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Original Batmobile To Be Auctioned For the First Time Ever

Posted by Unknown on from the almost-as-cool-as-the-pt-cruiser dept.

Zothecula writes "In the past few years, not only has the Corvette-like Batmobile from Batman Returns been put up for auction, but a jet-powered replica of that same style of Batmobile has also been created. A drivable copy of the Dark Knight-era Tumbler has likewise been built, along with a working replica of the associated Bat Pod motorcycle. For many people, however, the only 'true' Batmobile is the original version driven by Adam West in the 1960s TV series – and it's about to be put on the auction block, for the first time ever."

16 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nice Looking Car by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2

    For many people, however, the only 'true' Batmobile is the original version driven by Adam West in the 1960s TV series

    Well if you want to get all LATFH about it, the first vehicle labeled "Batmobile" was a red sedan in Detective Comics #27 released in May of 1939.

    Fortunately Batman's taste has improved with time.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  2. It was originally a concept car... by hubang · · Score: 4, Informative

    It was originally a concept car called the Lincoln Futura (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Futura).

    So it's like buying two amazing cars in one! A Ghia body worked over by George Barris.

  3. Holy Heart Failures!!! by cayenne8 · · Score: 2
    ....I'll take it!!

    I always LOVED that car, and yes, I'm old enough for it to be the definitive Batmobile.

    I'd love to pull a Bat-turn on I-10 one day.........again, but in that car rather than my own.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:Holy Heart Failures!!! by Ramley · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I always LOVED that car, and yes, I'm old enough for it to be the definitive Batmobile.

      I'd love to pull a Bat-turn on I-10 one day.........again, but in that car rather than my own.

      It's the definitive Batmobile to me also. I was old enough to still enjoy the (first rounds of) re-runs, and see it in an "antique" auto museum close to the area I grew up. I remember making a point of touching it, to see if it was a real car. Ah, the good old days.

  4. Safety Bat by carrier+lost · · Score: 2

    Cast aluminum dashboard cladding was well-known for its cushioning ability in the 1960's

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    XKCD:Xeric Knowledge Comically Dispen
    1. Re:Safety Bat by i+kan+reed · · Score: 3

      From that picture:
      I love that in 1966, having a phone in a car was considering an amazing sci-fi gadget for only a superhero to have.

    2. Re:Safety Bat by carrier+lost · · Score: 2

      Yeah, and bright red reproductions of vintage french telephones just scream world-saving super-hero.

      Or something.

      --
      XKCD:Xeric Knowledge Comically Dispen
    3. Re:Safety Bat by rwise2112 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, to be honest, the crumple zone was your face back then!

      --

      "For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert"
    4. Re:Safety Bat by hondo77 · · Score: 2

      The Batmobile always had seat belts.

      --
      I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
    5. Re:Safety Bat by aliquis · · Score: 4, Funny

      Meanwhile on Slashdot:

      2012: Unicode nowhere to be found.

      I suppose I could just as well had written 2013..

  5. Re:Nice Looking Car by rubycodez · · Score: 2, Informative

    Fortunately Batman's taste has improved with time.

    no, he's become less green. the first ran on carbon neutral nuclear power

  6. Ideal buyer by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Funny

    I really really hope Adam West is putting in a bid for this. After all, nobody messes with Adam We.

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  7. Original? Well, sort of. by haggholm · · Score: 4, Informative

    I’m not sure whether it counts as a Batmobile per se, but the first on-screen batman was not Adam West, but (AFAIK) Lewis Wilson, who drove this.

  8. Where is the bat-fuzz??? by troyer · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've driven the Futura-based Batmobile, trust me, all the go-fast-drive-hard stuff in the TV series was eventually done with fiberglass replicars. Plus it's sad to see it painted now. Barris originally flocked the car with 'bat-fuzz'. A pain in the a$$ to clean, err, vacuum.

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    dt
    1. Re:Where is the bat-fuzz??? by tj2 · · Score: 2

      I saw the "flocked" car in a parade when I was a kid, and actually got to touch it after the parade when they were getting ready to transport it to its next destination. I'm not sure who brought it out, but the guy told me that they had originally painted it black but the glossy finish made it very difficult to film correctly due to reflections, flashes, etc. Therefore, the whole car was covered with a sort of velvet material. Very cool,but I'm sure it was a pain to take care of, and I imagine it wouldn't have handled rain/snow/whatever very well. :-)

  9. Famous quote by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Funny

    Tricia Takanawa: Here comes Mayor Adam West himself. Mr. West, do you have any words for our viewers?
    Mayor Adam West: Yes: box, toaster, aluminum, maple syrup- no I take that one back. I'm gonna hold on to that one.
    Tricia Takanawa: Thank you, Mayor West.

    --
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