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Holy vintage vehicles! Earliest known official Batmobile goes on sale

Riddle me this: are you prepared to pay US$180k?

A heavily-customised Oldsmobile said to be the first officially-licenced Batmobile will go to auction later in December.

Created in 1963, three years before the infamously camp Batman TV show hit the airwaves, DC Comics allowed a US chap named Forrest Robinson to build a Batmobile, according to Heritage Auctions.

The hammer-wielding firm says Robinson was built for private use but eventually leased it to others who used it in Batman promotions. Because the car was built before the TV show started, it was a bit off-brand so once replicas of the vehicle used on telly emerged Robinson regained control of the car.

He then sold it and the vehicle then went unloved until a 2008 re-discovery and restoration.

A 1963 replica batmobile

Holy vintage vehicles, Batman! The 1963 'official' Batmobile

The current owner is now seeking at least US$112,500 for the Batmobile, an Oldsmobile 88 frame, 324 Rocket engine, plus custom Bat-chassis, all restored to pristine condition. Heritage Auctions feels the car will go for about US$180,000 when the hammer falls on December 6th. Would-be purchasers can inspect the car somewhere in Northern California, by arrangement. ®

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