"Holy Italian sports cars Batman."
Long before the George Barris restyled Lincoln Futura was secreted deep beneath Wayne Manor, Alfa Romeo had been busy in Turin building not one but three of their own batmobiles. Between 1953 and 1955 Alfa and their stylistic collaborators Bertone constructed three wildly futuristic concepts based on aerodynamic principles.
Named the Berlinetta Aerodynamica Technica or more simply B.A.T. their shapes were reminiscent of a bat, with the tail suggesting two tucked-in wings. Originally conceived to explore the effects of streamlining, these surrealistic sensations were the brainchild of Franco Scaglione who incorporated both aeronautical theories and jet design.
Introduced consecutively to great acclaim at the Turin Motor Show they were the manifestation of the future. With most early post-war automobiles exhibiting all the panache of a double breasted grey flannel suit, these visionary marvels appeared entirely capable of transporting their occupants into another dimension.
BAT7 had for the time incredible low drag coefficient of 0,19 beaten only Fiat Turbina of 1954 which had almost unbelievable 0,14 !
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