50 years of the Batmobile

A custom wheel of the Batmobile designed by George Barris, who will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Downtown Burbank Car Classic on Saturday. Photographed at his North Hollywood shop on Thursday, July 25, 2013. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

Chicago Tribune

May 15, 2014 9:15 AM PT

An image of the new Batman (Ben Affleck) and his new Batmobile was released earlier this week. Just as every Batman remake has had a Batmobile redesign, Keaton to Burton’s Gothmobile, Kilmer’s propanemobile, Clooney’s Robinrider, Bale to the Tumbler, so does the untitled sequel to Man of Steel, which is unofficially called “Batman vs Superman.” It’s expected to hit theaters in May, 2016. Here’s a look back at Batmobiles from the nine Batman films, dating back to the 1966 adaptation of the TV series.

Car customizer George Barris, 87, stands next to the original Batmobile at Barris Kustom Industries in North Hollywood. Barris designed the car for the 1966 television show “Batman,” which starred Adam West and Burt Ward. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

People surround the original Batmobile during the Barrett-Jackson collectors car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona January 19, 2013. The vehicle was sold for $4,200,000, according to the auction company. (Joshua Lott/Reuters)

Rear fins of the Keaton Batmobile, from the Michael Keaton-starring “Batman” years (1989 and 1992). (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The Kilmer Batmobile was powered by a 25-gallon propane tank. When fired at full capacity, it could shoot a 25-foot flame out of the rear exhaust. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The Kilmer Batmobile is so named after 1995’s “Batman Forever,” starring Val Kilmer in the title role. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Wheel cover on the Clooney Batmobile from “Batman and Robin” in 1997. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A Tumbler Batmobile in camo colors from 2012’s a “Dark Knight Rises,” the conclusion of the Nolan brothers’ trilogy, featuring the awesome Bain villian. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)