15 Cars That Could Be Real-Life Batmobiles

2. Phantom Corsair

One of the craziest cars they ever produced is the Phantom Corsair, which they built in 1938. It was the brainchild of Rust Heinz, of Heinz Ketchup fame. He was a vivid car enthusiast and amateur engineer. He wanted to create a super sleek and futuristic car using a Cord 810 as a base. And then he topped it off with a unique and amazing-looking body.

Most people can easily say this was a successful creation. The car was fast, stable and had an innovative front-wheel drive. The automotive press and public loved the car, so Rust Heinz planned to launch a full-scale production. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car accident, so his plans never materialized.

3. Muntz Jet

A growing interest from wealthy American buyers for those European sports cars in the early ‘50s inspired a few local entrepreneurs to produce cars of equal appeal and performance. And one of those attempts was the Muntz Jet that Earl “Madman” Muntz produced. He was a well-known Californian used car dealer and electronics retailer. So, with the help of the famous Frank Curtis, he produced the 400 Muntz Jets.

But most importantly, it was one of the first American sports cars. All Muntz cars were convertibles featuring numerous unique features. Also, they came with a choice of a Cadillac or Lincoln V8 engine. Unfortunately, the market just wasn’t ready for an expensive, limited-production American sports car. So in a couple of years, they discontinued the Muntz Jet. Sadly, out of the approximately 400 cars they built, there are only around 45 left today.

4. Gaylord Gladiator

The Gaylord Brothers of Chicago established the Gaylord Motor Car Company in the early ‘’0s. It was supposed to be the producer of bespoke, luxurious sports cars for the world’s wealthiest clientele. The brothers inherited a fortune, so they wanted to invest a big part of it into a car company under their own name.

They named their first and only project the Gladiator. It debuted in 1955 at the Paris Motor Show, causing quite a stir among car enthusiasts. The Gaylord Gladiator featured a 300 HP V8 Chrysler Hemi or Cadillac engine. It achieved a top speed of 120 mph and 0 to 60 mph time of eight seconds, which was spectacular by the standards of the day.

Interestingly, the car had an ingenious automatic folding roof and a host of other luxury features that were years ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the Gladiator came with an astronomical price of $17,500. And that was almost three times as much as the price of the most expensive Cadillac.

5. Mercedes 540 K Autobahn Kurier

In the late ’30s, Mercedes was producing top-of-the-line models for the world’s most sophisticated buyers with its 500 and 540 model lineups. Those were big, heavy cars powered by a straight-eight engine with a supercharger that delivered over 160 HP. And in those days, that was an enormous number.

Most 500 and 540 K cars were elegant roadsters or coupes, but just a handful was fantastic Autobahn Kurier models. Those cars had a closed streamlined body, which was somewhat aerodynamically efficient. In fact, they designed it to cruise at high speeds on newly constructed German highways like the Autobahn.

In addition, they painted every Kurier in black. And with the long hood and swooping rear end, those Autobahn Kuriers were the original German Batmobiles.

6. Buick LeSabre Concept Car

The early ’50s was a time of recovery after World War II. It was also when the industry had started to introduce new shapes and designs. And then the 1951 LeSabre Concept Car arrived and changed everything. Its exquisite elegance, perfect stance and advanced styling details would influence the industry for the next 10 years.

From the chrome bumpers to the oversized tail fins, the next decade of Detroit was visible on just one car. The Jet-Age design had finally arrived, and they showcased it on this model. The LeSabre proved to be an extremely influential car. And not just for Buick, but for the rest of the Detroit manufacturers.

But best of all, the immense success of this concept car showed the way for other creations. Soon, every car brand in America had a concept car on the show circuit.

7. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900

Back in the ’30s, Alfa Romeo produced mostly racing cars with just a few roadgoing models. Wanting to capitalize on its racing success, Alfa decided to introduce its competition eight-cylinder engine in a perfect Gran Turismo body. They intended it for wealthy clients who wanted power and looks from this legendary brand. And that is how the 8C 2900 was born.

Debuting in 1937 and built by Carrozzeria Touring, the Alfa 8C 2900 only came in 10 examples. All cars featured a 2.9-liter eight-cylinder unit producing 220 HP. They had an independent rear suspension all around with handcrafted panels and a custom interior. Needless to say, today the 8C 2900 costs a fortune, which is something Bruce Wayne could afford.

8. GM Firebird Concepts

Although they presented the first Pontiac Firebird in 1967, General Motors already used the name on four popular concept cars in the late ’50s. They named it the GM Firebird I to IV, and they were show cars with rocket-inspired styling, big fins and advanced equipment. The first Firebird had a jet engine and was basically an airplane on wheels. Later cars were a bit more conventional, but they still were crazy.

GM marketed all Firebird concepts as cars of the future with numerous insane features. They included a TV on the dashboard and outboard drum brakes. Some car historians claim those concepts were fantasy cars GM never intended for production, only serving as attention-getters for car show crowds.

9. Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic

The most successful road-going Bugatti model was arguably the Type 57. Powered by a straight eight-cylinder engine, it came with or without a supercharger. Also, it had a nicely balanced chassis and came in various bodies. The Type 57 was the definitive Bugatti from the late ’30s. However, its most valuable version is the sublime Type 57 Atlantic.

Bugatti made only four of those fantastic cars, three of which they are famous for. The Atlantic had a specially-designed body with a streamlined design. They used innovative materials and topped it off with unusual styling. Along with the Phantom Corsair, the Type 57 Atlantic is one of the best examples of outlandish Batman-inspired design of the late ’30s.

10. Cadillac Cyclone

Cadillac introduced many interesting cars during the ‘50s but the most memorable and influential was the 1959 Cyclone. They built it on a shortened chassis with advanced independent suspension all around. And with a 390 V8 engine, the Cyclone was a functional car with performance much better than the regular model.

Interestingly, they allegedly fitted the Cyclone with radar they mounted in the front cones. They designed it to detect the vehicles in front to help drivers avoid a crash. Fast forward 70 years later, and this technology is common in almost all new vehicles. But back in the late ’50s, it was pure science fiction.

11. Jaguar D-Type

During the ’50s, Jaguar was heavily involved in racing, especially at Le Mans. First, there was a C-Type racing car. But soon, the company developed the new, improved D-Type. And it proved to be an equally successful, fast and influential racing car.

Available from 1954 to 1957, the D-Type featured powerful straight-six engines and a special lightweight body. But better yet, it had aerodynamic aids in the form of a big fin on the back of the car. With its low silhouette, swooping fenders and single seat, the D-Type looked like something Batman would drive.

12. Mercedes SSK Count Trossi

With its enormous seven-liter straight six engines, supercharger and unique body an Italian aristocrat designed, the Mercedes SSK Count Trossi is one of the most valuable cars in the world. They based it on the Mercedes SSK racing car, offering it in 1930. However, two years later, they fitted it with a unique body style.

This black roadster was a racing machine with a lightweight and powerful engine. And yet they designed it to be a luxurious roadster. Although Count Trossi wasn’t a car designer per se, he had a great eye for lines and details. And the result is an aggressive creation that is elegant at the same time.

13. AXIAM Mega Track

Built by the French company, AXIAM, in the mid-90s, the Mega Track was the first and only off-road supercar they ever built. You might ask yourself how it is possible to have a supercar capable of going off-road. But AXIAM managed to produce a vehicle with an adjustable suspension that drivers could transform from a regular sports car into an SUV in a matter of seconds.

The complicated system allowed eight to 13 inches of ride height. So, in just one moment, the Mega Track could become a true off-road beast. Behind the driver was a massive 6.0-liter V12 engine from Mercedes-Benz. It produced 400 HP, send its power to all four wheels. However, the concept had its drawbacks since the Mega Track was a heavy, big car. It weighed over two tons and was over 16 feet, which is more than the Mercedes S-Class.

14. Pegaso Z-102 Cupula

The Spanish company, Pegaso, was famous for its truck and buses. However, in the early ’50s, they started limited production of advanced and sophisticated sports car. With the help of an ex-Alfa Romeo engineer, Pegaso produced a handful of exotic V8-powered machines, almost all with unique bodies and appeal.

However, among those, the Z-102 Cupula has a special place. They named it the “El Dominicano.” They custom-made the car for the dictator of the Dominican Republic who had a flamboyant taste in cars. Better still, the car looked straight out of a sci-fi movie since it featured the latest technology and materials.

15. TVR Speed 12

The British sports car company, TVR, was well-known for producing a series of capable coupes and power roadsters, but never a proper supercar. So, in the late ’90s, the company decided to present the ultimate version of their popular Cerebra coupe they named the Speed 12.

The Speed 12 was a brutal and extremely powerful supercar. In fact, it was practically a race car for the street. It had a 7.7-liter V12 engine producing around 1,000 HP, but they never revealed the exact number. They designed the car primarily for racing, but due to the change of rules, its racing career was short and unsuccessful.

These are the 15 Gotham City cruisers. These are the cars that could be real-life Batmobiles. Which one caught your eye? If you owned one of these, you would be the envy of your neighborhood, and probably your whole town.