| Door Bat | Built by | Year Built | Engine | Chassis | Body Construction | Weight | Current Owner | Last Known Sale Price |
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Jim Sermersheim | 1966 | V-8 | 1958 T-Bird | Metal | 5500lb | Kathleen Chinery | $180,000 |
In 1966, a Batmobile fan by the name of Jim Sermersheim set-out to build a working Batmobile replica. Using minimal photos and the Batman TV show as a reference, he created his custom car from a '58 Ford Thunderbird. He toured his car around the country (including Canada) for approximately two years before finally selling it. Eventually George Barris would acquire it and the car would become part of Barris' Batmobile stable.
The story continues years later...Barris left the "number 5" car in storage and after many years of deterioration he sold the car to Bob Butts for $25,000. Butts' crew spent countless hours and $50,000+ restoring the car to better than new condition. Bob would go on to sell the car to Mrs. Scott Chinery, who presented it to her husband for his birthday in 1989. The sale was reported at $180,000, including the Butts built Batcycle.
Click on the images below for a larger picture
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In
the 60's, the
Batmobile went
to St. Clair Shores, Photos courtesy of John Tye |
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In 1969 |
In the 60's |
Rob Besett around 1969 |
At Barris Kustom in the late seventies |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
Around 1985 |
An unknown fan in the mid-eighties |
Markings on the lower quarter panel |
Around 1985 |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
Courtesy of Nathan Truman, 1988 |
Courtesy of Andre Toscano, 1988 |
Brick, NJ 1988 |
Brick, NJ 1988 |
Brick, NJ 1988 |
Brick, NJ 1988 |
Brick, NJ 1988 |
The Batcycle in 1989 |
Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
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Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
Seaside Heights, NJ in 1989 |
Seaside Heights, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Courtesy of Jim Hopkins, 1990's |
Courtesy of Jim Hopkins, 1990's |
Courtesy of Jim Hopkins, 1990's |
Courtesy of Kory Hoffman, 1996 |
Courtesy of Kory Hoffman, 1996 |
Courtesy of Kory Hoffman, 1996 |
Courtesy of Kory Hoffman, 1996 |
Courtesy of Kory Hoffman, 1996 |
At a Las Vegas Show |
At a Las Vegas Show |
Photo from 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Being hauled away 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Interior in 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Notice the smaller trunk |
Hauling it away |
Side view |
Photo from 9-00 |
Interior in 9-00 |
Some photos courtesy of Jeff Collins and John Brown
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Original "letter of authenticity" from George Barris
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| April
3, 1986
REFERENCE: BATMOBILE #005 Be advised, Batmobile serial number #005 is one of the five Batmobiles Designed by George Barris for the ABC TV and UNIVERSAL MOVIE "BATMAN." This, the number two, of the only metal cars built and the balance are fiberglass duplicates. The primary use of this vehicle was as the main stunt car plus touring for Feature Attraction at the International Auto Show Nationally. Also to be known, these five BATMOBILES, are the only five real and approved vehicles by Barris Kustom Ind. which has a design patent on file in Washington. Thank you, George Barris Barris Kustom, Ind. |
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in June 1988, Bob Butts (the owner at the time) took his car in for some
minor repairs. They did a tune-up, replaced the water pump and
other minor things.
Photos courtesy of Lisa Abatecola at www.mop-art.com |
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