I am building a replica of the Mongrel T. It was driven by Elvis in the movie "Easy Come Easy Go" and later used in in the Batman TV show as The Jokermobile. The photo of it as the Jokermobile shows them better than any other photos I could find. Thanks to the members of this forum the front wheels have been identified in a previous posting as Rader DBR 990. Now I'm trying to figure out what kind of valve covers are on this car. Does anyone recognize them? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here is a pretty good close up:
movie/TV props are usually just props even for cars sometimes just has to look good for the camera looks like an early FE ford with that oil fill in the intake
Honest question: I can see building a tribute to an iconic car. But, why this thing? It's terrible. Is there a market? Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I would guess Barris since he did the Batmobile. Alot of his T.V. work was less then stellar, like the paint trays as hood scoops on the Sonny and Cher Mustang. Not like the work he and Sam did in the early days.
I believe it was a Barris car and Elvis had to push it in the movie Easy Come Easy Go, Pat Priest was in the movie too as well as the Munsters with more Barris cars.
Thanks for your comments (most of them anyway). Will have to research valve cover covers. Yes it's definitely a Barris car. He slapped it together in record time. Had to do that a lot with his vehicles because of filming deadlines. He typically would use whatever parts were lying around to accentuate his cars. It was used in the Elvis movie Easy Cone Easy Go which filmed in March 1967. Shortly after used on the Batman TV show in November 1967 as the Jokermobile. I am building this car to accompany other Batman related vehicles which will appear in a museum exhibit. Exhibit will also contain authentic Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman costumes. It will be accompanied by an original Barris exhibition Batmobile (aka the #3), Replica Batcycle, Batboat and Batcopter. Thought having a villain vehicle would add some diversity to the exhibit. Especially since this one is so unusual.
Stew...Barris was associated or had a company called Accessories International...they might have sold cheapo aluminum finned covers like those to just put over existing valve covers..
Batrestorer, hopefully you have seen this video? more images. https://www.drivingline.com/articles/cars-from-the-vault-1966-mongrel-t/ or this info? http://jeffriesbatmobile.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-mongrel-t-1927-model-t-surfboard.html http://cs.scaleautomag.com/sca/ask_scale_auto/f/12/t/125765.aspx
BatRestorer. I know you've got some thick skin. How about a link to the collection, the Bat Boat is a fav of mine. Gratis shot of Batgirl, Yvonne Craig. This may be borderline. It was either this pic, or one of the BatGirl cycle. Someone has to make the tough choices.
If you wouldn't eat ice cream off that belly, you just don't like ice cream. Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks Ron. I wouldn't have thought there would be a need for cheapo valve covers. It's not like there aren't any inexpensive valve covers out there. But with a lack of mounting bolt holes it seems they did use some slip on covers to spruce things up. Great shot of Yvonne! Have to dig out some photos of her costume. Here's the Batboat:
I'll be the first to admit this car is pretty ugly and looks like it was built during the midst of a tornado but it is historically significant to Elvis and Batman fans and it is a very unique vehicle. Otherwise the Petersen wouldn't have it as part of their collection. When you consider the totality of what my Batman exhibit is going to contain, a villain car really does have a place. Batman fans also appreciate the thorough dedication.