What would be cooler than owning your own Batmobile?
Exactly. This is a vehicle that can transform into a missile-like canopy to evade pursuing police cars, took down both the Ace Chemicals facility and most of the Tommy gun-toting ne’er-do-wells pretty much single-handed, and makes tight cornering look easy thanks to handily accessible grappling hooks. There’s very little that comes close! And now, fans of both 1989’s Batman and the most famous version of the Cape Crusader’s daily (nightly?) driver is up for sale at Mecum Auctions.
Bidding for this particular Batmobile, which recently underwent a “comprehensive restoration,” begins on 17 May as part of Mecum’s ‘Indy 2025’ auction. Further details can be found here.
Key takeaways
- Stunt and exhibition car officially licensed by Warner Brothers.
- Almost 20-feet long, featuring the chassis and 350-cubic-inch V8 from a Chevrolet Impala.
- Jet-fighter-inspired cockpit, with smoke and oil slick switchgear!
Driven By Batman! Powered By… Chevy
Officially licensed by Warner Brothers – producers and financiers of the ’89 Batman – this particular example was used as both an exhibition and stunt car at the Hollywood production company’s affiliated Six Flags Great Adventure show. But don’t think for a second though that the Warner Brothers (and their sister Dot) cheaped out on this example.
The bodywork, for example, like its movie-screen counterpart, is sculpted, gloss black fiberglass, and, yes, does feature that sliding jet fighter-style canopy over the cockpit. The front features the same turbine blade design and air intake akin to a British harrier jet, and, if you cycle round to the back, you’ll also find the rear flamethrower used by its silver-screen counterpart to simulate an afterburn.
Granted, the fact that this model, all 20-feet of it, is built on the extended chassis of a Chevrolet Impala and boasts the same 350-cubic-inch Chevy V8 that powered the Caprice, the Impala and the El Camino does rather take the crime-fighting edge off it. Indeed, Bruce Wayne cosplayers hoping to land the winning bid may be disheartened to know that ’89 Batmobile taps out at a largely inconsequential 30 MPH.
Still, there is a ‘Lightning Rod’ style gear shifter connected with its automatic transmission in the “jet fighter-inspired” cockpit. The interior, meanwhile, features leather seats, door panels and upholstery across the dash, the latter of which is a veritable smorgasbord of custom buttons, levers and switchgear. Even the Batman logo has been included in the middle of the steering wheel, while, just behind the driver’s seat, there’s a ‘Wounded Knee’ emblem in deference to the vehicle’s builders.
Wait… The Batmobile Can Be Driven On The Public Road?
Bizarre as it sounds, road-legal elements have been incorporated into the build of this ’89 Batmobile. The custom wheels, for example, are fitted with Mickey Thompson treaded tires (I say, are those Bat Logo center hubcaps?!). The sliding canopy features a functioning set of windshield wipers. The headlamps and taillights all work. Even hydraulic front suspension was a core part of the build, since this made transporting the vehicle to and from the show and/or the set both more practical and considerably cheaper! You may need to speak with the NHTSA about the ‘smoke,’ ‘fire’ and ‘oil’ slick though…
“The fact that this Batmobile boasts the same Chevy V8 that powered the Caprice, the Impala and the El Camino does rather take the crime-fighting edge off it.”
No official estimate has been placed on this particular Batmobile, but bear in mind another example of the ‘89 brood was sold at auction in 2022 for just short of $1.5 million. Admittedly, this was an example driven by a cowl-donning Michael Keaton on-screen.
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