Automotive

Road-legal Batmobile replica up for auction

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A fully road-legal Batmobile replica is available at auction
A fully road-legal Batmobile replica is available at auction
The replica is no slouch, reaching 60 mph in under 5 seconds
A fully road-legal Batmobile replica
The vehicle is based on the one driven by Michael Keaton in the 1989 film Batman
The car is a replica of the vehicle used by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 movies
The car is expected to sell for up to US$145,000
No jet engine here, but the replica does have a fuel injected Jaguar 3.2 liter engine, remote ignition, hydraulic suspension, smoke release mechanism, flame thrower
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Historics auction house in Surrey, UK, is listing a fully road-legal Batmobile for sale. It’s not an original – the car is a replica of the vehicle used by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 movies – but Historics lists the piece as an "extremely well conceived tribute."

"BLACK, low mileage, excellent condition, bespoke chassis, automatic transmission, fuel injected Jaguar 3.2 liter engine, remote ignition, hydraulic suspension, smoke release mechanism, flame thrower. US$145,000."

As second-hand car adverts go, it is a little out of the ordinary, although not entirely. The original 1992 Batmobile used by Keaton in Batman Returns was auctioned in 2010 and the first ever Batmobile, driven by Adam West in the 1960s TV series, went under the hammer in January and sold for a cool $4.2 million.

Despite being designed with Hollywood looks in mind, the original "Keaton-mobile" that was used in the movies had more than just curves in all the right places.The car was voice-controlled and featured two Browning submachine guns, a jet turbine engine that delivered 1,500 lb of thrust and 0-60 mph (100 km/h) acceleration in less than 3.7 seconds.

Although pared back somewhat, the replica is no slouch either, reaching 60 mph in under 5 seconds. "It is a smooth driving car, however there’s not a lot of all-round vision – it’s a bit like a fighter jet in that sense," Edward Bridger-Stille, from Historics is reported to have said. "This vehicle is believed to be one of the best after-production, fully road-legal models ever made."

Budding caped-crusaders can bid for the car on Saturday, November 30.

You can see the car in action below.

Source: Historics

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7 comments
dsiple
Might be street legal, but a bit wide for narrow streets! The driver's seat is on the wrong side to be a replica; The turbo fan in the front wasn't spinning; a chromed gas-cap? You couldn't think to have it painted black like the rest of the car??
Grunchy
The old '55 Lincoln batmobile was the best batmobile. That was a time when guys actually believed their tail fins were aerodynamically useful!
bergamot69
The steering wheel is on the correct side of the car for use in the UK- where it is being sold.
That said, it does not appear to have windscreen wipers, which would make it not road legal for use on British roads. There are exceptions for the need to fit wipers- such as on kit cars with 'aeroscreens' (tiny glass flaps well beneath the driver's eyeline, as found on historic race cars.
I can see what look like front indicators discretely mounted - but are there headlights?
Jay Finke
That thing is huge, looks like it took all of its might to do a burnout on wet pavement,. I like to see some footage of it doing 70mph on the freeway ?
Jon Smith
If that quote from Mr. Edward Bridger-Stille is true then he is really very miss informed, jet fighters must have and there for are designed to have great visibility.
"It is a smooth driving car, however there’s not a lot of all-round vision – it’s a bit like a fighter jet in that sense," Edward Bridger-Stille
Any one have a crowbar to help him get his foot out of his stomach?
Stephen N Russell
Too bad cant 3D replicate thsfor worldwide sales
Michael Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-looxUTqIs
this one is much better. It actually is powered by a turbine and has real working machine guns.