Original 1966 Batmobile sells for $4.2m at Barrett-Jackson
George Barris’s custom-built Batmobile from the 1960s TV series finds a new owner after a high-profile auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The original Batmobile from the 1966 Batman television series was sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction for $4.2 million, with Arizona collector Rick Champagne placing the winning bid. The car, an icon of American pop culture, had been owned since the 1960s by Los Angeles customiser George Barris, who built it for the show using a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept as the base.
Barris bought the Lincoln Futura for just $1 in 1959, after Ford had used it as a show car and in the film "It Started with a Kiss". When ABC commissioned the Batman series, Barris was given just three weeks to transform the Futura into a screen-ready Batmobile. The result was a 19-foot-long, jet-black car with exaggerated fins, a bubble canopy, and a suite of fictional crimefighting gadgets. These included a “Batphone”, smoke screen and oil slick dispensers, and a centre console with flashing lights and levers. The car was powered by the Futura’s original V8 engine, though the TV gadgets were all for show.
The Batmobile’s appearance alongside Adam West and Burt Ward in the Batman series made it one of the most recognisable TV cars of the 20th century. After filming ended, Barris retained ownership and toured the car at shows and events. The Barrett-Jackson sale marked the first time the original had changed hands since its creation.
Other notable sales at Barrett-Jackson 2013
The auction also saw the first retail production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray cross the block, selling for $1.1 million to NASCAR team owner and Corvette collector Rick Hendrick. The car, with VIN ending in 0001, was offered ahead of the model’s public release. Hendrick also bought General Motors CEO Dan Akerson’s 1958 Corvette for $270,000. Both sales benefitted Habitat for Humanity Detroit.
Classic TV and film cars at auction
What the sale means for collectors
The $4.2 million price reflects the Batmobile’s status as both a custom car and a piece of entertainment history. For collectors, it sets a benchmark for original screen-used vehicles, especially those with a single builder and continuous provenance. The sale also highlights growing interest in high-profile TV and film cars at major US auctions, where pop culture appeal can drive values well beyond those of conventional classics.
