The Batmobile used during the filming of Batman: The Return (1992) will be auctioned for the first time, potentially setting a new value record for the character. The American auction house Julien’s Auctions, in collaboration with the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel, which belongs to the Warner Bros. group, predicts that the vehicle will reach an amount between R$ 25.9 million and R$ 36.3 million (equivalent to US$ 5 million to US$ 7 million).
The auction session will take place next Monday, November 23rd, both in Los Angeles and online. If the estimated value is confirmed, this model will surpass the record set by the Batmobile from the 1960s television series, which was built by George Barris and sold in 2013 for R$ 21.8 million (US$ 4.2 million), or R$ 23.8 million (US$ 4.6 million) including auction fees.
Some industry experts consider this amount a record also among movie cars, although the Aston Martin DB5, used in the promotion of 007 against Atomic Hijack, was sold for R$ 33.1 million (US$ 6.4 million) in 2019.
This vehicle was conceived by preparator Carl Casper and Hollywood Productions, being one of the three commissioned for Batman: The Return. Unlike the TV series Batmobile, which derived from a Lincoln Futura prototype, this model was not based on a production car; its structure combines two Chevrolet Impala chassis.
With a length of 5.99 meters, the fiberglass body, manually molded in an Art Deco style, features a front air intake inspired by turbines and prominent rear fins. Its design reflects the concept created for Batman in 1989 by the production designer Anton Furst's team. Beneath the body is a Chevrolet V8 engine coupled with a three-speed automatic transmission.
According to Julien’s, this is the main scene car from the film directed by Tim Burton, not a spare vehicle. It is responsible for appearing in most scenes where the Batmobile is in motion. After filming, the car participated in the premiere and closing party of the film, remained stored for years, and was displayed at the Marconi Automotive Museum in California, maintaining its original glossy black finish to this day.
For the auction house, this Batmobile holds great historical importance for having contributed to defining the character's aesthetic in cinema between the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The auction, named Ultimate Batmobile Auction, will also include Batman costumes, props, production materials, and other Hollywood memorabilia related to the character's journey on screen.