie http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1029754 Webbie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1029754 Homer Simpson ripped off the design of the third one. No wonder Powell cars went out of business. Homer Simpson ripped off the design of the third one. No wonder Powell cars went out of business.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028222 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028222 <blockquote>The batmobile was futuristic already. :-)</blockquote> And that batmobile was built by Barris on the foundation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Futura">Lincoln Futura</a> concept, which was built in 1954. Just goes to show how ahead of their time the Ghia designers were.

The batmobile was futuristic already. :-)

And that batmobile was built by Barris on the foundation of the Lincoln Futura concept, which was built in 1954.

Just goes to show how ahead of their time the Ghia designers were.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028225 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028225 Here's a swinging version of the Batman theme by Sun Ra to accompany your early 1960s fantasy automobile reverie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA2WoaNRjt8 Here’s a swinging version of the Batman theme by Sun Ra to accompany your early 1960s fantasy automobile reverie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA2WoaNRjt8

]]> By: That Evening Sun http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028227 That Evening Sun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028227 "Finally, appearing in growing numbers in 1961 will be electric cars, the first in about 40 years. Most are currently being tested in commercial fleet operation. But as more efficient batteries are developed it seems likely that the "silents" will be earning a place as popular second cars for short-haul commuting and city travel." Whaaaaat? Cars that run on electricity? Slow down there, Buck Rogers, this isn't some sort of science fiction writing contest about life on Mars. This is America. You can get a gallon of high test premium ethyl for a quarter, and it will ALWAYS be that way. Electric cars he says. Ho-ho, what a maroon. “Finally, appearing in growing numbers in 1961 will be electric cars, the first in about 40 years. Most are currently being tested in commercial fleet operation. But as more efficient batteries are developed it seems likely that the “silents” will be earning a place as popular second cars for short-haul commuting and city travel.”

Whaaaaat? Cars that run on electricity? Slow down there, Buck Rogers, this isn’t some sort of science fiction writing contest about life on Mars. This is America. You can get a gallon of high test premium ethyl for a quarter, and it will ALWAYS be that way.

Electric cars he says. Ho-ho, what a maroon.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028242 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028242 You mean leaded high test premium ethyl, right? You mean leaded high test premium ethyl, right?

]]> By: sworm http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028243 sworm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028243 It's a pity that aerodynamics, pedestrian/passenger-safety and risk avoidance have made cars so dull. Let's be honest: all major cars look similar nowadays. It’s a pity that aerodynamics, pedestrian/passenger-safety and risk avoidance have made cars so dull.

Let’s be honest: all major cars look similar nowadays.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028247 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028247 Ah: what of this, then? "The "lead" in leaded gasoline was a chemical called tetraethyl lead (C2H5)4 Pb, which was added both to boost octane number and to lubricate valve seats. It was often called "ethyl" for short." From: http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30418 ...so "unleaded ethyl" = no such thing, I guess. These obsolete technologies and their jargon....tsk. Ah: what of this, then?

“The “lead” in leaded gasoline was a chemical called tetraethyl lead (C2H5)4 Pb, which was added both to boost octane number and to lubricate valve seats. It was often called “ethyl” for short.”

From:

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30418

…so “unleaded ethyl” = no such thing, I guess.

These obsolete technologies and their jargon….tsk.

]]> By: muteboy http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028250 muteboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028250 Cars with blades on? Stallone's in Death Race 2000 had one of those. http://www.zoecchi.com/_include/deathrace.asp Cars with blades on? Stallone’s in Death Race 2000 had one of those.
http://www.zoecchi.com/_include/deathrace.asp

]]> By: Jesse in Japan http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028536 Jesse in Japan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028536 Did they not use articles (a/the) much in the '60s or was this not written by a native English speaker? Or both? Did they not use articles (a/the) much in the ’60s or was this not written by a native English speaker? Or both?

]]> By: RoadTransport http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028544 RoadTransport Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028544 Actually, 1955 was the year of the Batmobile. That was when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Futura">Lincoln Futura</a> concept car was shown at the New York Auto Show. It was later sold to the great customiser George Barris, who used it as the basis for the Batmobile in 1966. He didn't tweak it too much either - it already had the double bubble canopies and the sinister hooded headlights. PS Sorry I began my comment with "Actually"... Actually, 1955 was the year of the Batmobile. That was when the Lincoln Futura concept car was shown at the New York Auto Show. It was later sold to the great customiser George Barris, who used it as the basis for the Batmobile in 1966. He didn’t tweak it too much either – it already had the double bubble canopies and the sinister hooded headlights.

PS Sorry I began my comment with “Actually”…

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028555 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028555 All those vehicles were competitors with the Dodge Vegomatic, praised in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o90YWFlXdk ...were they not? Rock'n'roll'n'cars... A long-time partnership. All those vehicles were competitors with the Dodge Vegomatic, praised in this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o90YWFlXdk

…were they not?

Rock’n'roll’n'cars… A long-time partnership.

]]> By: jimmie proof http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028303 jimmie proof Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028303 http://www.alanoodle.com/66_b-mobile_tutorial.html BOING BOING BONER for the BATMOBILE http://www.alanoodle.com/66_b-mobile_tutorial.html
BOING BOING BONER for the BATMOBILE

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028305 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028305 Watered-down Chevette? That's a pretty egregious insult to the 'Vette - and anachronistic to boot, Donald! The Chevette didn't come along until the 1976 model year (1973 in Brazil). It was a cheap, rear-live-axle subcompact that had no kinship whatsoever with any Corvette ever made. A girlfriend of mine in the early '80s had a Chevette. The rear hatch window came loose flew out one day while she was driving on the expressway. On yet another day, the rear axle fractured internally, and the car ground to a stop. Ah, the memories. Watered-down Chevette? That’s a pretty egregious insult to the ‘Vette – and anachronistic to boot, Donald! The Chevette didn’t come along until the 1976 model year (1973 in Brazil). It was a cheap, rear-live-axle subcompact that had no kinship whatsoever with any Corvette ever made.

A girlfriend of mine in the early ’80s had a Chevette. The rear hatch window came loose flew out one day while she was driving on the expressway. On yet another day, the rear axle fractured internally, and the car ground to a stop. Ah, the memories.

]]> By: BB http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028561 BB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028561 So true. I can’t tell the difference between a Hyundai, Mercedes or Lexus sedan, (as well as numerous numerous others. Forget about even attempting differentiating between SUV models. So true. I can’t tell the difference between a Hyundai, Mercedes or Lexus sedan, (as well as numerous numerous others. Forget about even attempting differentiating between SUV models.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028341 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028341 <blockquote>Watered-down Chevette? </blockquote> Oh, yes... I know the Chevettes well, and I meant every word. Well, not really to insult the '63 Corvette, which before today was my favorite Vette, aesthetically speaking. My hyperbole was just to show how much I love the above-pictured concept, right down to the "periscope" rearview mirror. God, that thing's gorgeous. Now I wonder which car was worse: the Chevette, or the Dodge Omni? Or maybe the Ford Festiva?

Watered-down Chevette?

Oh, yes… I know the Chevettes well, and I meant every word. Well, not really to insult the ’63 Corvette, which before today was my favorite Vette, aesthetically speaking.

My hyperbole was just to show how much I love the above-pictured concept, right down to the “periscope” rearview mirror. God, that thing’s gorgeous.

Now I wonder which car was worse: the Chevette, or the Dodge Omni? Or maybe the Ford Festiva?

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2011/02/15/1961-was-the-year-of.html#comment-1028349 pjcamp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1028349 The Batmobile was a meth-head? These cars all have giant googly eyes. The Batmobile was a meth-head?

These cars all have giant googly eyes.

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