One of the principal cars used in Tim Burton’s 1992 film Batman Returns will be offered at auction on November 23. Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies estimate it could bring $5 million to $7 million.
Known as the Hero Batmobile, the vehicle was one of three built for the second Batman film starring Michael Keaton. Carscoops reported that this particular car was used for more of the close-up shots. The Ultimate Batmobile Auction is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and online.
The design was based on a Chevrolet Impala. Its body was lengthened to 260.7 inches, or about 6,620 millimetres, and it had a 141-inch, roughly 3,580-millimetre wheelbase. Designer Julian Caldow created its signature turbine-style front air intakes and fins over the rear wheels.
For the 1989 film, John Evans’s visual-effects team at Pinewood Studios built two fully drivable cars powered by Chevrolet V8 engines. Producers hired Carl Casper to make three more vehicles for the 1992 sequel.
The auction house’s estimate is $5 million to $7 million, or roughly 427 million to 598 million rubles using the conversion quoted in the source report. For comparison, the original Batmobile from the 1966 television series sold in 2013 for $4.62 million, although the older car would be worth more after inflation.
If the price reaches $7 million, the vehicle will rank among the most expensive cars made for film. It would surpass the Aston Martin DB5 from the 1964 Sean Connery film Goldfinger, which sold for $6.4 million in 2019.
Earlier, a Ferrari 550 Maranello once owned by basketball player Michael Jordan sold at auction for $2.7 million, or about 225 million rubles.