Holy Batmobile! Auto designer Carl Casper's legacy on exhibit at National Corvette Museum

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal
·2 min read
Carl Casper's Batmobile is part of the Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper
Carl Casper's Batmobile is part of the Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper

Car enthusiasts will know his name and movie buffs will know his creations.

Carl Casper, an innovative car designer and engineer, created custom-made touring cars for Hollywood like the "Batman Returns" Batmobile, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am known as K.I.T.T., from"Knight Rider," the van for the"A-Team," "The Fall Guy" pickup, "Street Hawk" and General Lee from the "Dukes of Hazzard."

Casper also produced thousands of custom car shows across the country with the largest of those shows held at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center for 55 years. The annual eclectic mix of flashy vehicles and celebrities drew thousands of fans right up until Casper decided to retire after a final show in February 2017.

For his contributions to the automobile world, The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky has created an exhibit honoring Capser's legacy. "Custom Carisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper" kicks off a year of special events at the museum celebrating Corvette's 70th anniversary.

Carl Casper works on his Batmobile which is part of the Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper
Carl Casper works on his Batmobile which is part of the Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper

"Our team has been hard at work to deliver an incredible year of exhibits, events, and programs for our museum guests and members," said Sharon Brawner, president and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. "From the incredible custom creations of Carl Casper to the grand opening of our highly anticipated education gallery to the celebration of the Corvette's 70th Anniversary, we know that 2023 will be a year to remember at the National Corvette Museum with something for everyone."

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Here's what to know about the Carl Casper exhibit at the National Corvette Museum.

When does the 'Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper' show open?

Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper
Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper

Casper's spectacular career and some of his most famous cars will be on display in the Custom CARisma: The Legendary Creations of Carl Casper exhibit, which opened March 10 at the National Corvette Museum, 350 Corvette Dr., Bowling Green.

What can I see at the Carl Casper exhibit at the National Corvette Museum?

Cars on exhibit include "The Batman Returns" Batmobile, Turbo Shark Corvette, Popcorn Wagon, Young American Dragster, 51 Merc "Knight Cruiser,” Paddy Wagon, 32 Renegade Deuce and the Cosmic Invader.

“It is a tremendous honor to be able to exhibit a variety of my custom car creations at the National Corvette Museum," Casper said. "Hopefully, this exhibit will encourage, educate, and inspire all attendees, especially today’s youth. May that spark enthusiastically motivate them to create new and innovative positive ideas, discoveries and inventions that will meet and far exceed all of our many future challenges."

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How much are tickets to the Carl Casper exhibit?

For hours and admission information, visit corvettemuseum.org.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Legendary Creations of Carl Casper exhibit at National Corvette Museum