William M. Schmidt Papers
William M. Schmidt worked as an automotive stylist and designer at Ford Motor Company, Packard Motor Car Company, Chrysler and his own private studio. His papers include photographs and clippings about various cars he helped design.
Biographical / Historical Note
William M. Schmidt began working as an automotive stylist in the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company in 1940. By the time Schmidt left Ford in 1955 he had risen to Chief Designer and worked on various Mercury and Lincoln vehicles. He was instrumental...
MoreWilliam M. Schmidt began working as an automotive stylist in the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company in 1940. By the time Schmidt left Ford in 1955 he had risen to Chief Designer and worked on various Mercury and Lincoln vehicles. He was instrumental in developing the Lincoln Futura concept design that was used as one of the original Batmobiles in the 1960s television show Batman. After leaving Ford, Schmidt moved on to design automobiles and trucks at Packard Motor Car Company and was Executive Stylist at Chrysler when he left the automobile industry in 1959 to form his own custom design studio, William M. Schmidt Associates.
LessScope and Content Note
The William M. Schmidt papers consist of photographs and clippings of various Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Packard and Studebaker automobiles and trucks. The papers include photographs and drawings of the Lincoln Futura concept car used in the Batman television...
MoreThe William M. Schmidt papers consist of photographs and clippings of various Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Packard and Studebaker automobiles and trucks. The papers include photographs and drawings of the Lincoln Futura concept car used in the Batman television series in the 1960s. There are also examples of custom and specialty designs created in the William M. Schmidt Associates studios for private customers. Researchers should note that a portion of this collection containing design drawings and sketches has been removed and placed in the Automotive design drawings collection, 1935-1987 (bulk 1940-1979).
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 84.1.1672.0
Creator: Schmidt, William M.
Inclusive Dates: circa 1945-1972
Size: 0.4 cubic ft. (1 box)
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Related Objects
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
Benson Ford and William M. Schmidt with Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.85
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Benson Ford and William M. Schmidt with Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
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Lincoln XL-500 Concept Car, 1953
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
31 January 1953
Summary
Ford Motor Company's Lincoln-Mercury Division revealed its Lincoln XL-500 concept car in 1953, to celebrate Ford's 50th anniversary. Promotional material heralded the car's power steering, power brakes, and push-button automatic transmission. In truth, the XL-500 was a non-running show piece. Even the "doors" were just grooves in the fiberglass body. But the XL-500's hooded headlights influenced Lincoln's 1956 production models.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.P.833.101169.9
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Lincoln XL-500 Concept Car, 1953
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1954-1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.80
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Model of Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.83
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Model of Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Rendering of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1954-1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.76
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Rendering of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1954-1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.79
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Model of Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.82
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Model of Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Lincoln Futura Concept Car and Designer William M. Schmidt at the Chicago Auto Show, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
07 January 1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Object ID
84.1.1672.P.833.106214.8
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Lincoln Futura Concept Car and Designer William M. Schmidt at the Chicago Auto Show, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1954-1955
Summary
The Lincoln Futura, designed by William M. Schmidt, was a sensation at auto shows in 1955. The concept car boasted push-button transmission controls, a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, and a double-dome canopy roof. Hollywood customizer George Barris bought the Futura in 1959 and, a few years later, turned it into the Batmobile for the 1966-1968 Batman television series.
Keywords
Object ID
84.1.1672.81
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Clay Model of 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
