This weekend the Batmobile from the original 1960s Batman series sold at auction for a whopping $4.62 million by the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company.

The original Batmobile began as a unique 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car built in Italy by Ford Motor Company, which was heavily modified by legendary customizer and car creator George Barris to become the original 1966 Batmobile in both the live action TV series, and the movie adaptation starring Adam West and Burt Ward.  George Barris reportedly bought the 1955 car for $1 back in 1966 and spent $15,000 in 15 days creating the final look for the car.  The Batmobile has a V-8 engine and functional instruments in the steering wheel, as well as a push-button transmission. Barris owned the car all these years, touring the car at conventions, and finally decided to let the car go in this weekend’s auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Rick Champagne, a Phoenix-area logistics company owner, placed the winning bid, saying he “really liked Batman growing up”.

In addition to the $4.2 million bid price, Champagne will have to pay approximately $420,000 in auction premiums.

It appears that the Batmobile may have barely edged out one of James Bond’s cars as the most expensive car ever to be sold at auction.  In 2010, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger set the record when it sold for $4.61 million.

It’s not known whether the car still includes all its other Bat-tools, like its twin parachutes for quick maneuvers.

C.J. Bunce
Editor
borg.com