A "Batmobile" That Never Was: Alfa Romeo B.A.T. Series, 1953-1955
Jaw-Dropping. That's the best way to describe these four-wheeled winged wonders. "Startling", "futuristic" and "mind-blowing" would work, too. This visually arresting trio of Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnicas - B.A.T. for short - were as radical in their day as the original Lamborghini Countach.
Judging from these photographs, B.A.T.5 looked remarkably like the Batmobile, but it was never intended to be one. It did, however, become a symbol of the dynamism and daring in postwar Italian design - a beauty to behold.
Each year between 1953 and 1955, Bertone and Alfa Romeo presented a BAT concept at the Turin Autoshow: the BATs 5, 7 and 9. 1955 saw the final Bertone design for the B.A.T. project - a series of prototypes which displayed the peak of styling and runaway creativity. "The B.A.T. 9 did away with the marked wing lines of the previous models in favour of a cleaner, more sober lines" (more info).
The concept behind the Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnicas was to make car's body as free of aerodynamic drag and turbulence as possible. "B.A.T. 7 was even more over-the-top than the B.A.T. 5, with wings that swooped in more toward the rear glass, a small fin running the length of the split-rear-window center section, and proportions even more startling than those of its predecessor".
"The general design, proportions, and styling cues of the B.A.T. 9 were seen on a number of other Bertone design projects throughout the balance of the 1950s; these included a one-off Abarth 215 A coupe, Bertone's limited-production Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale, and a one-off Maserati 3500 GT in 1959." (Supercars)
North American car designers also picked some clues from these Italian beauties; witness Virgil Exner's creation from 1960 - 1960 Ghia Selene II (see his other designs here) -
As for the Alfa-Romeo's BAT cars, it's safe to say that the world never before or since witnessed such audacious design on a series of three unique cars, each appearing at the same show a year apart. Overall, the B.A.T.s were instrumental in bringing the Italian creativity in design to world's eager attention.
Another "Bat" has flown in 2008. An updated classic, still sporting wild original forms
Well, it seems that the world demanded "more of a good thing", and the Bertone Design firm lovingly obliged. This is a work of love, a statement, a new take on the old curvacious madness... but judge for yourself: (more info)
Thanks for the NG link for Australian megafauna. Most Australians have only the vaguest clue what sort of strange beasts once roamed here - I'll post a link at my blog.
the guy on the edge is of the rock is from national geographic's tv show first ascent. his name is alex honnold. he free soloed half dome. this is him freaking out a couple thousand feet up.
I remember traveling as a kid up the East Coast in the late 1950s on a Trailways (?) bus with "Red Carpet" service. I got car sick and proceeded to throw up on the pretty red carpet. Then I threw up in the sink in the bathroom, clogging it. I single-handedly rendered the aisle and bathroom unusable! At our destination my parents went onto the bus to apologize to the driver. He was trying to take the sink apart, poor guy.
There is a great science fiction magazine and book cover by the late John Schoenherr from 1966, for a ground effects machine story by Rick Raphael call CODE THREE. http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n10/n52475.jpg This image fits this article perfectly.
Re the police bus: back in 1963 Analog science fiction/science fact magazine had a story by Rick Raphael called "Code 3." It postulated such a patrol vehicle as a cross between a highway patrol cruiser, paramedic and emergency roadside assistance, with a crew of three (in the story one of the patrol officers was female! 1963!).
I still miss one concept bus here: the Dutch Superbus! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Superbus The superbus is a concept developed by the Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and is supposed to drive at speeds between 150 and 250km/h.
these are pretty sweet, but the human powered bus, unless it's a joke, is a pretty ridiculously inefficient idea. if you're jogging anyway, why not just jog to where you're going? now on top of that you have to push a bus? c'mon.
When I was a kid we used to travel from AZ to Canada. My siblings and I would put on talent shows for other drivers in the back of a motorcoach. It was pretty great... this brings back good memories.
Some of these defiantly look cool, but what is the difference between the GMC urban-commute killer and an RV? I have something that will kill a commute, move closer to your work.
Last year at the Barrette-Jackson action the GM bus set a record and sold for $5 Million.I think that was way over priced but somebody wanted it bad enough to pay that much.By the way his name was Ron Pratt and the coach is in his museum in Texas.
No collection of gargoyles would be complete without this one from the cathedral in Freiburg, Germany :-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/39285097@N02/3684151472/
I’m pretty confident that the English word “Gargoyle” originates phonetically from the French word “Gargouille” since gargouille is actually a French verb [gargouiller = to gurgle].
That giant camera, from that old movie (yes I just read it minutes ago and forgot it and I'm too lazy to go back and read the title), is actually a camera inside a "blimp". That blimp was created to "hold" the loud sound of the camera inside, so the filmsound could be recorded without the camera roaring.
This is an amazing short clip about the Cordyceps fungus, which is the one you mentioned that eats ants' brains - there is actually a strain of the fungus for virtually all arthropods - including spiders.
Also - did you know the fungus kingdom is more closely related to animals than plants? You actually have more in common with a mushroom than a tree. I always thought that was crazy!
Note that the reflection tattoo on that bald head is actually an M.C. Escher original as well. "Hand met spiegelende bol" from 1935, to be precise: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_with_Reflecting_Sphere
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3 Comments:
Could you imagine what the repair bill would be for a minor fender-bender on one of those?
I would never take it out of the garage
I was the class host for the Bat11 at the Amelia Island car show this past spring... beautiful car and the guy who owns it is a really nice guy
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