Original 1966 Batmobile Predicted to Make Millions at Auction

The iconic 1966 Batmobile is going under the hammer and is expected to realise millions when it's sold at Barrett-Jackson Car Auctions in January - which isn't a bad return considering the creator of the famous crime-fighting vehicle bought it from the Ford Motor Company for a dollar in 1965.

It's the first time the car has come up for sale since originally being bought by Barris and kept in his personal collection. Based on the one-off 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car by Ford, the legend is that Barris had only 15 days and $15,000 to turn the car into the Joker-busting Batmobile

“The 1966 Batmobile by George Barris is one of the most famous Hollywood cars in history and it has become a true icon that has been carried from generation to generation of Batmobiles to follow,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “This vehicle not only marks the significant Bat logo that sits on the middle of its door, but a time in television history where they defied the odds of making a car the real star of the show. It revolutionised an entire industry that followed in its footsteps and we couldn’t be prouder to have it cross our block in Scottsdale as it goes up for sale for the very first time.”

The car features a 390-in 1956 Lincoln V-8 engine and a B&M Hydro Automatic transmission. Gadgets include a nose-mounted alluminium Cable Cutter Blade, Bat Ray Projector, Anti-Theft Device, Detect-a-scope, Batscope, Bat Eye Switch, Antenna Activator, Police Band Cut-In Switch, Automatic Tire Inflation Device, Remote Batcomputer, the Batphone, Emergency Bat Turn Lever, Anti-Fire Activator, Bat Smoke, Bat Photoscope, and many other Bat gadgets. If needed, the Batmobile was capable of a quick 180° “bat-turn” thanks to two rear-mounted ten-foot Deist parachutes.