Original Batmobile Sells For $4.2 Million

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Original Batmobile Sells For $4.2 Million

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday January 20, 2013 @05:37PM from the holy-investment-batman! dept.

Kittenman writes "Rick Champagne, a 56-year-old company owner from Arizona has bought the original Batmobile (dating back to Burt Ward and the '60s) for $4.2 million. He's quoted as saying it 'was a dream come true.' From the article: 'The Batmobile design was based on a 1955 Lincoln Futura, a concept car built in Italy by the Ford Motor Company. It was the first time that car had come up for public sale since it was bought in 1965 by car-customiser George Barris, who transformed it in 15 days, at the cost of $15,000 (£9,400), into the superhero's famous vehicle.'"

47 comments

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First by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 17:43 · Score: -1

I claim this land for Anonymous Coward.
Second Re:First by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 17:44 · Score: 1

I wonder if Champagne was ever at an AA meeting.
1. Re:Second Re:First by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 03:19 · Score: 0
  
  Champagne going to an AA meeting would be like Charlie Muffin attending a meeting at Weight Watchers - not destined to end well.
Thanks for going from $ to £ by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 17:47 · Score: 0

Thanks for going from $ to £, very useful. I also know it was from Ukrainian newspaper from the co.uk, very useful.
Original Batformula by ArcadeMan · 2013-01-20 17:49 · Score: 1

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/na+na+na+na+na+na+na+na+BATMAN_84f54d_2291408.gif

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1. Re:Original Batformula by Tablizer · 2013-01-20 18:07 · Score: 2
  
  My fav batgif:
  http://vandybubble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/batman-bomb-run-o.gif
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
2. Re:Original Batformula by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 18:37 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
$4.2? by Tablizer · 2013-01-20 17:54 · Score: 1

You gotta be joker!

--
Table-ized A.I.
1. Re:$4.2? by Stephen+Williams · 2013-01-20 18:59 · Score: 1
  
  You're have to be Bruce Wayne to afford the insurance.
  -Stephen
King of Kustom by Nefarious+Wheel · 2013-01-20 18:00 · Score: 1

George Barris was possibly the most commercially successful of the "Kustom Kar" scene in the 50's-60's, but he wasn't the only player. He certainly added to it, though, along with people like Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and many others. I think it's still happening in places. Pogo Chevvies....
http://www.barris.com/

--
Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
1. Re:King of Kustom by Bob9113 · 2013-01-20 18:31 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I think it's still happening in places.
  Definitely still happening.
  Some really extreme stuff shows up at Burning Man.
  
  --
  Stop-Prism.org: Opt Out of Surveillance
2. Re:King of Kustom by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 22:08 · Score: 0
  
  George Barris was possibly the most commercially successful of the "Kustom Kar" scene in the 50's-60's, but he wasn't the only player. He certainly added to it, though, along with people like Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and many others. I think it's still happening in places. Pogo Chevvies....
  http://www.barris.com/
  Is Roth why the cheat code "big daddy" in Age of Empires produced a fast car that shot missiles? Makes sense!
3. Re:King of Kustom by Bearhouse · 2013-01-21 01:39 · Score: 1
  
  Great post, thanks.
  Also, you can get a copy mighty cheaper...
  http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/01/02/2319258/the-copyright-battle-over-custom-built-batmobiles
4. Re:King of Kustom by tsa · 2013-01-21 03:28 · Score: 1
  
  http://www.barris.com/
  Bloody hell. I hate websites that make noise.
  
  --
  -- Cheers!
uhm... by waddgodd · 2013-01-20 18:02 · Score: 3, Interesting

While the Futura technically DOES date back to Ward as well, Ward played Robin and thus rarely drove the Batmobile. Most people think of the live-action Batman as Adam West... Fun fact, Adam West was listed in the Sun Valley, ID white pages as Batman for many years :)

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Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you
1. Re:uhm... by Osgeld · 2013-01-20 18:30 · Score: 1
  
  ah beat me to it
  "Adam West was listed in the Sun Valley, ID white pages as Batman for many years :)"
  heh yea I could see him doing that
Also Knight Rider by Cutting_Crew · 2013-01-20 18:06 · Score: 1

he also worked in updating KITT for the later seaons(i think starting in season 2).
Burt Ward??!!?? by Jeremiah+Cornelius · 2013-01-20 19:05 · Score: 5, Funny

It's not the eff-ing "Robin Mobile"!
ADAM WEST. Thank you, very much...

--
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
1. Re:Burt Ward??!!?? by SternisheFan · 2013-01-20 20:36 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Back in the 60's, Burt Ward and Adam West were getting a lot of female fan/groupie action. I've seen interviews of Mr. Ward talking about this, and the grin on his face said way more than he could politely say to the interviewer. They may have had to wear silly costumes in that series, but the job did come with side benefits.
2. Re:Burt Ward??!!?? by Jeremiah+Cornelius · 2013-01-21 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  Eartha Kitt on one side, Julie Newmarr on the other - and a BIG SMILE in the middle.
  Purrrrfect!
  
  --
  "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
  Never been known to fail..."
Original original? by 91degrees · 2013-01-20 19:22 · Score: 1

I thought the original batmobile was a 1939 Cadillac.
ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 19:25 · Score: -1, Troll

Seriously, how can anyone justify paying 4.5 million for what's essentially a modified 1955 Lincoln? I'm sorry, but if you can afford to pay 4.5 million for a Batmobile, you can afford to pay a full 40%+ share on your top bracket income taxes. Does it strike anyone else as tacky to spend so conspicuously on a curio when so many Americans are still unemployed or underemployed and the economy is just barely limping along at 2% growth per year? Meanwhile the middle class gets socked with a 2%+ hit on the payroll taxes so that the wealthy can continue to buy things like the Batmobile. At least Bruce Wayne was charitable; what has this guy done?
1. Re: ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 19:42 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  He started a company that employs people and creates jobs. How many jobs have you created?
2. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Genda · 2013-01-20 20:35 · Score: 2
  
  Its a matter of degree... compared to the Wall Street scumbag buying his twelfth McMansion, or the Oil Exec dropping half a billion dollars on a yacht the size of a third word country, this guys a veritable Mother Teresa.
3. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by SternisheFan · 2013-01-20 20:58 · Score: 1
  
  The sale price is rather high for a modified stock car, but hey, it is ~the~ Batmobile, the one that everyone alive then remembers seeing on TV. So, if the buyer could auction or resell it later and turn a profit, maybe it isn't a bad idea to pay that number. You can rent it out for any number of publicity stunts. I've said the same as you over things I wouldn't buy, only to later learn the buyer turned it around and sold it for a large profit.
4. Re: ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 21:02 · Score: -1
  
  Ah, you believe in trickle-down economics.
  How quaint.
5. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 22:56 · Score: 0
  
  Seriously, how can anyone justify paying 4.5 million for what's essentially a modified 1955 Lincoln?
  I prefer him to spend the money on a modified car than to use it to invest in a hedge fund which kills a few companies for profit.
6. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by rickb928 · 2013-01-20 23:55 · Score: 1
  
  It's a matter of means. we don't know if Champagne cozied up to his Congrespeople for favorable legislation, or to avoid prosecution, like so many corporatists.
  
  --
  deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
7. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Cramit · 2013-01-21 02:43 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  It is a modified Lincoln Concept Car. It was a one off (there might be a couple of them...but it was never mass-produced) that was then modified. You can not buy the base car, as it was never for sale for the general public. 4.2 million is a lot for any car...but this one is unique with a interesting and culturally relevant history. It may even pay for itself eventually with paid showings at car shows and comic conventions; and is future resale value will probably go up with time; not down. There are a lot of other thing this man could have wasted his money on...at least it wasn't bought with bailout money.
8. Re:ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by afidel · 2013-01-21 04:34 · Score: 1
  
  buying his twelfth McMansion, or the Oil Exec dropping half a billion dollars on a yacht
  Actually, those actions are both positive ones because they employ craftsmen in the first world at usually significantly better than average wages and create durable goods, the Walmart buyer who insists on buying useless throwaway crap at prices that only slave labor and environmental destruction can supply does much more harm.
  
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9. Re: ZOK!, POW!, BAM!, OOOF! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 07:59 · Score: -1
  
  Ah, you understand economics about as well as President Obama. How stylish.
The Batmobile lost a wheel... by fotoguzzi · 2013-01-20 20:50 · Score: 0

...and Robin laid an egg.

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Their they're doing there hair.
It runs Batix by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-20 20:55 · Score: -1

Not Linux.
The New Owner by some+old+guy · 2013-01-20 21:21 · Score: 1

Must really want a date with Catwoman.
Or Robin. Who knows?

--
Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
1. Re:The New Owner by Chrisq · 2013-01-21 00:07 · Score: 2
  
  Must really want a date with Catwoman.
  Or Robin. Who knows?
  Wait until he finds out that the original batmobile only gets you a date with the original Catwoman
2. Re:The New Owner by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 02:41 · Score: 0
  
  Must really want a date with Catwoman.
  Or Robin. Who knows?
  Wait until he finds out that the original batmobile only gets you a date with the original Catwoman
  Julie Newmar is the definitive Catwoman. Her Catwoman was sexy and funny. I would gladly date this Catwoman. Alas, even at 80 she's out of my league.
3. Re:The New Owner by Tablizer · 2013-01-21 12:09 · Score: 1
  
  Those are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Now there's a plot twist yet to be exploited by the movies: Robin is really Catwoman (or vice verse).
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
Tumbler!!! by jadv · 2013-01-21 02:33 · Score: 1

Wake me up when a Tumbler goes for sale. If one of those babies becomes available, I'll have to start hatching up an evil plan to gather the cash, and morality be damned!
1. Re:Tumbler!!! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 03:15 · Score: 0
  
  About every clothes dryer has one. I'm pretty sure a lot of them are for sale. :-)
What did Batman say to Robin... by microcars · 2013-01-21 03:35 · Score: 1

before they got in the car?
"GET IN THE CAR!"

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I like microcars
1. Re:What did Batman say to Robin... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-22 04:40 · Score: 0
  
  Ha ha ha I see what you did there, made a Back to the Future Joke morph with a Batman joke:
  BttF Joke: "Make like a tree...and get out of here." (instead of the real joke: "Make like a tree...and leaf")
  Your joke: "What did Batman say to Robin before they got in the car? GET IN THE CAR!" (instead of the real joke: "What did Batman say to Robin before they got in the Batmobile? Robin, get in the Batmobile.")
  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
In response to the quote in the summary... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 05:14 · Score: 0

...I would like to point out how encouraging it is to know that dreams really can come true for super-rich people.
Batmobile by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 06:22 · Score: 0

If you missed out on the auction and still would like to own the Batmobile check out Fiberglass Freaks. They are Licensed by DC Comics to build these beauties. http://www.fiberglassfreaks.com
Conflicting Numbers by Aoverify · 2013-01-21 06:36 · Score: 1

BBC reports it sold for 4.2mil, while other sites report the sale at 4.62 million.
1. Re:Conflicting Numbers by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-21 06:59 · Score: 0
  
  There's a 10% premium that goes to the auctioneer.
  And they deserve it. Can you imagine how hard it was to track down all the super-criminals after all these years?
  If Alfred was alive, he could have queried the Bat Oracle server, but no... they had to contact Interpol, instead. NASA was out to launch, and Lawrence Livermore had gone fission.
2. Re:Conflicting Numbers by mattack2 · 2013-01-21 07:40 · Score: 1
  
  Probably required auction fees? E.g. similar to listing a price with or without sales tax, without making that clear. Both are arguably correct.
Sad... by bigwavedave33 · 2013-01-21 08:33 · Score: 1

Probably more than the whole cast made total. Is a one of a kind though :)