Holy smokes, Batman! Take a look at these ultimate movie cars
"Batman" in the 1960s was a comic book brought to life.
The television show, which ran for three series between 1966 and 1988, made actors Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin) bona fide Hollywood stars. But its arguably their tricked out ride, the Batmobile, that has stood the real test of time.
Virtually tied with James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 as the most expensive vehicle in film history, the original black and red car from the TV series went for a whopping $4.62m (about £3m) when it was bought by collector Rick Champagne in 2013.
Now the original Batmobile is up for sale again, by Barrett-Jackson, one of the world's leading collector car auction companies. The car is currently for sale in its Scottsdale showroom in Arizona, for a reported $5m (£3.2m) price tag.
Car customizer George Barris built the Batmobile in just three weeks. Barris transformed a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car into the Caped Crusader's preferred form of transport. Gadgets included the Batphone, Bat-Ray Projector and tires that could automatically inflate.
The car had remained in George Barris' own collection until it was sold two years ago.
Film cameo raises value of car
An appearance in a movie or TV series can do wonders for the value of even the humblest of cars. The anthropomorphic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that starred as Herbie, in the 1968 film "The Love Bug", went for $126,000 (£81,750). It holds the world record for a VW Beetle sold at an auction.
"It definitely brings up the value. They're iconic," explains Craig Jackson, Chairman & CEO of Barrett-Jackson explains.
However, not all movie cars are auction successes.
Earlier in July, there was speculation that another car, piloted by Sean Connery, could go for as much as $387,000 (£250,000) at a Coys sale in the UK.
But, Captain Nemo's bizarre six-wheeled Nautilus car, from the 2003 movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," only made $49,000 (£31,860).
"There's really no set premium since the cars all so different and it all depends on how much the fan or investor personally values each one.
Jackson refers to starring vehicles like the Jalopy from "Beverly Hillbillies", the 1969 Dodge Charger from the "Dukes of Hazzard" and the 1955 Pontiac Star Chief from "I Love Lucy", as autos that have stolen film buffs' hearts.
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