Custom cars just aren’t a good investment. Back in 1955, the Ford Motor Company designed the concept car called the Lincoln Futura. It was hand-built in Italy by Carrozzeria Ghia, complete with its space-age double-bubble cockpit; it cost Ford $250,000. Adjusted for 70 years of inflation, that is $2,900,000 in today’s dollars.
After touring the car show circuit, and starring in the MGM picture ‘It Started With a Kiss‘ in 1959, the Lincoln Futura was sold to car customizer George Barris for $1. When he was tasked with turning it into the Batmobile for the 1966 TV series, he spent $15,000 (or $149,500 in today’s dollars) modifying the Futura into the iconic Batmobile, but retained ownership when the show wrapped.
The car was sold in 2013, this time to the owner of a trucking company. Rick Champagne (nice name) bought the Batmobile at Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale auction. The car was hammered down at $4,200,000 after a fierce bidding war, but Champagne had to also pay a 10% buyers commission, bringing the total price paid to $4,620,000.
One would hope that the custodian of such an important vehicle would display it in a museum, but Champagne told everyone he planned on parking the Batmobile in his living room (some people just have too much money). Instead, the Batmobile is for sale with a $5,000,000 price tag and no buyers. It remains the most expensive TV-car ever. If you want to add it to your collection, just contact Barrett-Jackson Auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Also, if you want to read a well-researched article on the Batmobile, check out Rubens Junior’s article on ‘The Classic Machines‘ below.
2 thoughts on “Lincoln Futura / Batmobile for sale: $5 MIL”