The black, fin-tailed Batmobile that roared through Gotham in Tim Burton's 1992 film Batman Returns is heading to the auction block for the very first time, with bidding expected to reach as high as $7 million. Julien's Auctions and Turner Classic Movies will hold The Ultimate Batmobile Auction live and online in Los Angeles on November 23, offering up the screen-used hero car alongside a trove of Batman costumes, props and production artwork.
According to Julien's Auctions, the vehicle at the center of the sale is the screen-used Hero Batmobile from Batman Returns, and it is being put up for auction for the first time. The car was built by Carl Casper on a chassis spliced from two Chevrolet Impalas, with a design based on the work of production designer Anton Furst and concept illustrator Julian Caldow, as reported by MyNewsLA.com. The live and online sale is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific at Julien's Studios in Gardena, California, per CarPro.
A Car Built for Fire and Fiberglass
The Batmobile stretches approximately 19 feet 8 inches long and still carries its original glossy black paint, according to SuperHeroHype. It also features a radio-controlled flaming exhaust system, a theatrical touch created with a pressurized mixture of air and kerosene activated by radio-frequency equipment, CarPro reports.
Julien's has given the car an estimated value of $5 million to $7 million, while a separate Julien's page describes it as expected to fetch upwards of $7 million. The Drive similarly reports the car is expected to bring in about $5,000,000 to $7,000,000, and notes that a sale at that level would break the record for an on-screen-used Batmobile. Robb Report goes further, noting that a sale within that range would make the Batman Returns Batmobile the most expensive movie car in history.
Measuring Against the Original 1966 Batmobile
Reports differ on exactly where that record currently sits. Julien's Auctions states that George Barris' original 1966 TV-series Batmobile sold for $4.6 million in 2013, while The Drive cites the current on-screen-used Batmobile auction record as $4.2 million for that same car. CarPro, meanwhile, reports the Barris-built car sold at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction in 2013 for $4.62 million. Slashgear adds further nuance, reporting that the winning bid was $4.2 million but that the buyer, identified as Champagne, ultimately paid $4.6 million for the car once fees were included.
Costumes, Props and Comic-Book History
Beyond the car itself, the November 23 auction will bring forth costumes, props and production artifacts spanning Batman's film and television history, Julien's Auctions says. Offerings include an original batsuit and cowl from Batman Returns, with the auction page specifically identifying a Michael Keaton Bruce Wayne/Batman batsuit costume and a Catwoman cowl worn by Michelle Pfeiffer. Also on the block is an art department model of the Batmobile from Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, along with batarangs and grapple guns from various Batman films.
Rare production artwork rounds out the Batman-specific lots, including Julian Caldow's original illustration of the Batwing from Batman and hand-drawn storyboards from both Batman and Batman Returns, per MyNewsLA.com's reporting. The sale extends beyond Gotham as well, with props and costumes from other superhero and action franchises. SuperHeroHype reports the collection includes Christopher Reeve's flying costume from Superman IV, Wesley Snipes' Blade props and a Power Stone Orb from Guardians of the Galaxy, while additional lots include Superman's costume from 1987's Superman IV, Captain America's shield and War Machine's helmet from 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Wesley Snipes' sunglasses from 1998's Blade.
Julien's Executive Calls Lineup Honor for the Franchise
Catherine Williamson, managing director of Hollywood memorabilia for Julien's Auctions, said Julien's Auctions and TCM were honored to present the auction celebrating Batman and its movie memorabilia. Williamson described the sale as spanning the cinematic history of Batman, including Tim Burton's films, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Batman vs. Superman.
More information on the auction, including the full catalog as it becomes available, can be found at juliensauctions.com/en.
