I grew up in the 90s, but whenever I visited my grandparents, they had several classics my cousins and siblings enjoyed watching (over and over) on VHS. Laurel and Hardy, “The Sound of Music,” Charlie Chaplin, and a collection of “Batman” episodes. We’re talking “Bam!” “Oof!” and “KaPow!” And when you think of the supervillain Joker’s ride in the classic 1960s TV series, you might picture something wild and twisted looking…especially for a six-year-old. And you’d be right.

But what’s even cooler is the story behind that car: A 1923 Ford Model T with a past as colorful as Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime.

Before it terrorized Gotham’s streets, Joker’s car actually starred in an Elvis Presley movie

Yep, the King himself cruised in this very vehicle when he played Ted Jackson in the 1967 film “Easy Come, Easy Go.”

The car’s builder, George Barris, was no stranger to Hollywood’s weird and wonderful wheels. 

He slapped together what came to be known as the “Mongrel T,” mixing classic parts with some seriously groovy ‘60s style.

From surfboards to shag carpets

Barris started with a basic Ford Model T. It’s an early car that, by the late ’60s, was cheap and easy to customize.

But the Mongrel T was anything but subtle. It was painted a vibrant yellow with a subtle cobweb effect that gave it extra depth.

Candy orange fenders sported gold flames, and those floating fenders looked ready to take flight.

The front wheels were “pure Hollywood magic”: crafted from naugahyde (a type of artificial leather), patterned to mimic wooden spokes, with a layer of glittery vinyl where the brake rotors would peek out.

Inside, the vibe was straight out of a ’60s lounge

The dash was decked out with quirky gadgets: a “Go-Go” button, a meat thermometer repurposed as a temperature gauge, and even a parachute pull ring.

The seats were covered in long-haired shag carpet, and the cushions sparkled with glitter vinyl.

It was more a rolling party than a car.

Muscle under the hood

Underneath the playful exterior hid some serious firepower.

Barris swapped in a Ford FE V8 engine, a significant upgrade from the original Model T’s modest powertrain. The engine featured custom valve covers and side-exit exhaust pipes capped with stylish “side lakes” headers, Driving Line shared.

The shift lever was a “ShiftStar” topped with a metalflake resin knob, a flashy touch for a flashy car.

In back, a spare tire and a parachute (another nod to the trends of the era) rounded out the rear.

The Jokermobile on screen

After its time with Elvis, the Mongrel T found its second life as the Joker’s ride on the Batman TV series, which aired from 1966 to 1968.

The car showed up mostly in background shots, though there were some chase scenes, like this one that starts at 9:24:

It perfectly matched the Joker’s wild, unpredictable personality. The bright colors and eye-catching upholstery made it stand out even in a show filled with colorful characters and vehicles.

Though it didn’t get major screen time or the high-speed chases of our more modern Batman films, the Joker’s Mongrel T remains an iconic piece of automotive and TV history. By the way, we’ve got a whole library of Movie Car content here at MotorBiscuit, if you want more.