Who’s the man behind this item?
George Barris was the man who designed the iconic car of Adam West’s Batmobile. He was a designer from the United States. And the creator of several well-known Hollywood custom vehicles.
Barris was born in Chicago to Greek migrants. He transferred to California to stay with his uncle after his mom died when he was a baby. At seven years old, Barris began constructing vehicle models using balsa wood and changing their design and appearance. He became a part of the developing teen automobile culture when he was 18 years old. And he opened the “Barris Custom Shop” on Imperial Highway, Bell, California.
George Barris designed the original Batmobile’s frame. And several other well-known customized autos for celebrities. Barris built memorable automobiles for movies, TV shows, and stars throughout his career. He established a reputation for his flamboyant, colorful flair. Barris’ name has become iconic with the twentieth-century California automotive industry.
What makes this car so valuable?
Barris’s Batmobile was a modified 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura. He customized it in 15 days for $15,000.
The Futura possessed a 6.0-liter V8 engine that produced around 300 horsepower. It also has a Batphone, an automatic gearbox, and an oil squirter made out of lawn sprinklers. It also contains a painted 10-gallon bucket that serves as a false jet exhaust. Two packed parachutes in the back work to achieve a “Bat turn.” In addition, the legendary Batmobile measured 19 feet in length.
Barris retained the automobile in his private collection until 2012, after being featured in the original Batman TV series starring Adam West. He only built one Futura. And it was displayed during the 1955 Chicago Auto Show.
What is the car’s current value?
In 2013, the legendary customized Adam West’s Batmobile eventually sold for $4.6 million in the auction.
Rick Champagne was the Batmobile’s purchaser. Champagne works for a logistics firm as an executive.
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