Looking like some kind of supersized robotic killer bug, the Batmobile driven by Christian Bale in the Dark Knight must rank as one of the most menacing cars ever seen on screen. But just imagine the shock you’d get if you were casually driving down the road and one appeared in your rear-view mirror.
If you live in California that’s now a worrying possibility. We’ve seen other Tumblers before, some more drivable than others, but Marc Irvin has built one he claims is road legal, as showcased on The Stradman’s YouTube channel.
Although the scratch-built car is driveable, it’s not fully finished. There’s still some trim to complete, the sliding canopy needs to be sorted out and the whole car needs painting. And obviously, the rear flame thrower has to be rigged up. But it’s sufficiently together to give an idea of how much fun you could have terrifying the life out of other drivers when it’s complete.
Measuring around 8.5 ft (2591mm) wide, and equipped with six wheels, the four at the rear fitted with 42-inch-tall swamp tires, this Tumbler certainly doesn’t lack street presence. And with a 360-cube (5.9-liter) V8 built and tuned “like an old NASCAR motor”, it makes some pretty menacing noises, too.
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But after slotting himself through the window to take the wheel, alongside the car’s owner, The Stradman describes it as surprisingly easy to drive.
The car belongs to Lamborghini fan Lambo Jesus and was built by robotics expert Marc Irvin, who created monsters for Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Godzilla. Irvin, who began the Tumbler build nine years ago before shelving the project until Lambo Jesus stepped in, previously built a Tumbler-style golf buggy for the same guy. Yep, a golf buggy.
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Personally, much as I love The Stradman’s upbeat persona and unbridled enthusiasm for cars, I find him watching him about as restful as being locked in a kindergarten with a load of four-year olds jacked up on Red Bull. I always have to mute the audio after about 10 seconds, and I’m pretty sure Batman would just eject in the Batpod motorcycle after about the same period if forced to ride shotgun.
A Batpod is one feature this Tumbler doesn’t have, but given what Irvin has achieved so far, never say never.