Holy collector car, Batman! Original Batmobile to sell
#1
Holy collector car, Batman! Original Batmobile to sell
Somebody here buy this.
Anyone care to speculate on what it will sell for?
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/feature...12&rid=3400133
Anyone care to speculate on what it will sell for?
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/feature...12&rid=3400133
#5
At 87 years old I guess George Barris has decided it's time to thin the collection.
I hope there is copious amounts of documentation that goes and stays with the car, as there are several people already that claim they own the original Batmobile. I'd hate for this car to be lost to history, right in front of our noses.
I hope there is copious amounts of documentation that goes and stays with the car, as there are several people already that claim they own the original Batmobile. I'd hate for this car to be lost to history, right in front of our noses.
#6
my favorite car of all time. there is a few copies around town here actualy, saw this outside work one day. have seen em getting gas too, thats a real headturner
IMG_5070.jpg
IMG_5070.jpg
Last edited by stan 65 cutlass; December 6th, 2012 at 10:07 AM.
#8
check out http://www.1966batmobile.com/background2.htm for some interesting background and pictures..
#9
Hi Guys,
Had one sell over here in the UK last year at the Brooklands Historic Car Auction 03-03-2011.
SDC10294.jpg
SDC10295.jpg
SDC10296.jpg
Cheers.
Russ.
Had one sell over here in the UK last year at the Brooklands Historic Car Auction 03-03-2011.
SDC10294.jpg
SDC10295.jpg
SDC10296.jpg
Cheers.
Russ.
#11
Youse talken to me? Fixed
#14
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
I don't think so. Other custom work done by Barris has been flogged on the web over the past couple years and never brought the money you guys are suggesting. The only thing that will make that car $$ skyrocket is a bidding war between Commissioner Gordon and the Joker. IMO? 6 figures very likely, but not high. Although he's easily recognized for his unique talent and creations, I don't think Barris has the popularity he had back in the day.
#15
Some of the people who liked the original show from the 1960s' have very deep pockets now, and we are talking about the original, what all the others were copied from. From the original customizer, who all others copy from. We will see in a month or so.
#17
Hi Guys,
A lot of the old Barris cars are over here in the UK and all belong to a guy i know, Gary Hillman. Another mate of mine, a friend of some 35 years, Dave Woodfield does a lot of the maintainence and restoration work on Gary's cars.
Unless anything has changed recently Gary owns, Sand Draggin, Alvins Acorn, Sidewinder, Pool Hustler, Bunk Beds, Bugaloos, Snake Pit, plus a couple of Andy Saunders creations, Runaground and Indecision, he has also got a couple of Amphicars, a couple of speed boats, 1957 Performer Speedboat, 1953 Chris Craft 17' Rocket known as "Gee Wizz" which was built at the Cadillac factory in Michigan to be the star exhibit at the 1953 Boat Show here in the UK. Gary also bought the Peel Motor Car company a few years back.
I have got a few photos of some of the cars which i can post up if anyone is interested. My mate Dave did a lot of the restoration work quite recently on Sand Draggin and Alvins Acorn. Sand Draggin has got an Olds Tornado engine sitting out back, the Hillborn injection was dumped in favour of quad downdraft webbers.
Cheers.
Russ.
A lot of the old Barris cars are over here in the UK and all belong to a guy i know, Gary Hillman. Another mate of mine, a friend of some 35 years, Dave Woodfield does a lot of the maintainence and restoration work on Gary's cars.
Unless anything has changed recently Gary owns, Sand Draggin, Alvins Acorn, Sidewinder, Pool Hustler, Bunk Beds, Bugaloos, Snake Pit, plus a couple of Andy Saunders creations, Runaground and Indecision, he has also got a couple of Amphicars, a couple of speed boats, 1957 Performer Speedboat, 1953 Chris Craft 17' Rocket known as "Gee Wizz" which was built at the Cadillac factory in Michigan to be the star exhibit at the 1953 Boat Show here in the UK. Gary also bought the Peel Motor Car company a few years back.
I have got a few photos of some of the cars which i can post up if anyone is interested. My mate Dave did a lot of the restoration work quite recently on Sand Draggin and Alvins Acorn. Sand Draggin has got an Olds Tornado engine sitting out back, the Hillborn injection was dumped in favour of quad downdraft webbers.
Cheers.
Russ.
#20
#23
I was at a sale at Manheim some years ago and that car was bid to around $200,000.00 (196k to be exact) and did not sell. At that time it was supposedly owned by a museum in Washington D.C. That was at about 10-12 maybe 15 years ago. That car is one of my all-time favorites. There is a company selling bodies to make your own "Gotham Cruiser" and the kits sell for around $7000.00
I think the car will do well, but it really depends on how many people want it and how bad one or two of them REALLY want it.
Barrett-Jackson has a lot to do with how much it will sell for by assigning a prime time slot or just a regular run number. If it is presented with other mega-dollar cars during "Shatter-Day" then the sky is the limit.
I think the car will do well, but it really depends on how many people want it and how bad one or two of them REALLY want it.
Barrett-Jackson has a lot to do with how much it will sell for by assigning a prime time slot or just a regular run number. If it is presented with other mega-dollar cars during "Shatter-Day" then the sky is the limit.
#24
#26
The good replicas like the Gotham Cruisers usually go for around $140,000. This being the original #1 I am betting high six figures for sure. I believe the number 3 car went for around half a mil. Should be intersting to see what it goes for....just love this car.
#31
I thought George Barris sounded and looked pretty good for being 88 years old. I hope I'm half that energetic and half that loud when I'm that age, assuming I ever am that age.
#33
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
I had to laugh at Steve Davis saying to George Barris: "Tell us more about the features on that car - we need to make you some more money". Remember that when the bidding 'stalled' at a paltry 2.2 million? I read that as "We're not making enough commission - help us get more". I never in my wildest dreams thought it would go for that kind of money. George looked a little like a deer in the headlights at times, but heck, at his age that's ok especially with the stress and frenzy of the auction right in his face. Now you just have to wonder about the other Kustom Kreations that George has done that just didn't have this exposure? Maybe they'll be showing up on BJ next year and the year after .... They may even become more valuable when he passes. Sort of like the Shelby's (RIP Carroll) I only saw the Batmobile auction in part - Curling was on TSN and it got preference. So I only saw the beginning and snippets in between till the skins game was over.
Buyer premium 10% - 420,000
Seller premium 8% - 336,000
BJ's take on the BMB? 756,000. Not bad for a fifteen minutes of bidding. Anyone know what their overhead is?
After the sale Craig Jackson said he's expecting letters of apology from those who said it was only worth 200K.
Buyer premium 10% - 420,000
Seller premium 8% - 336,000
BJ's take on the BMB? 756,000. Not bad for a fifteen minutes of bidding. Anyone know what their overhead is?
After the sale Craig Jackson said he's expecting letters of apology from those who said it was only worth 200K.
#34
Years ago read a funny story about one guy who worked for Barris and he was hauling that thing around the country when Barris would do personal appearances.
They were somewhere in northern Illinois and the guy had to drive the thing a couple blocks from where the hauler was parked to where they would set-up... got pulled over by the cops. No license... no title... owned by Batman... from Gotham City... funny stuff.
They were somewhere in northern Illinois and the guy had to drive the thing a couple blocks from where the hauler was parked to where they would set-up... got pulled over by the cops. No license... no title... owned by Batman... from Gotham City... funny stuff.
Last edited by krooser; January 19th, 2013 at 09:08 PM.
#35
Oh but Allan, they said that with just about every car up there tonight. They'd stop the bidding to say, this car should be going for this much... Or, this car is worth more than that. Actually, no, it isn't. The car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
#39
Although I think that is absolutely stupid money it doesn't surprise me. This was one of the first iconic cars in television history, only one made in the same hands of the original designer for 40 some years. There were dozens of general lees and even more that can be made to look like it.
And that's the job of the auction house - get more money for the buyer and themselves, the more money they raise the more clients that go to them the richer everyone gets. You either need to be very very disciplined or have enough not to care. Clearly who ever bought this car has the means, would be cool to see it in my living-room. Though if I had that much money to buy that car I'd make an addition to my house that looks like the bat cave with a door that opens up just like the show and I'd drive the heck out of that car (on nice days of course)
And that's the job of the auction house - get more money for the buyer and themselves, the more money they raise the more clients that go to them the richer everyone gets. You either need to be very very disciplined or have enough not to care. Clearly who ever bought this car has the means, would be cool to see it in my living-room. Though if I had that much money to buy that car I'd make an addition to my house that looks like the bat cave with a door that opens up just like the show and I'd drive the heck out of that car (on nice days of course)
#40
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Yeah, I get that Steven. But that's why the car had a reserve. That's the amount the seller was comfortable with letting it go. You're right, anything after that is gravy and sure more is better. I just never in my wildest dreams expected that kind of coin when I've seen other Barris offerings not even get a sniff in the past. This one was kind of like a feeding frenzy of hungry sharks...With that kind of disposable $$$ I guess it really comes down the the buyers whims. Must be nice.
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