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Arts & Entertainment

TV's Original Batmobile Sells For $4.2M At Auction

batman-TV-Batmobile.jpg
American actors Burt Ward (left), as Robin, and Adam West, as Batman, ride in the Batmobile in a still from the television series, 'Batman,' c. 1967. (Photo by 20th Century Fox/Courtesy of Getty Images)

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Talk about some hot wheels! Television's original Batmobile hit the auction block this weekend, and the undisclosed winner nabbed the special vehicle for a mere $4.2 million.

The Batmobile is a customized 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car transformed into TV history by Los Angeles' George Barris. Talk about increase in value: In 1965, Barris paid $1 for the car with the space age design that featured a bubble top. The auto-customizer added special details like lasers and the "Batphone" that helped Batman and his sidekick Robin fight crime.

Barris' publicist told the Associated Press that his client is pleased with the results of the auction.

The auction was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, by The Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

The Batmobile said goodbye to (North) Hollywood to head to Arizona for the auction after being on display inside Barris Kustom Industries since the series ended in 1968.

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