Automotive

Kapow! The home-built Dark Knight Batmobile

View 9 Images
Bob Dullam and his Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam and his Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica
View gallery - 9 images

RM Auctions recently declared James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 to be “the world’s most famous car,” but there's no doubt another contender for that title – the Batmobile. One thing that muddies the waters a bit is the fact that the term “Batmobile” actually describes at least three different vehicles: the modified Lincoln Futura concept car from the 60s TV series, the vaguely Corvette-shaped 1989-and-beyond movie cars and now the car from the most recent two movies, the military-spec Tumbler. Michigan-based movie props artist Bob Dullam really likes the Tumbler, so he did what any of us would do in his position – he built one of his own from scratch.

Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica

Dullam has been working on his Tumbler over the past five years, using nothing but a chop saw, a reciprocating saw, a drill press, and a Mig welder – all in his non-heated, non-air-conditioned two-car garage. He had no prior car-building experience and nothing but movie DVDs and production stills to go by. Nonetheless, he now has a fully-functioning, incredibly accurate-looking Batmobile.

“Every aspect of it was pulling a rabbit out of a hat,” Dullam told Gizmag. “You have to mount the engine in reverse, so now you’ve got a transmission that’s pointing towards the front of the car, how are going to get a drive shaft to go underneath it and drive it in reverse?”

Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica

Challenges like that aside, the car is up and running. He now plans on working on the interior, along with parallel steering within the vehicle’s nose cone, so it can be driven from that area too, just like the car in the movies. Dullam has even been contacted by defense contractors about using their transparent aluminum in the windows. It’s not surprising that he thinks the vehicle will never really be “done,” per se.

“It’s not there yet,” he said. “It may never be there unless I decide I’m tired of the whole thing. It’s an ongoing experiment.”

"If all I did was costumes and busts and things like that... a lot of people do that kind of thing. I want to build a brand name for myself, and to do that, I think you have to rise above and beyond the pack.”

Bob Dullam's Batmobile Tumbler replica

Bob Dullam’s Tumbler specs

  • Engine: 350 V8 with four-barrel carburetor
  • Transmission: 3-speed turbo
  • Top speed: 150mph (241km/h)
  • Body panels: Epoxy resin reinforced with fiberglass mat
  • Tires: 44-inch Super Swampers (rear)
  • Steering: Rack and pinion power steering via detachable aviator style pistol-grip steering device
  • Weight: Approximately two tons (1.8 metric tons)
  • Dimensions: 15’L x 9’W x 5.5’H (4.5 x 8 x 1.7 meters)
  • Visibility: Round-vehicle video cameras
  • Production cost: Approximately US$50,000 to $100,000
  • Street legality: Nope!

Via Daily Planet

View gallery - 9 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
12 comments
Jon Shurtleff
Transparent aluminum? [Ed note: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxynitride]
donwine
I\'m sorry but I must ask one question: Why?
Muraculous
Amazing Bob but, if you want to have complete autonomy with regard to propulsion you need to get a couple of Siemens water-cooled AC induction motors and hook them up to several lithium battery packs, spaced around the vehicle (I\'d say one for the front wheels and one for the back).
Facebook User
@donwine, why not?
Nick Rowney
@donwine sometimes we do things just for the challenge, while some people live their whole life and do nothing
Colter Cederlof
Ah ha! But can it transform and have a motorcycle eject pod?!? Still, very nice work!
However, didn\'t you want to make it street legal too? Just saying, personally, I would of tried to make it street legal while keeping as much aesthetics as possible. Maybe you could show it off at some Monster Truck shows and whatnot!
Vikrant Chandragiri
Awesome!!
goody
Dude, that is awesome. How can we follow your progress? Do you have a website, etc? [Ed note: There's a link in the article, but just go to http://bobdullam.com/]
Mr Stiffy
Well this beats lip stick and a hand bag any day. Every man should have THIS for a fashion accessory.
Nelson
This guy has too much money and time on hands.