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| Copyright DC COMICS |
Don't you just love the BATMOBILE? Doesn't everybody? I'm talking about the 1966 Television Batmobile, of course! There's just something about its sleek contours which are appealing to the eye. As everybody and their grandma knows by now, the car was customised by GEORGE BARRIS from a 1955 FORD LINCOLN FUTURA especially for the ADAM WEST, BURT WARD TV show of the 1960s, still fondly remembered to this day.
The original Futura was designed by BILL SCHMIDT and JOHN NAJJAR, and completely hand-built by GHIA in Turin, Italy, costing $250,000 at the time. That's a far cry from the $4.62 million dollars that Barris recently sold the Batmobile for, having retained ownership since purchasing the Futura a few years after it was first built. (For only a dollar, or so legend has it.) Prior to George acquiring it, the vehicle had first tasted celluloid fame in 1959, when it featured prominently in the film IT STARTED WITH A KISS, starring DEBBIE REYNOLDS and CLARK KENT's dad, GLENN FORD.
This is a 'snap together' kit by POLAR LIGHTS from a year or so ago, which usually hangs on my wall. The surprising thing is, despite looking like die-cast metal, it's actually made of plastic and is as light as a feather. I was dusting it and decided to snap a few photos and share them with you here. I doubt you can buy a better model of the car than this nine inch long one (unless it's the MATTEL ELITE larger scale diecast version - of which I have two - but that one doesn't have figures). Nice, eh? Generous to a fault I am.
I love the Batmobile, almost as much I love the Studebaker Starliner, the Morris J type and the Foden S21
ReplyDelete'Tis indeed a thing of beauty and enchantment.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a garage on the Bath Road in Salisbury that had a pretty good replica on the forecourt. Well I say pretty good, someone had painted it pink, lilac or some girly colour, which kind of ruined it's grrr appeal.
ReplyDeleteHoly sacrilege, Batman!
ReplyDeleteIt probably belonged to the Rainbow Batman, of whom no more need be said.
ReplyDeleteRainbow Batman? I'd better not ask.
ReplyDeleteDon't panic, the Rainbow Batman is not what it sounds like. It was from Detective Comics #241 and reprinted in Batman #182. Dick Grayson broke his arm while rescuing a child from being hit by a getaway car. While Batman and Robin hunted the robbers, Batman wore a series of colorful costumes. After they caught the villains, Batman explained to Alfred that the costumes were to draw attention to himself and away from Robin. If anyone noticed the injured arm, they might remember that Grayson had the same injury, and deduce his identity. (Robin had to accompany Batman on the hunt, as he was the only one who could recognize the crooks on sight.)
ReplyDeleteAs ridiculous as that sounds, I think I'd still prefer it to a modern Batman comic.
ReplyDeleteVery nice indeed - I'm happy with my miniature Corgi Juniors model for now, but if one exists that can simulate the flame out the back of it, I'd be "all over" it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if it's still there, but I remember going to a car museum in the Lake District around 1.5 decades ago that had a good replica of the Batmobile, complete with Adam and Burt wax models.
Well, I'm quite pleased with myself. I now have at least 25 TV Batmobiles, including 2 Corgis, 1 Husky, and 1 Corgi Junior. What a great car!
ReplyDeleteKid, this is the greatest die-cast car of the 60s. The gold Bond DB5 is a very close second. The rich metallic black paint is a sight to behold. Was in wonderland when I got the Batmobile an Batboat Corgi set for my birthday back in those Batmania times!
ReplyDeleteKen.
Apparently, the very first Corgi Batmobile toys had a matt or satin finish, later changing to a gloss finish for some reason. This mirrors the actual TV car, which had a matt finish before shooting began and was then changed to gloss at the last moment.
ReplyDelete