"Mother" was a 1928 Porter, but not one of the two real-life Porter makes. It was created by George Barris, who modified the experimental 1950s Lincoln Futura into the Batmobile. The car was built from a 1927 Ford Model T Touring car, with a 327 Chevy V8 engine and automatic transmission. Barris built two Porters for the show; one is now in Tennessee, the other is in Alberta. One car had removable floorboards and controls, which allowed the car to be driven with a driver out of sight, controlling it by watching through hidden mirrors.