It was last month that we first brought you news of an American man who created the world’s only turbine-engined Batmobile replica (read news). It’s an amazing piece of engineering but is entirely impractical and exists only to help play out the boyhood fantasies of its owner and creator Casey Putsch. But now, Putsch has gone tired of this pricey toy and has put it up for sale on eBay Motors.

The Batmobile has a shape made famous by the earlier Keaton-era Batman movies and is powered by the same Boeing turboshaft engine found in the likes of a U.S Navy drone helicopter. The price tag is a very heavy $620,000 USD, that’s a lot of money to play dress ups. (more…)

What is it about the Batmobile? No other TV/movie car seems to make men go to such extraordinary lengths to recreate one for themselves.

Sure, having a real-life Batmobile parked in your driveway would be pretty sweet, but the reality may not live up to expectation. Most Batmobile replicas ride on a rough junkyard chassis and are powered by a rusty old GM-sourced 350 V8. It’s hard to emulate the Caped Crusader when there’s black smoke spewing out the back of your ride and you have to stop every 3km because the cabin overheats and you skimped on the air-con.

But not all try-hard Batmans are created equal. A man by the name of Casey Putsch decided he wanted a Batmobile to call his own, but he wasn’t ready to settle for anything second-rate, he wanted the real deal. Much like Bruce Wayne, Mr Putsch has the hard cash needed for the job, mainly because he’s the owner of Putsch Racing, an outfit that restores and builds all sorts of automotive machinery. To make his replica unique, Putsch has built what he claims is the only turbine-powered Batmobile in the world. (more…)

The annual Speedshow returns to Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds this weekend, September 19-20 for what’s touted as a motorsport-fuelled event of epic proportions.

Along with a couple of special cars being flown in for the event (including the world’s faster NASCAR, which has clocked 397kph!) the show is promising a lot, including competition car displays, apparel, merchandise, audio and accessory vendors, new cars, bikes and a live action arena outdoors featuring Minis and stunt utes.

The show is open from 9am to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday. Adult entry is $16, children under 10 who are accompanied by an adult get in for free, children 10 to 15 years – $8, and entry for a family of two adults and up to three children is a very reasonable $45. Get along!

For more information about the Speedshow, click here to visit the website

This Batmobile replica recently sold for $297,000.00US ($377,000.00NZ).

The images included show the car in stages from ZZ3 Chevrolet to Batmobile. It’s not the movie original but it’s a pretty close working replica.

This running and driving example of the Batmobile was constructed in Australia with a fiberglass body and a custom tubular chassis. Its mold cost a reported $2,500,000 ($3,171,400.00NZ) and an additional $300,000 ($380,300.00NZ), was invested to complete the vehicle. As a promotional vehicle, not used in filming, it embarked on various promotional tours around the world before its eventual acquisition by Mr. Wiseman in 1999. It remains fully intact and functional with no damage to speak of. Despite a certain degree of surface texture and minor paint cracking and scuffs, the car remains in very presentable condition. The interior has held up nicely and is entirely custom made, while the undercarriage has been detailed to the standards required for cinema productions. Bat-gadgets such as the rear jet flame are completely functional.

As interest in Batman has increased once again in anticipation of his next cinema appearance in The Dark Knight, so too has public interest in his various gadgets, cars, and tools. This particular offering from the Wiseman Collection represents a very unique opportunity and a curious juxtaposition of design trends and cinematic flair. While its adherence to Bob Kane’s original vision is continually debated, its significance to the entire Batman industry and fan base is undeniable.

Specifications:

Est. 350hp, 350 cu. in. ZZ3 Chevrolet V8 engine, automatic transmission, custom front and rear suspension. Wheelbase: 118″

Length: 25 ft.

Height: 10.5 ft.

Width: 7 ft.

More information here

Source: RM Auctions