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George Barris built 5 original Batmobiles for the popular 60's TV show. Each served a specific purpose and were built by Barris. Or did he? Reports from around the glode indicate that the great George Barris built 5 original Batmobiles, and that all others are simply replicas of these original 5.
There is some truth to this. First, Barris did have a hand in building the #1 car, based on the prototype Lincoln Futura. He and his team also reproduced 3 replica cars for touring purposes, cast in fiberglass directly from the #1 Futura car. Now what about that elusive fifth car that everyone talks about?
The #5 car was not built by George Barris. In fact, he had nothing to do with it. A zealous fan by the name of Jim Sermersheim built the car, shortly after the unveiling of the #1 car. It was based on a 1958 T-Bird, and was made of steel and identical to the #1 Futura car in almost every detail. When Barris learned of this replica, he attempted to purchase it from the builder, but Mr. Sermersheim was not interested in selling. In fact, it was not until years later that Mr. Barris aquired the car through a private sale. Eventually, however, he left the car to rot behind his shop for years until it was purchased in the mid eighties for $25,000 by Bob Butts.
Bob, who worked closely with Clint Young of CY Productions for a time, restored the car to its hayday glory, and it is now owned by one Mrs. Chinery (I do not have a first name). The car remains an interesting part of the Batmobile saga, and to this day the #5 replica garners as much interest as any George Barris original ever has.
Now, Barris DID authenticate this vehicle at one time (as one friend once put it - for the right price, George Barris will authenticate your DOG) . Below you will find a copy of the original letter of authenticity. Nobody knows how many replicas exist today, but with so many molds changing hands and so many replica bodies already in circulation, some estimates put the number in the hundreds. This is no doubt the most widely recognized car in the world, and forty years ago, somebody proved that a fan could indeed own there own.
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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Thank you to GDog from the 1966 Batman Forum, for breaking this story!
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