Holy cow! Original Batmobile from TV series sells for $4.2 million

[Tuesday Afternoon]

By David Schwartz | Reuters

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona man with a special fondness for caped crusader Batman and his sidekick Robin bought the original Batmobile driven in the iconic television series with a bid of $4.2 million at an auction on Saturday.

Rick Champagne, a Phoenix-area logistics company owner, came away with the black, futuristic two-seater featured in the "Batman" series starring Adam West and Burt Ward from 1966 to 1968, following a flurry of spirited bidding at the Scottsdale, Arizona, auction.

"I really liked Batman growing up and I came here with the intention of buying the car," Champagne, 56, told Reuters in a brief interview moments after he bought the car. "Sure enough, I was able to buy it. That was a dream come true."

The Barrett-Jackson auction was the first time the car was put up for public sale. In addition to the $4.2 million bid price, the buyer will have to pay an additional roughly $420,000 in premiums.

The Batmobile is based on a 1955 Lincoln Futura, a concept car built in Italy by the Ford Motor Co.

more at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/holy-cow-original-batmobile-tv-series-sells-4-055314083.html

[CanSocDem]

1. Good for George Barris.

He deserves the money. Quirky, industrial artists didn't get much respect in their day so it is always gratifying to see their visions finally paying off, at least financially.

.

[Mnpaul]

2. The everything Batmobile site

http://www.1966batmobile.com/

If you click on "history" you can see info on the Futura.

There were a total of four cars built. The other three were fiberglass.
http://www.1966batmobile.com/replica.htm

[CJCRANE]

3. "Rick Champagne"...

Now there's a guy whose name matches his lifestyle!

He could easily be a character living in Gotham City.

I'm changing my name to Charlie Caviar.