Pimp My Batmobile!

Posts Tagged ‘batman’

Well, I’m not sure how “Elite” it really is, but it’s here. Looks like a different softer seat padding, couple of hoses, lens on speedo, tiny bit more chrome here and there, flocking on part of the go-kart frame, probably a couple more small things. I won’t count the red pinstriping or the corrected 4th white scallop because only Hot Wheels would make us think that CORRECTIONS should be considered Elite Options. I can’t find one thing that’s different about the Go-Kart itself. Maybe someone else with an opened standard can correct me on that. Some nice little touches.

Summary: Like all the releases so far – a head shaking, “cool-but too bad they didn’t…” experience that still somehow ends up being a must-have in any 1966 Batman Collection. Yes, it’s very nice and looks great. Loaded with mistakes when compared to the original on-screen version(s) but probably is an exact duplicate of someone’s replica out there. If it’s too much to ask for screen accuracy, it would have been nicer if they had at least changed the crappy wheels on the Go-Kart on the Elite version. If it had been the only one out they could have charged $85 and it would have been fine. The fact that a $29 version came out first with maybe $6 less detail parts on it just makes this version all the ruder. Still – had you told me 6 years ago that we’d be holding such a model and that it would be (for the most part) a mass market release – I wouldn’t have believed you.It’s a great model and if taken on its own merits – certainly worthy of your display shelf. Buy it from our retail sponsor, REPLICARZ and tell Brian that Scot from PMB! sent you.

A new installment here at PMB! will feature posts about classic Batmobile toys and collectibles.

First up is the Clifford Batmobile from 1966-8.

I’ve been collecting Batmobiles for 43 years. Ever since my parents brought me home my first Corgi Batmobile  gift set, it’s been an obsession with me. Sometimes I look for super-accuracy. Sometimes I enjoy the strange results of  those familiar lines being put through a cultural translator, sometimes the packaging or a unique take on the subject matter draws me in.

With this toy, it’s a smattering of many elements. This is a 7 inch long plastic friction powered car. At first glance, it’s not much different than the more common Ahi cars, but there are some significant differences. The chromed rocket tubes, the stencil-sprayed door bats, the addition of the red pinstriping (few toys did this), the silver grilles – all made this Batmobile toy a little cooler.

My favorite aspect of this toy is the wonderfully designed box art. Utilizing the correct show typeface, the correct ‘bat signal’ and a great color illustration of the car (from TWO angles no less) with an Adam West styled Batman (taken from a popular publicity still) all  make this one of the best-rendered boxes from the era.

It’s  a great addition to any Batmobile collection. Not hyper-rare, but uncommon, these have gone for as much as $300 MIB  but I often see them for FAR less loose.

If you find one without the box – buy it. You’re in luck. You can either download and make your own box from Dave Van Der Heeden’s excellent site: http://www.thebatmobile.nl/ . Or buy a pre-assembled, pre-shrinkwrapped replica box from Toy Tent.

Clifford, 7″ Friction-Powered Batmobile, 1966/8,  Hong Kong (pictured missing siren/antler assembly)

This past weekend was an amazing opportunity to meet so many of the people we’ve only known online for so long. Many regulars from The 1966 Batman Message Board all met up at the Screaming Tiki Con in Niles Ohio to swap stories, wear costumes, compare utility belts,  get Batcopter rides and much, much more.

Tim and I set up our PMB! booth and revealed several surprises that had not been seen in person before. We will be showing photos and some more exciting video very soon. Here’s our 2nd video of Shout-Outs from an amazingly generous and gracious bunch of folks. My thanks to everyone who stopped by and got on video for us, especially Scott and Vickie Sebring and Alex who did some cool stuff we’ll show very soon.

Back from “vacation” though this was one of those trips that pushed the term’s definition a bit. Nice place (Deep Creek Maryland) and some fun but not a ton of relaxation. I did enjoy being initiated to Disc Golf and am now a sore elbow-sporting fan. (don’t call it Frolf) And my sister and her boyfriend just announced their engagement so that was fun too. But now I’m home and dealing with orders and painting and now we are on full-tilt boogie alert to get our act together for our first (and most likely last and only) public appearance at this year’s Screaming Tiki Con!

 I stopped doing cons almost 10 years ago but with the stellar cast from the Batman show coming and this being Yvonne Craig’s ONLY appearance this year,  and the show only being about 1.5 hours away from my home, and with us having a ton of stuff to show, sell, display – We thought – Why not!? It will be a chance to finally put some faces with names that we’ve only talked to online for years. This promises to be the coolest con in the MidWest and certainly will be our ONLY physical appearance for some time. 

We hope to have some really cool items to sell, perhaps some giveaways and definitely several TIKI-ONLY items are in the works if we can get it all done in a few short months. Look here for updates and we hope to see you at the show. Tim Meyer from TPM Customs and I will be manning the booth. Stop by!

Hang on to your hat folks, I’ve got some scoop. It was just divulged to a high-ranking official at the 1966 Batmobile website that the upcoming mystery SDCC promo vehicle will be…

…not revealed until 6/10. Sorry. LOL. But since Eric doled out some hints on his site, I will too. How about a hint everyday until it’s announced?

• It’s a TV bat vehicle that was seen on screen.
• There was more than one version shown on screen
• It had electronic ignition
• It had modifications by the Fox props dept.
• It had bat emblems on it