Batmobile Prop Model Restoration

[JimmyVale]

I’ve been trying to find some info on a Batmobile model that was allegedly built for the TV show. A guy bought the prop, sight unseen, and paid big money for it, only to discover it was styrofoam junk. This was in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, I think.

There was a blog up a while back documenting him rebuilding it on an ironing board in his apartment. I think he finally fixed it up and sold it to George Barris.

Does anybody know what I’m talking about? It was big - maybe 1/4 scale. I’m also trying to recall any model footage from the TV show but everything I remember depicted the real car.

I’m going to have to look it up but I think there’s a shot of it in the Batman ‘66 movie DVD extras section. I recall it being in a case next to George Barris.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[A. Pennyworth]

That would be Eric Seltzer who runs the www.1966batmobile.com site. He purchased this large scale model, built it up, presented it to George Barris. Mr. Barris then showed this model on the DVD documentary and stated he used it as a model during the filming of the show. Of course it was not.

Here is a web-archive of Eric's "blog" page on this model

https://web.archive.org/web/20050403165 ... /model.htm


Here is the documentary video

the model comments start at 5:15

and you can contact Eric on his '66 Batmobile facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/1966batcar

[rsaffle]

Why would Barris feel the need to lie about the model‽ He didn't need anymore street cred. He was the man!

[AndyFish]

Money, plain and simple. IF something is a screen used prop or can be claimed as such by people who should know, especially if they were involved with the show, that's big bucks.

I'll never reveal who it was publicly but one of the biggest disappointments I've ever faced was hearing a well known associate of the show admit to me that they were selling reproductions as the real thing. It disheartened me and their justification was they didn't make much money on the show and had to make it up somewhere.

Greed is an evil thing.

[JimmyVale]

Yes, that’s it! Thanks, A. pennyworth!!

The only scene I recall where the Batmobile looked like a model was during the 1st episode when all the rockets were firing from the back and the fire extinguisher system went off. There are a few shots that I thought could’ve been models, but I don’t think so.

It sounds more likely that they started to build the model prop, found they didn’t need it, then boxed it up and sold it decades later.

Here’s a quote from the old website:

“…Yes, this styrofoam mass was shaped crudely like the Batmobile, but lacking any detail to speak of. This model was roughly 20% finished! Everything from the wheel wells to the back-end to the interior and even much of the overall shape of the car was in need of a major facelift. Even the tires were those that you'd see on a child's "Little Tykes" toy…”

The guy’s “journey” obtaining and rebuilding it is inspirational to me. Thanks!

[Lou Szabo]

Wow, I thought Eric scratch built that 1/6 scale model.

[JimmyVale]

Wow, I thought Eric scratch built that 1/6 scale model.

I can relate to what the guy went through. Back in 1989 I wanted a Lost in Space Robot model really really bad. I finally found a little Texas company called “Lunar Models” who had vacuformed kits of the robot for sale. I talked to them on the phone and they said that’s one of their early kits and it isn’t very good. They really did not want to sell me the kit but reluctantly did so.

When it arrived, it was like two halves of a Halloween mask in a plastic bag - just thin styrene sheets. I didn’t care and was hell bent on building that kit and having my own Robot!!!!

I worked on it all summer. Lots of modeling putty. Lots of substitute parts. I got it painted up and own it to this day! I only later realized what that vacuformed kit was. They took the parts from the Aurora kit and vacuformed thin styrene over them. The detail was beautiful on the inside of the sheets, but lousy on the outside.

I digress….the guy practically scratch built that Batmobile because what he started out with was junk.

It reminds me of the rock soup story. The original stuff is the rock and what we added made it worth something.

[Lou Szabo]

Bravo: Sweat and dedication!