Posts Tagged ‘batmobile’

Just a funny headline opportunity – nothing ignorant about it. Looks like we might be getting slot car Batmobiles. Autoworld  is an imprint of Round 2/Polar Lights etc. so – fingers crossed. Whatever the final slot cars look like – they had me from the retro catalog design. Here’s a description of their “4 Gear” slot car:

Auto World’s new 4Gear chassis is based on a classic extended “pancake” design. It features an extra gear on its lengthened power transfer plate. The extended wheelbase and narrowed rear end fitted with gigantic dragster-inspired wheels make it perfect for custom applications and totally wild specialty vehicles! And that’s not all… Flip the chassis over and you’ll find two neodymium traction magnets to make these dynamite racers grip the track for super high speed racing excitement!

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.

PMB! and Insane Detailing have waded through  a lot of setbacks on this one. Our Asian manufacturer that made the bases for us held up our masters and created delays for months, for which we apologize. The good news is that they’re finally done and shipping next week, in time for uh…the holiday season, if not actual Christmas day.

The bad news is that we have reevaluated what it has taken to make these units and the price is going up. Everybody that already ordered one – good going. Anyone else – sorry but they are just too time intensive to warrant our earlier $49 pricing. I have to crow about these a little, which is okay since I didn’t make them. I may have helped with the design stage but the real work is done by Insane Detailing’s Doug Switz. But if you’re serious about your Batmobile detailing – these are just must have pieces of amazing craftsmanship. I know they’re pricey but they’re absolutely worth it.

ORDER THEM HERE

I just heard from my friend Joe Kelly Jr. of The Car Room magazine and Playing With Cars web-show, who has a ton of new stuff going on right now. In addition to redoing his website and starting the magazine – he is working with George  Barris‘ producer – Ralph Riccardi on a new, as of yet unnamed show pilot for PBS.  Here’s some footage of a segment with Limodoctor Anthony Taffuri where they stroll through his secret lair full of amazing limousines, a Black Beauty, a W.I.P. STEEL Monkeymobile and of course, a Batmobile. They also tour Anthony’s toy room where we glimpse a custom stretch Futura model, as well as many other goodies.

Now we just have to get Anthony some of our PMB! parts or a fully upgraded HW Batmobile so he doesn’t have to keep looking at that horrible blow-molded 1/6 Joemobile with the ugly rims. (just teasing)  My favorite part of this clip is the end, with Joe donnng a replicowl to go fight crime.

Thanks Joe, great luck with the new endeavors!

TCR TV Secret Location from Ralph Riccardi on Vimeo.

Our thanks to everyone who participated in the Super Elite Batmobile Giveaway. The lucky recipient of the Big Bat Package of Fun described below from PMB and Replicarz is: (drumroll please…)

Brian Jones from Sycamore, Illinois!

Congratulations Brian!

Brian has been contacted and says he never wins anything and is very excited.

As an added surprise bonus – You’re ALL Winners!  That’s right, we have decided to award a $5 coupon to anyone who entered the giveaway good toward any purchase over $60.00 at PMB! (good toward any new $60.00 or more purchase from this date forward, not an older purchase or preorder that hasn’t been shipped yet) If you are in this category (and yes, we have the list) and are buying something in the future – just let us know so we can apply your coupon. Or just wait until we send a real coupon code out later.

Thanks again for participating. We are working on preorder items and should be updating this page with parts info soon.

_____________________________________________________________________________________Our great  friends at REPLICARZ have made it possible for us to give away a FANTASTIC set of Batmobile goodies worth over $400.00 that some lucky person will be thrilled to get. Here’s the rundown:

• 1 Hot Wheels 1/18 Super Elite Batmobile, MIB! Graciously supplied by REPLICARZ!
• 1 Hot Wheels SDCC Edition 1/50 Batgirl Cycle gift set MIB
• 1 Hot Wheels 1/50 Batboat MOC
• 1 PMB! 1/18 Crimefighter Figure Set (unpainted)
• 1 PMB! T-shirt (sizes are limited)

How it works. This NOT a raffle or a sweepstakes. We are giving these items away completely free. However, we will be picking numbers from our new database. We will collect names to draw, (completely at random based on a numbered system and a true random draw) and pick a recipient on April 15th.

• This isn’t a raffle or sweepstakes, technically no purchase is necessary.
• Shipping of the items will be free to all continental US states. If an international  donor is drawn, you will need to pay the actual shipping costs.
• We will close the list on April 15th at which time we will then pick the recipient and announce on April 16th.