Batman is one of the oldest superheroes, dating back to 1939. Over the years, the caped crusader that dresses like a bat, has evolved numerous times and has had countless interpretations. During Batman’s long career of fighting crime, one thing remained a constant – a signature vehicle. The Batmobile has been a staple in the caped crusader’s image, and at least in most cases, the car was just as striking as the man himself. With that said, these are the 10 Batmobiles chosen to serve as the superhero’s wheels of choice in the live-action adaptations, and some of them might surprise you.
10 1939 Cadillac Series 75 - Batman 1943
Not all of Batman’s cars used in the movie are bespoke one-offs with insane styling. Earlier movie adaptations of the hero showed him riding in production vehicles. The original Batmobile was a 1939 Cadillac Series 75 Convertible. Batman's car was completely ordinary with no added features. When the top was down, it was Bruce Wayne’s car, and when the top was up it was the Batmobile. The Series 75 was powered by a 331-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) or a 346-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V-8 engine, the latter of which making 150 horsepower.
9 1949 Mercury Eight Convertible - Batman and Robin 1949
The second Batmobile featured in a live-action movie was also an ordinary car. This time, it was a 1949 Mercury Eight Convertible, which anyone could buy brand new between 1949 and 1951. Like its predecessors, when the Mercury’s soft top was down, it meant it was driven by billionaire, Bruce Wayne. When the top was up, it meant Batman was out fighting crime. Interestingly enough, both the 1939 Cadillac and the 1949 Mercury were driven by Alfred – Bruce Wayne’s trusty butler. Power came from a 239-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) Flathead V-8.
8 The First Custom Batmobile - Batman 1966
In 1966, Batman got its first Batmobile, custom-made specifically for him. For the first time, the caped crusader’s personal transport featured unique design instead of being a regular production model. It came with a black and red paint job, a double-bubble roof, fins, and even a jet engine. The three upwards-pointing exhaust tips are more typical of the Japanese Bosozoku culture. The 1966 Batmobile was based on the Lincoln Futura Concept, which never went into production.
7 Tim Burton-Era Batmobile - Batman 1989 & Batman Returns 1992
After 23 years, Batman returned to live-action adaptations, with Michael Keaton donning the black mask, and so did the iconic Batmobile. The styling was a sharp deviation from the comic-book-inspired 1966 model, with the 1989 car being a lot beefier and darker. There were a few of these built, but at least one was based on a Chevrolet Impala. A 1956 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was also used as the basis for some examples. Power came from a front-mounted Chevrolet V-8, positioned very low in the chassis. In Batman Returns, the Batmobile grows bigger fins, but otherwise, the car is pretty much the same. In November 2022, one of the Tim Burton-era Batmobiles was listed for sale at $1.5 million.
6 The Joel Schumacher Era - Batman Forever 1995
The term “toyetic” (meaning easily licensed for toys and merchandise) perfectly describes the Schumacher-era Batmobile. Warner Bros tasked the director to deviate from the dark Burton era of Batman and to sell toys. Things like neon lights and fluorescent paint were introduced, as well as more bat costumes that Val Kilmer would wear. It was a different kind of excess, but more importantly, the Batmobile scored epic details. Most notably, it featured large gills, exposing some of the advanced tech under the skin. The car itself is loosely based on a Corvette and is powered by a 345-horsepower Chevy 350 ZZ3 V-8.
5 Single-Seater Batmobile - Batman and Robin 1997
The 1997 movie adaptation was, in many ways, a throwback to the 1966 series. Robin returned as Batman’s trusty, young, and brash, sidekick, which gave the production team an opportunity to restyle Batman's Batmobile yet again. Like the 1966 Batmobile, the 1997 model featured an open-top cockpit. One notable difference was that it was a single-seater since Robin had its own motorcycle. The 1997 Batmobile featured radical, neo-retro styling inspired by the Jaguar D-Type. Of all the Batman cars, this one also had the biggest tail fins. The car could, reportedly, reach 140 MPH (225 km/h).
4 Tumbler - The Dark Knight Trilogy 2005 – 2012
The Christopher Nolan era of Batman returned to a darker theme that’s even suggested by the trilogy’s title, The Dark Knight. Considered by many of the younger generations as the best Batman movies, this is where the Batman car was, for the first time, function over form. The Tumbler can hardly be called a car since it’s more of a tank than anything else. Sturdy, flexible, and quick enough, it was meant to be the next step in armored transportation, at least in the movie lore. Think of it as the unholy child of a Hummer and Lamborghini. Power came from a Chevy LS1, 5.7-liter V-8.
3 Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016 Justice League 2017
If Christian Bale’s Tumbler was a mix of Hummer and a Tank, the Batmobile driven by Ben Affleck’s Batman is a much lighter version of that, focused on mobility. The design is a mashup of the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher-eras Batman cars, mixed with some Tumbler elements. It has active aero, ballistic missile defense, and plenty of offensive armament. Zack Snyder’s version of the Batman cars was the most apocalyptic one. This particular Batmobile was all custom-made and weighed a hefty 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg).
2 Return To Normality – Gotham 2018
The 2018 series Gotham focused on young commissioner Gordon, although towards the end of the series, we see young Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman. This also meant a new Batmobile, but unlike the majority of Batman cars, this one was an ordinary vehicle that you could buy. After nearly 60 years, Batman returns to the Ford Motor Company for his wheels, but instead of the aforementioned Mercury Eight, he’s driving a matt-black Ford Mustang GT. The car is completely stock, which means 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet (569 Nm) from a 5.0-liter V-8.
1 The Batman 2022
The latest Batman movie sees Robert Pattison playing the caped crusader. The dark atmosphere takes the Bat towards a more detective-oriented role instead of Zack Snyder’s version that fights alien overlords beside a team of superheroes. The movie’s return to relative realism is also noted by the Batmobile car 2022, which is clearly a 1960s or 1970s muscle car that has been highly-modified. It looks like the base was a Dodge Charger that, similarly to later Fast and Furious movies, has been converted to a mid-engine layout. The car also has a lot of exposed mechanicals and is a true treat for the eye. Clearly, Pattison’s Batman is not fond of EVs either.