On sale for 1.5 million! A Batmobile that is not a BMW 3.0 CSL
Batman… That was very funny in the 80’s. After all, the television series that was still on the air twenty years earlier was the epitome of kitsch and camp. Director Tim Burton brought Batman back to his dark roots with the 1989 film of the same name and a spectacular Batmobile.
Just a quiz for the experts, which car do you recognize in the rear view of this Batmobile? Once… twice… Here’s the answer: the 1954 Fiat Turbina. Although Batman’s company car – would he lease it? – even larger upright fins next to its round “rocket mouth”.
Movie Batman directed by Tim Burton
Batman was a big box office hit in 1989 for Tim Burton, who had previously worked as a Disney animator and had a modest box office success with Beetlejuice, his second feature-length film. Michael Keaton played Batman, Jack Nicholson his nemesis Joker, but the real star of the screen was the fictional Gotham City, given a dark, gothic makeover by Burton.
Batmobile based on Chevrolet Impala
And of course the Batmobile. The colossus is no less than 6.2 meters long and stands on the chassis of a Chevrolet Impala. Three life-size models were reportedly used for the shoot, of which this is one.
In the film, the Batmobile shoots flames and is powered by a jet engine, but in reality it contains an electric motor.
Decoration on the Batman coaster in 6 flags
After filming, this Batmobile was moved to 6 Flags Theme Park in New Jersey, USA. There it served as a decoration for the Batman roller coaster. The machine is currently owned by a movie car collector who apparently wants to get rid of it.
Space for stunt drivers behind the seats
The Batmobile is for sale in the US for $1.5 million. It’s made of fiberglass and has room for three people, the third of which you can’t see.
Hidden behind the two seats in the interior (you can use Velcro to hang a black sheet in front of them) is another seat from which a stunt driver can control the car. Michael Keaton couldn’t do it himself in his heavy Batman suit.
Top speed between 40 and 50 km/h
According to the seller, the Batmobile’s batteries have not been recharged since 1993, so they likely need to be replaced. If you do that and get the machine running, the electric motor will give you a top speed of between 40 and 50 km/h.