Original Batmobile Sells For $4.6M, Close To $5M Prediction

Scottsdale, AZ – The original Batmobile has sold at auction for $4.6 million, just slightly less than the $5 million price tag it was predicted to sell for.

The original 19-foot bubble-topped car used in the 60s Batman television show sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. auction Saturday. The selling price was released by auctioneers, but they would not disclose the identity of the buyer (which is why we have reporters), reports MSN.

The car’s previous owner was George Barris, a custom car guy who tweaked a 1955 Lincoln Futura into the iconic Batmobile we all know and love.

“With every pow, bang, wow, wee, I wanted the car to do something just like the actors,” the 87-year-old Barris said in an interview before the auction. “The car had to be a star on its own. And it became one.”

Though there are many replicas of the original Batmobile out there, the one sold on Saturday was the first, and was actually used in the TV series, reports CNN. This had some experts wondering whether collectors would pay up to $5 million for the original car when so many functional “clones” are available.

Well, someone was willing to pay at least $4.6 million for it. That someone is Rick Champagne, a Phoenix-area logistics company owner.

“I really liked Batman growing up and I came here with the intention of buying the car,” the 56-year-old told Reuters after winning the Batmobile. “Sure enough, I was able to buy it. That was a dream come true.”

Fun fact: Ventriloquist/comedian Jeff Dunham owns the 1989 Batmobile from Tim Burton’s Batman.

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