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.