Holy moolah, Batman! Man who paid $1 for the original Batmobile sells it at auction $4.6M
- Legendary Hollywood car custom designer George Barris transformed a Lincoln Futura for the legendary film and TV series in 1966 and has owned it ever since
- He bought it from Ford in 1965 for a nominal $1, then spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming it into the Batmobile, driven by Adam West
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The original Batmobile went under the hammer for the first time -- 47 years after its designer built it from an old Lincoln Futura he bought for $1 -- and has sold an eye-popping $4.6 million
Car customizer George Barris transformed the banger into the sleek black vehicle that starred in the legendary film and TV series in 1966.
Now the 87-year-old, who has owned it ever since, has sold the caped crusader’s company car - which he calls the 'most valuable car in the world,' at an Arizona auction house.
The 'most valuable car in the world': George Barris (pictured) auctioned off the original Batmobile 47 years after he built it from an old Lincoln Futura
Meet the new Batmobile owner Rick Champagne (center) The previous owner on the left
The Batmobile was auctioned off by Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale and went Rick Champagne, a businessman and car collector from the Phoenix area, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The Batmobile ties the record for the highest price fetched for a movie car at auction.
In 2010, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger set the record when it went 4.6 million. In 2011, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car auctioned for $805,000, shy of the $1 million it was expected to fetch.
The Batmobile started out as a 1955 Lincoln Futura which Barris bought from Ford in 1965 for a nominal $1.
He then spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming the concept car into the one-of-a-kind Batmobile to be driven by actor Adam West.
The Batmobile (pictured with Adam West as Batman) uses a V8 engine and automatic gearbox. It's unmistakeable design and famous history will appeal to collectors
A Phoenix-area businessman bought it for $4.6 million
At the time the auction was announced, George said: 'I think it is the most valuable car in the world and the public really get a kick out of it when they see it.
'I designed and built the Batmobile and I have shown it all around the world but now I think it is time that someone else can enjoy it.
'Over the years I have built many cars and I always get attached to them and it will be sad to see it go but I would like someone else to enjoy it now.
'When I created it I wanted to make it a star like Adam West and Burt Ward. It was not just a car.'
The Batmobile uses a V8 engine and automatic gearbox but it is its unmistakable design and famous history which will appeal to collectors.
Batman, Robin, the Green Hornet and Kato discuss the merits of the Batmobile and Black Beauty on a corner in Gotham City
Adam West, and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin in the Batmobile. Mr Barris spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming the concept car
Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said: 'The Batmobile is true Americana and it’s hard to put a dollar figure on something like that.
'The difference is that this is the real deal, the original and the only one to have been on the Batman series - it’s been in George Barris’ garage for all these years and that is invaluable.
'This vehicle not only marks the significant Bat logo that sits on the middle of its door, but a time in television history where they defied the odds of making a car the real star of the show.
'It revolutionized an entire industry that followed in its footsteps and we couldn’t be prouder to have it cross our block in Scottsdale as it goes up for sale for the very first time.'
Detail sticklers shouldn't worry, the car delivers.
The car comes with Batman gadgets such as a Batphone and an oil squirter fashioned from lawn sprinklers.
And it's all road legal.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265319/Batmobile-Man-paid-1-original-sells-auction-4-6M.html#ixzz2IWcZonrj
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