The 89 MattMobile Build Thread.

I see you STILL haven't gotten the memo about this topic? Please try to keep the thread about the car, not about your desire to steal it. I've asked you about this in person, but I guess it didn't stick. I think it sends a bad message to anyone else reading the thread who does not know you.

Thanks.

No actually I had just forgotten had a lot going on the last couple of days with preparing for my finals this quarter of ITT Tech. You are right though Matt it does send a bad message, so I will try and stop. Sorry man I meant no bad feelings about it, I thought it was in good fun :facepalm
 
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Matt, I apologize if I missed it, but did you have to have those rims custom-made or are they a stock piece? How do the bat centers attach? Really pretty stuff!
 
Now I'm confused, you mentioned spinning which you said you aren't doing so I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not -head explodes-
 
Hey Matt, I don't think I've posted much in this thread (if at all) but I've been following it since the beginning and subscribed to your youtube channel. Just wanted to pop in and say how incredibly awesome this build is and how excited I am for you to finally be "there". In a small way, I'm in the same spot, finally getting to build my holy grail (R2) but I can't even imagine how awesome it is to just think throughout the day, "yeah, I have a Batmobile in my garage."
Outstanding work so far, and great job on documenting the progress. I'm enjoying it thoroughly.
 
So cool to see your mistress starting to take shape. I could not resist the urge to spin the frame around and do a test fit of the body. What is cooler is watching you take on the challenges of a true shade tree mechanic. Although, You are methodical so the 'shade tree' term doesnt really apply. From personal experience, the Cherry Picker will get a ton of use and a electric ceiling mounted winch. I have a spare if you want it.

When I was building my track car my biggest hurdles were: Custom fuel cell, cooling plumbing, shift linkages, brake lines and air lift compressor. Sold the whole lot on Ebay and bought a Ferrari:lol
 
I had a couple of really great visits yesterday! Nate Truman, fellow batmobile builder came down to check on the progress and compare notes, and RPF member MonsterDave swung by with his lovely better half to geek out and shoot the pooh. We all had a number of "it's a small world!" moments, and it was a great time.

Sorry to get all mushy on you guys for a minute, but honestly, it's days like yesterday and my recent kick off party that really make building a MattMobile worth it. You get to meet some really great people, and have a lot of laughs.

Today, I'm going to finish sanding the nose cone and hit it with another coat of primer. I want to get that thing slickened up before the weekend is out.
 
Hmm slight concern about the cooling. I can't remember if your donor car had a belt driven fan or an electric fan. If it had a belt driven fan I highly suggest you switch it over to electric as you're restricting the radiator so much. In fact I'd recommend going to a double fan with a separate fan for a separate transmission cooler. You don't need to over heat your engine or transmission.
 
So i stop for gas on Balboa and Sherman Way after work about 5PM today and a V8 catches my ear........It was a Keaton Batmobile heading north on Balboa. The first thing I looked at was the side details (nice). Looked good doing 50mph. Thought of you Matt and said one day.......

If the batmobile gang is as tight as we are here, Im sure you know who it was.

I would second what Geylocke said but baby steps, get it going under its own power first. Then upgrade as necessary.
 
I had a couple of really great visits yesterday! Nate Truman, fellow batmobile builder came down to check on the progress and compare notes, and RPF member MonsterDave swung by with his lovely better half to geek out and shoot the pooh. We all had a number of "it's a small world!" moments, and it was a great time.

Sorry to get all mushy on you guys for a minute, but honestly, it's days like yesterday and my recent kick off party that really make building a MattMobile worth it. You get to meet some really great people, and have a lot of laughs.

Today, I'm going to finish sanding the nose cone and hit it with another coat of primer. I want to get that thing slickened up before the weekend is out.

Was totally awesome! We had such a great time! It was humbling (to say the least) to see how much is actually involved in working on a project of such scale. Thanks for not laughing as I drooled all over the fender though - I appreciated that!! LOL!

Nate took a some great pics of us sitting in the Mattmobile. I'll post them up this week! I still can't believe that we met you, Nate, AND Laamberry in 1 stop!! How cool was that!! To top it off, you guys were the first friends we've met in person from the RPF!

Count us in for the next party!! (y)thumbsup
 
Sitting in the one and only Mattmobile with Mattman himself:

l.jpg


:thumbsup
 
top questions you will be asked once it's finished.
a. how long did it take u to build.
b. how much did it cost.
c. what do ya have for an engine.
d. are you gona sell it.
e. how fast does it go.
f. did you build the one for the movie.
g. can I drive it.
e. does it shoot flames.
f. what did you use for a chassis.
you will be asked these questions over and over and over and over and over and over and over, every single time you take it out of the garage. people will walk right up the driveway you don't even know. They may drive past your house again and again. If you take it to a gas station, within 10 min. you will be surrounded. you will have to ask people to please move so you can get gas, and please move so you can go about your day. At first the attention is a lot of fun. Over time it starts to wear a bit, but the smiles on the faces of people you meat will always bring you a return. One woman said it took 20 yrs. off her life. The cops will love it.
Now here's the neg. part... kids will stand back at awe and respect the creation, and keep hands off. As will Moms, and most all women. Most of the younger guys will. A fair portion of the middle aged men will not. They will want to test it. Immediatly. See if the shocks are worn. Tap on it. Some will try to pry the canopy open with their fingers to see inside. Dads will hold thier kids up to see inside through the window, pressing their faces against the window.. lots of lip smudges. Hands will be ALL over the afterburner. Some dads will stand the child on top of the car to take a picture, not too worried that the child may slip and fall. Some men will walk right up to it, and start walking on it. All this will happen with, or without your approval. It will generally get more attention than any other car you could think of, but without that silent code of "do not touch the finish", that seems to go with vipers, corvettes, etc.. Even if you have a sign that says "please do not touch", or " some parts are HOT"... the fellas will pretend not to see it, and proceed anyway....
But you will have fun. And you WILL make people dream again. enjoy the ride..
 
Doody, thanks for the insight. Always nice to hear from you, and I'm super happy that you have checked out this thread. You and I talked about building one of these like 8 years ago, so you know this has been on my wish list for a long time.

LOADS of progress has happened over the past couple of weeks, including a few new vidoes. If you haven't seen the most recent episodes of ROTMM, you are missing out :)

Rise of The MattMobile - Ep 21 - Bushing & Suspension Work, Air Bag Kit - YouTube

Rise of The MattMobile - Ep 20 - Removing The Engine - YouTube

Big events worth mentioning:
1. The suspension is now finished. All four airbags are in place, and work great!
2. We got the engine location figure out. Bo is going to start working on engine mounts tomorrow.
3. I've started some of the body work. The two gas cap recesses are now attached, all glassed in, and one is all smoothed out. I've also started beefing up the mis-registered seams around the body.
4. I have my first sponsor, and another one lined up!
5. The craziest part, by NEXT FRIDAY we plan to have the shell on top of the chassis. It won't be mounted or ready to drive or anything, but it will be in place and I can start working on the mounting posts and building out the cokpit.

I will be updating my blog tonight with a lot of pics and info about the past week or so of work, so if you haven't check it lately, now is a great time to catch up.

The Project Workbench
 
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