The Batmobile and 5 Other Hollywood Cars That Sold at Auction
BAM! The original Batmobile sold at auction for $4.2 million this weekend which has both car lovers and cartoon lovers giddy. Famous Hollywood cars like those from 'Starsky and Hutch,' 'Knight Rider' and 'The Pink Panther' go up for sale from time to time, bringing out the most nostalgic buyers. Here's a look at how five memorable cars fared when they hit the open market, and what they fetched for sellers:
James Bond's Aston Martin
In 2010, an Ohio collector bought the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that was featured prominently in 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball.' Its final sale price exceeded $4.6 million. It comes from a time when the beloved Sean Connery was steering as Bond. At the same auction, another Bond car — the 1998 Jaguar XKR special-effects car from the film 'Die Another Day' — sold for around $86,600.
The Dukes of Hazzard's car
Golfer Bubba Watson made a big purchase around a year ago when he picked up the iconic car from 'The Dukes Of Hazzard' at an auction. It came at a bargain price of $110,000 and gave Watson the unique ability to act out his childhood memories, if he chooses. It was a hard car to keep in one piece considering all the stunts the show required, but auto restorers went to work to put this one in tip-top shape for eventual sale.
Back to the Future's Delorean
It's no time machine, but the Delorean is real. The Delorean brought in $541,200 at a 2011 auction — it has a Volkswagen V-6 engine, a full roll-cage and a replaced suspension. Proceeds from the auction went toward The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research, as Fox was the star of the 1980s cult classic. Not a bad way to give a much-needed charitable donation and to walk away with a piece of Hollywood memorabilia at the same time.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's car
British radio producer Chris Evans added a biggie to his car collection early last year when he picked up the 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' vehicle at auction for close to $808,000. The previous owner had to sell it once he discovered he didn't have room to store it in his garage. "My pal had bought the car on his birthday before he went skiing, not realising she is over 17 feet long. Garage problem. No money lost or gained," Evans said. The 1968 film heavily featured the car, which was built by the Ford Racing Team and had a dashboard plate from a British WWI fighter plane.
Steve McQueen's Le Mans
If there's one thing McQueen is known for, it's his love of old cars. Last summer a 1968 Ford GT40 — used by McQueen as a camera car in the production of 'Le Mans' — was sold for an astonishing $11 million. The sale set a new record for the most expensive American car ever purchased. It was used on set to help producers capture some of the most amazing racing scenes Hollywood has ever seen.