Houston Doctor Fulfills Childhood Dream With Street-Legal 1,000-Horsepower Batmobile

Houston drivers caught an unusual sight not long ago when a long, dramatic shape from movie history appeared in regular traffic. The car stretched 20 to 22 feet, rode on a fiberglass body, and carried the unmistakable profile of the Batmobile from the 1989 Tim Burton film. What set this version apart was the fact that it actually drives on public roads, complete with lights, signals, and enough power to move its reported 19,000-pound mass.

Abdullah Kudrath, an emergency medicine doctor in Houston, accomplished the impossible with the Batmobile. The famous, eye-catching design had been etched in his head since he was a child, and he eventually translated that recollection into an actual rolling project rather than just a static car to look at. It’s come a long way since its humble origins as a drag build from a store in the north, cobbled together by a builder named Tim. After Kudrath got his hands on it, the fiberglass body was already finished. He and his team serviced the suspension, brakes, and all other mechanical components in-house. There was a problem with the first engine, so they rebuilt the entire drivetrain and added a large turbocharger on top of that, which now provides the 900-to-1,000 horsepower required to get this beast going.

You’d think this would be illegal on the street, yet they were able to pull it off with a few smart choices. The turn signals, headlights, and parking lights all operate properly. They even installed air conditioning, adapting an existing setup to fit, so you don’t have heatstroke in Texas. Seatbelts were installed, as well as an automatic fire extinguisher in case of an emergency, and three cameras to assist with the extraordinarily short sight lines caused by the body form. The transmission is automatic because, believe us, you have enough to cope with inside the cockpit. You have to wiggle and duck to get in since the driver’s seat is so low, and then you’re pretty much crammed in for the ride.

It has a simple dashboard with all of the necessary gauges and camera screens; it’s utilitarian, not flashy, but everything you need is right in front of you. When you start the engine, it produces a thunderous roar that can be heard down the street. When you open up the throttle, that turbo truly makes its presence felt, producing a distinct sound. Surprisingly, this beast handles nicely on the road, since the steering geometry isn’t horrible for a car this size, and the turbo’s quick shove is enough to get you moving with authority. You’ll have to rely on those cameras, your mirrors, and a little subtlety with the throttle because there aren’t many quick shoulder checks in this thing.