This vehicle is arguably, one of the most famous cars in Hollywood history. One of the reasons that I watched the T.V. series when I was a kid was just to see this sinister black car with the huge fins and wicked looking front fascia. Not many are aware of it, but there is quite a story behind the way it came to be....

This vehicle is arguably, one of the most famous cars in Hollywood history. One of the reasons that I watched the T.V. series when I was a kid was just to see this sinister black car with the huge fins and wicked looking front fascia. Not many are aware of it, but there is quite a story behind the way it came to be....

The year was 1965 20th Century Fox decided to produce the television series, "Batman". In doing so they approached legendary car builder George Barris and hired him to make a car for the series.

Barris`s first car in mind was a custom using a late fifties Cadillac, but due to time constraints he decided to use a one off car that was built for the auto show circuit. The car I speak of was introduced to the public in 1955 as the "Lincoln Futura". Unbelievably, Barris had this very car in his possession.

The Futura was a most extreme test bed in design and technological features at the time. The car was basically a running mock up, not really intended for the use and abuse of every day driving.

The story is that Barris acquired the car in the early sixties for the kingly sum of 1 U.S. dollar. Little did Barris know that that dollar bill would buy one of the most iconic cars ever produced for television.

After doing a quick image search on the internet, I found this very cool illustrated history below.

From the get go the car was nothing but headaches. Bad brakes, hard starting or not at all, and very unsafe handling. To make it even worse, the frame which was just a mock up, ended breaking in half after just a few shoots. To remedy this Barris used either a '63 1/2 or '64 Ford Galaxy frame. To use this frame he had to stretch it several inches to fit under the extremely long body. Barris probably chose the Galaxy frame due to the fact it was the same frame used under Nascar Daytona race cars, great choice if you ask me.

Along with the new frame, brakes, transmission and engine were also upgraded to improve overall performance of the car. No more having to speed the film up to give the appearance of speed. All this work brought the car from Batmobile disaster to Batmobile fame.

Now let's discuss Mattel's "1966 Batmobile". To start with, the car is a highly detailed replica of the original.

The interior looks very accurate. Black seats and center console, matte silver deck panel and dash insert, sectioned steering wheel. Even a red mobile Bat phone. Some of the features of the car include working steering. Doors that open. Real looking rubber tires and what is supposed to be a non-removable plastic hood (On my car it does come off). This last feature is probably my one and only dislike about this car. When it is removed it reveals nothing but empty space (not shown in pics). What a waste, why couldn't they have made a detailed engine compartment? I mean heck, they went through the trouble of detailing the bottom of the car to give it the illusion of having an engine. Mattel dropped the ball on this! How hard would it have been to put in a plastic turbine engine under the hood? Oh wait a minute, that's how they get you to spend an extra $100 on the 1/18 elite version that also includes a stand. What a ripoff! $100 extra for a detailed engine compartment and a stand! Oh, lets not forget the backdrop!

Complaint aside, I love the quality of the black and red paint work. The plastic canopies look like glass. The steering works nicely. The car is made with sturdy die cast metal, PVC plastic, clear plastic and rubber. When you pick it up the car has a nice solid feel to it.

Overall I feel that the car is good quality 1/18 scale die-cast model. Would I let my son play with it? No way! He'd lose the hood in a heart beat. Would I display it with my collection? Hell yes! Who would not love to stare at this beautiful replica? If you're a fan of Bat Man this is a must have addition to your collection.

If your interested in learning more about the actual 1966 Batmobile then check out www.1966batmobile.com.

Batman & Bat-Pod is a real winner and a toy I think may have slipped by a lot of collectors radar.

The Movie Realization line is an off-shoot of the Super Imaginative Chogokin line by Bandai. Batman & Bat-Pod are seen in the latest silver screen adventure of , well... Batman. If you haven't seen The Dark Knight and want to avoid spoilers hit the back button as knowing what the Bat-Pod is spoils a very cool moment in the movie. You have been warned, for all the rest. Read on.

Based on a design sketch by Masakazu Katsura and was sculpted by Takayuki Takeya and came courtesy from Angolz.com. Let me say right up front - it's a real winner.

The package is large for an S.I.C./Movie Realization release coming in at 20 by 11 by 6 inches. It opens very much like a shoe box with the lid held in place by Velcro. The box front and inside lid features artwork by the concept artist, Masakazu Katsura the sculpt was based on.

Inside the figure, bike and accessories are neatly arranged in a vacuum formed tray. The annoying part is all of the little bits like spare hands, grappling gun, batarang, etc. Are all stored in the top lid held in place by tape. This doesn't really lend itself to easily storing the fiddly bits when not used as they tend to fall out when you try to take the top lid out. This is obviously not a big complaint but I do expect a well thought out design from Bandai at this point. Ah well, into the zip lock bag for these little bits.

When you free the figure and the bike from the package you notice the weight and heft of both pieces. But it was the bike that really surprised me, it's main frame is all die cast metal! But I get ahead of myself...

First, the Batman figure. The S.I.C. line generally reinvents the designs of the characters they choose to do in this series, giving them a more edgier design. It's almost akin to a McFarlane figure but without the disintegration those figures tend to suffer after a short period of handling. However Batman here is under the Movie Realization banner and while it is slightly re-imagined it looks very close to his later suit in The Dark Knight. With the only design choice I question being the red armor fiber showing through the chest plate.

Other than that it looks very sharp. It's a nice solid figure with tons of articulation, a staple of the S.I.C./Movie Realization franchise and “Bats” doesn't disappoint. With generous points of articulation everywhere an action figure fan would expect, the addition of double jointed elbows and knees allows for some excellent looking poses and allows the figure to really look like he is “riding” the bike.

The cape is formed plastic and that's fine by me as it looks good when he's riding the bike and still fairly dynamic in action poses by itself. Anything you could want to do with the figure pose-wise is pretty much possible and looks natural.

Now for the real star of this set, the Bat-Pod. So if you have read this far you do not care about spoilers or you have already seen The Dark Knight. You have been warned....

The Bat-Pod is an escape vehicle for the Tumbler (Batman's tank/batmobile from the first film, Batman Begins). It is the front wheel hub of the Tumbler converted into a motorcycle. This vehicle is involved in a very spectacular chase through Gotham City and is really a signature moment from The Dark Knight.

Well Bandai gives it the treatment it deserves in this release with the whole main frame being made of die-cast metal. It is a nice solid chunk of metal and feels like a solid toy, yes this could be used to commit manslaughter with. Seriously, it's that nice.

The free rolling wheels are made of rubber and not only do the wheels feature realistic tread they look worn in the middle from having been used on the Tumbler.

Paint detail is extraordinary with no detail spared, rust is painted around rivets, metal parts have scrapes and wear showing and overall the detailing makes the bike look very real.

The bike can be displayed standing but they do include a clear stand to keep the bike from rolling off your shelf. Bandai really did go above and beyond for this release.

Bottom line, it is a really nice action figure all by its self, combined with the Bat-Pod it's stellar! Action figure fans and Batman fans really do want to get this set. A piece like this really shows the difference between the American and Japanese toy markets and how they approach a famous, international character. While there there are plenty of nice domestic batman toys out there this Movie Realization release by Bandai is heads and shoulders above any of those releases.

While a toy at $75 is not cheap, it's a real steal for what this is. I got my Batman & Bat-Pod at Angolz.com and while they are showing as Sold Out as of this review. I have it on good authority they are trying to get another shipment in, if they do - grab a set. You will kick yourself later if you don't.