You're reading this correctly. The Batman Returns Batmobile is up for sale on eBay. While doing some research for the blog this morning, I came across this auction for the 1992 production car created and used in the film. The seller claims to be selling for a private owner. I remember seeing this car up for sale once before. I also remember as a kid seeing ads for a grand price give away for this same car. Man wouldn't it be sweet.
As of writing this article, current bid shows $150,000 with an unknown reserve not met. According to the seller's post the car originally cost Warner Brothers a cool 1.5 million dollars to produce. I could see a lot of that budget being sucked into the custom body shell. The car is built on an enlarged Impala frame with an overall wheel base of 140 inches, no year given. Under the hood is a 350 Small Block Chevrolet V8. It's got a B&M ratchet action shifter in the console for banging those auto gears while fleeing the scene. There's a removable steering wheel a must have, considering there are no doors just a top hatch. Looks like the dash is layout nicely like an aircraft cockpit. Mickey Thompson rubber on all four corners. I bet Michael Keaton had fun driving this one.
I'll keep my eye on this one and let you know if it sells. I'm not sure if it will. All depends on how high the reserve is and if there are any serious bidders out there. I did notice that the seller added a disclosure near the end saying that Warner Brothers reserves the right to approve of the future owner. I guess they don't just want anyone driving around in the Batmobile. See ya next time, same OnScreenCars.com time and same OnScreenCars.com channel Bat Guys and Bat Girls.
A new Fast Five trailer is out featuring another round of cars and sex appeal. The latest and possibly the last trailer release is a little more than a teaser. Checkout the clip above for another glimpse of the Dodge Chargers, Ford GTs and Lexus LFA. Not to mention that sweet custom 1966 Corvette Grand Sport. Looks like we'll have plenty to look at this spring. The release is scheduled for April 29, 2011.
This past week the grand prize winner of Carl's Jr. Green Hornet Sweepstakes was announced. Jonathon Hanington of Tualatin Oregon is now the proud owner of a 1965 Chrysler Imperial used in the film's making. According to an article on Oregonlive.com, Jonathon wasn't even hoping to win. He just picked up the cup he received with his Double Western Burger and entered the code on the side. Talk about luck! But hey at least that cup didn't end up unclaimed in the bottom of a landfill somewhere.
The article went on to say that Jonathon is a 27 year old full nursing student and has no plans to get rid of the non-street legal car. He was given the option of a similar car used in the film that is street legal. But hey why not choose the one valued at $275,000 and comes equipped with two fake guns huh? Talk about a car with some street appeal. Jonathon does have plans to lease the machine out to dealerships and auto shows.
In the video above you can see and hear him crank up that Chevrolet Big Block engine. Yea that's right this 'Black Beauty' is powered by Chevy. If you've read our previous feature on the cars used in the film you would know all about it. I'll let ya browse on over there. Till next time keep your hood mounted guns packed away and those wheels safely roll'n.
Looks like the Speed Channel has something new for us car nuts this week. Car Warriors, a new series springs up on Wednesday nights at 9pm starting Feb. 23rd 2011. The series Car Warriors will feature a custom car build off style competition between classic car building stars and local hot rod shop guys and girls. Not to mention an all star panel of judges to include legendary George Barris, `King of the Kustomizers`, So-Cal Speed Shop�s Jimmy Shine - Star of `Hard Shine` and �Mad Mike Martin - Star of `Pimp My Ride`.
The set of the show is at the famous Ted Moser's Picture Car Warehouse at the Los Angeles Center Studios. For those are not familiar with this venue's history, let's just say it's where they build and store a lot of the famous TV/Movie cars we talk about on this blog. Now that we've covered the who and where, what about the "what"? Well the "what" is the objective of the show. Which is the fact two teams of eight (stars vs. locals) using the shop's resources will have just 72 hours to design, dissemble, build and polish 2 cars to be judged by the star panel. The task of building these monsters in such a tight time frame will be sure to test the wits, stamina and skills of it's contestants. We're looking forward to see what materializes out of this series. I'm sure we'll all be in for a surprise. You can find out more about this series at SpeedTv.com See ya next time!
Artist Brandon Ortwein asked the question: What if famous TV/Movie cars were sent to the body shop and returned with the wrong parts? Say for example Doc Brown sends his Delorean to the shop and it was returned with a door off the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee? The end result is hilarious. Brandon has created several of these scenarios in his works on this theme. You can checkout some of them below.
Doc Brown: Great Scott! The south must have raised again!
Marty McFly: This is heavy Doc, they must have mistaken us for the Good Ole Boys.
Mr. T: I pitty the foo that thinks we're the Scooby Doo Detective Agency.
Waylon Jennings: Well now it look's like the boys are making a statement: 'They an't afraid of no ghost.'
Which is worse a droid being more than meets the eye or an autobot being part droid?
You can also find more of Brandon's work on Flickr. If you would like to own or wear his designs you can find them on society6. Hopefully we'll see more of his work to come in the future. Till next time, be sure check with your body shop before picking up your On Screen Cars!
