| Door Bat | Built by | Year Built | Engine | Chassis | Body Construction | Weight | Current Owner | Last Known Sale Price |
|
|
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
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
In
the 60's, the
Batmobile went
to St. Clair Shores, Photos courtesy of John Tye |
|||||
In 1969 |
At Barris Kustom in the late seventies |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
Around 1985 |
Markings on the lower quarter panel |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
Around 1985 before the Bob Butts restoration |
An unknown fan in the mid-eighties |
Courtesy of Andre Toscano, 1988 |
Courtesy of Nathan Truman, 1988 |
|
Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
Greensboro, NC in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
The Batcycle in 1989 |
Toms River, NJ in 1989 |
Seaside Heights, NJ in 1989 |
Seaside Heights, 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 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Side view |
Being hauled away 9-00 |
Photo from 9-00 |
Interior in 9-00 |
Interior in 9-00 |
Notice the smaller trunk |
Hauling it away |
Some photos courtesy of Jeff Collins and John Brown
|
Original letter of authenticity from George Barris
|
| 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. |
