1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
The Lincoln Futura made its official public debut on January 8, 1955, at the Chicago Auto Show, after being shown to the press earlier that week. Beyond auto shows, the Futura had a significant impact on pop culture. It was modified by Hollywood customizer George Barris into the Batmobile for the 1966 TV series “Batman.” The car was also featured in the 1959 movie “It Started with a Kiss,” starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford.
The Lincoln Futura was designed by Ford’s lead stylists, Bill Schmidt and John Najjar, and was hand-built by Ghia in Turin, Italy. It boasted a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, push-button transmission controls, and a distinctive double-dome canopy roof. Its body style was a 2-door coupe with a front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Its original pearlescent finish was created using ground fish scales to achieve a shimmering effect.
The styling elements of the Futura, such as its headlights and tailfins, influenced the design of production Lincolns in the following years, and its concave front grille inspired the grille on the 1960 Mercury Monterey and the 1960 Ford Galaxie. [Sources: Wikipedia and Bing Copilot]
1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
The Lincoln Futura made its official public debut on January 8, 1955, at the Chicago Auto Show, after being shown to the press earlier that week. Beyond auto shows, the Futura had a significant impact on pop culture. It was modified by Hollywood customizer George Barris into the Batmobile for the 1966 TV series “Batman.” The car was also featured in the 1959 movie “It Started with a Kiss,” starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford.
The Lincoln Futura was designed by Ford’s lead stylists, Bill Schmidt and John Najjar, and was hand-built by Ghia in Turin, Italy. It boasted a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, push-button transmission controls, and a distinctive double-dome canopy roof. Its body style was a 2-door coupe with a front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Its original pearlescent finish was created using ground fish scales to achieve a shimmering effect.
The styling elements of the Futura, such as its headlights and tailfins, influenced the design of production Lincolns in the following years, and its concave front grille inspired the grille on the 1960 Mercury Monterey and the 1960 Ford Galaxie. [Sources: Wikipedia and Bing Copilot]