Building the Brackmobile
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Building the Brackmobile Expand / Collapse
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Posted 1/7/2018 1:51:37 PM


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Last Login: 9/7/2019 12:38:27 PM
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The Backstory



4 years ago, I started collecting anything and everything Batman that I could get my hands on. Now, I have three screen accurate suits, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and naturally Michael Keaton. I am a welder by trade, and have an extensive shop in which to help my build. Thankfully, I have a 12 foot hydrolic break press, a 12 foot shear, several welders, and a plethora of drills, grinders, and just about every tool that you can think of. By specializing in commercial kitchens, Vent-A-Hoods, and stainless steel, over the past 10 years I have collected quite a few contacts that have been very helpful in the procurement of some of the harder to find pieces.

Now for the important stuff...



Building the Brackmobile



We started with a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. I happened to find it for sale on the side of the road. I stripped the car down to the bare chassis. For now, I have kept the steering column, and the wheels, but I already have the replacement wheels (Centerline). My next step was cutting the frame off of both the passenger and driver's side. I did this because the kit is a good bit longer than a Crown Vic.

The next step was getting the kit from Gotham Cruisers, out of Ohio. After a 3 day round trip from East Texas, we had the body sitting in the shop. The next three days consisted of major adjustments the static nose cone (that we paid $550 extra for). It was off center in at least three different ways. It seemed very hastily thrown together.
After all of the hours put into perfecting the nose cone and custom fabricated brackets, we are going to try to find a more accurate turbine.

More recently, we have found an airplane junk yard near us, and plan to go try to score some gauges and possibly the holy grail. The side mechanics. We have also ordered 5 sets of the hood latches (and accompanying keepers) if anyone wants to buy any. They're accurate, and $50 plus shipping. The lead time is about 10 weeks, since they're custom made. I have also made stainless steel machine gun doors. The ones that came with our kit were flimsy fiberglass and they didn't even fit into the spot correctly!!!! We are currently waiting on our die/punch to get in, that will make the vents for the gun doors. If anyone is interested in those, please let me know!

We just got a great deal on a 429 Cobra Jet engine, and the transmission! It came out of a '73 Grand Torino. The motor was rebuilt about a month ago.


  Post Attachments 
Crown Vic Progress - No Outter Body.JPG (49 views, 691.34 KB)
Crown Vic Chassis.JPG (39 views, 733.83 KB)
Crown Vic Motor Removal.JPG (34 views, 683.88 KB)
Batmobile Kit on Trailer.JPG (65 views, 70.84 KB)
Machine Gun Doors - Compare.JPEG (47 views, 2.05 MB)
Machine Gun Doors - Top View.JPEG (32 views, 2.22 MB)
Machine Guns Doors - Mesh.JPEG (40 views, 2.80 MB)
Door Latches.JPG (55 views, 39.80 KB)
Post #160147
Posted 1/7/2018 5:08:07 PM
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Last Login: 12/8/2023 10:53:05 AM
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Great! When do you estimate you will have it done? I look forward to watching your build!
Post #160148
Posted 1/7/2018 8:57:35 PM


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Last Login: 9/7/2019 12:38:27 PM
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We are planning on having everything running and mounted this year. Next year, we plan on have the paint and bondo work done. We don't want to rush it or get subpar parts. If you do it, you might as well do it right!
Post #160154
Posted 1/8/2018 3:42:46 PM
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Last Login: 3/25/2024 6:05:45 AM
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Nice to see someone else using a crown Vic. I used a a Lincoln towncar...same thing.

To build the impossible dream . . .
Post #160165
Posted 1/8/2018 4:27:02 PM


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That's awesome! We decided on a Crown Vic because they are already pretty long and wide. Plus we wanted a Police Interceptor, because they're made with a little bit heavier duty parts. It seems like everyone wants to use a Corvette or Caprice. I guess it doesn't even really matter what you use as your donor car. Its not like there is a whole lot left of it by the end.
Post #160166
Posted 1/8/2018 11:28:08 PM


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Last Login: 9/19/2023 12:52:32 AM
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This is awesome. Keep up the awesome work.






Post #160170
Posted 1/9/2018 11:40:37 AM


DH was once A mail order bride...............

DH was once A mail order bride...............


Last Login: 12/22/2020 2:14:32 PM
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TEXAS BAT
were you able to get the correct deck lid for your car from him. He sells his own version but he has screen accurate ones you have to ask for.
Post #160172
Posted 1/9/2018 2:14:05 PM
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TRS Welding ...right down the street from me!!

To build the impossible dream . . .
Post #160173
Posted 1/9/2018 4:18:52 PM


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Last Login: 9/7/2019 12:38:27 PM
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The machine gun doors? If so, we just got what came with the car. On the extras price list, there was no upgrade for the machine gun doors.
Post #160174
Posted 1/11/2018 12:13:12 AM


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Last Login: 11/3/2020 4:14:24 AM
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I would really like to see someone strip down an impala or a cutlass and go accurate from the chassis up, not to put your build down or any such thing, I'm sure it'll be cool. The interior is worth doing right.
Post #160177
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