Winner of Batman Forever Batmobile auction can't drive car in public
Our friends over at Hemmings who follow the auction scene like crack-addled chipmunks came across the mobile bane of the Batman franchise. The Batman Forever iteration of the Batmobile is one of the worst ever devised. Universally panned along with the film in which it appeared, it was forced to do sit-com work after it was retired, appearing on The Drew Carey Show (some say the Batmobile's appearance on the show was when it officially jumped the shark). The car was recently up for auction with no reserve and sold for $297,000, less than half its estimated worth. Aside from being an abomination and afront to Bruce Wayne groupies everywhere, the car sold so low because it came with many conditions set by Warner Bros. and DC Comics, including one barring the owner from driving the car in view of the public! This car's a runner too, with a small-block Chevy V8 that can whisk it away from laughing crowds at super hero speeds. But its new owner will apparently never get the chance to be laughed at in public, because doing so would mean driving the car in public, and that would violate the contract he (or she) signed. On second thought, perhaps Warner Bros. and DC Comics was doing this guy a favor.
Check out the Batmobile's appearance on The Drew Carey Show after the jump.
[Source: Hemmings]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
geo.stewart 2:13PM (12/07/2007)
take off the fins and it wouldnt be so bad.
why buy it if you cant drive it or show it?
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Carlos 4:36PM (12/07/2007)
The owner cant drive it right? But what if Batmans new ride breaks down and he has to borrow this one? .. see where I am going with this....
BUY a bat suit dude and drive the car to your hearts content - no way WB can bust you for that - you will be wearing a mask!!!
Delayedz 2:18PM (12/07/2007)
I'd get rid of the fins, put on a different set of wheels and bam evil gothic looking hotrod.
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Bill 2:24PM (12/07/2007)
There has to be a way to get out of some stupid ass contract like that. Hire a good lawyer and get it thrown out. Or modify it in some stupid little way and call it a "new" car and then drive it.
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Naveed 2:34PM (12/07/2007)
It's not that easy; the car is likely protected under trademark law - Warner Bros / DC Comics would argue that if the car is publicly displayed, that'd cause "dilution of the distinctive character of the senior [Batman] mark."
AK 2:52PM (12/07/2007)
I'm sure in WB's view, having Drew Carey and Mimi Bobeck drive the car really consolidates what it means to be a lithe, crime-fighting, guardian of the night.
Oh wait...
kevjohn 4:23PM (12/07/2007)
Follow the linked story:
4. No modifications, alternations or cosmetic changes of any kind can be made to the Batmobile nor can the Batmobile be reproduced in any way.
LOs 2:32PM (12/07/2007)
I can't believe it's acceptable to "buy" something in an auction, and then be told by the Selling party what actions you can or can't take with the purchased Item. If they didn't want it to be viewed in public, why the hell did they sell it?
I would think his stance would be furthered by the simple fact that they allowed the car to be showcased on what was then a very popular sitcom.
I guess movies studios really are over controlling everything, first DRM and the Anti Piracy Issue, now this poor guy and his car. I'm willing ot bet he can't even sell it to anybody but WB.
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Drewboy 5:51PM (12/07/2007)
No kidding. There's no way I'd buy something at auction then be told how to use it. F that!
Luis 2:40PM (12/07/2007)
I'm not so sure I'd call this guy the "winner"...here's the car, but you can't drive it?!
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Fernando 3:08PM (12/07/2007)
Maybe he can "sell" it to his mom for $.01 with no contractual obligations. Then, since he's no longer the owner, he can drive it all he wants.
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Dan 3:20PM (12/07/2007)
Did you use the word "bane" on purpose?
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fm 3:23PM (12/07/2007)
"follow the auction scene like crack-addled chipmunks" ---- ROFL
Seriously why can't the dude drive this thing in public? Doesn't make any sense. Eh what ever the guy new what he was getting into when you won it.
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Razor 3:36PM (12/07/2007)
Sounds like Warner Bros. has successfully introduced DRM for automobiles!
--Dave
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3000GT TwinTurbo 3:50PM (12/07/2007)
wow the drew carey show sucked...
anyway, can they really stop you from driving the car in public? i mean, after you pay for it it's your car...?
why wouldnt they want you to anyways?
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3000GT TwinTurbo 3:52PM (12/07/2007)
good idea.
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.josh. 4:13PM (12/07/2007)
Man that is uglier then I remember.
It says the owner can not drive it in public... they can show it off if they want to, but Warner Bros/DC doesnt want some random Joe/Jane hopping out of the Batmobile and ruining some kid/adults idealization/fantasy of Batman. Rather standard stuff in the world of masked superheros and multi-million dollar franchises.
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kevjohn 4:19PM (12/07/2007)
Maybe that's how Batman fought criminals. When they fell over laughing at his ride, he'd simply walk up and handcuff them. I mean, Batcuff them.
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felix.cruz 4:26PM (12/07/2007)
that was part of the al wiseman collection
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Majortom1981 4:53PM (12/07/2007)
I like the older looking batmobile that Six Flags Great Adventure has better.
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