Batmobiles

To quote Jack Nicholson as the Joker in the 1989 Batman movie, “Where does he get those wonderful toys?”

In this case the toys I’m talking about are the large die cast Batmobiles from Johnny Lightning and Mattel.

The Batmobile has always been the coolest piece of crime-fighting equipment whether it is in the movies, on TV on in comic books.

Every version was always ahead of its time when it came to mobile transport. 

Both Johnny Lightning and Mattel Toys produced several large scale die cast Batmobiles.  In this review I’ll be looking at three: the Batman movie version (1989), the 1950s comic book version and the 1960s comic book version.
The first time I saw the Batmobile in the 1989 Batman film directed by Tim Burton I was totally blown away!

I had never seen anything like it before.  It certainly wasn’t like the TV show Batmobile.

The Batman film version was huge!  Solid black with a heavy body and low profile, the Batmobile looked more like a slimmed down tank than a car.

Mattel recreated the movie Batmobile in 1:18 Scale for its Metal Collection die cast series.

Talk about a beauty!

Starting with the matt black chassis, the long sleek body extends back into twin stabilizing wings in the back.  The hood and engine are slightly slanted to the front of the car and the driver's cockpit features a full front tinted window and two small side windows.

The cockpit opens up to reveal two seats, an instrument panel with gauges and screen, a console computer and three shift sticks.

About midway on each side of the hood are two panels that when flipped open reveal gunmetal Gatling guns.

The front of the car has twin red reflectors, a gunmetal turbine engine extension that can be pulled out from the car revealing wiring, etc.  All the wheels are gunmetal, as are the exhaust pipes on each side and the turbine exhaust in the back that also includes several exhaust ports.  Four taillights are also included. 

The car has twin gunmetal gas tank tops, twin air intake scoops-one on each side, air vents behind the driver compartment and various gadgets and vent and screen areas decorating all sides of the vehicle. The car comes on a custom base with securing screws and a Mattel logo. 

The box features a full front clear plastic viewing panel and a full Batmobile schematic on its back.

In 2002 Johnny Lightning/Playing Mantis put out a series 1:24 Scale die cast model kits of the Batmobile through the decades.

The second of the series was the 1950’s DC Comic Book Batmobile.

Basically a black sedan, the Batmobile featured a bat symbol on the front of the grill, a round, wraparound windshield, a split rear window and twin rear turbines with a chrome bumpeer.

A chrome bumper and double headlight decorate the front.

On top of the passenger section roof is a large spotlight.  The model is pre-painted and ready for assembly.

Once complete the Batmobile has a full interior with twin black seats, a red telephone, full instrument panel, gearshift and a wood grain steering wheel with chrome horn ring.  Behind the twin black and red leather seats is a fully equipped crime lab wit a wooden wraparound table a with cabinets, a stool and a collection of crime-fighting equipment along with several pieces of evidence.

The model features real rubber wheels, full undercarriage suspension and loads of details such as a chrome grill, yellow bat symbol eyes and a large fin that runs down the back of the vehicle.

Some pieces are pre-painted while others can be customized such as the wood table, lab equipment and metal floor decking.

It’s a well-crafted model at an affordable price and it comes packaged in a top and front see-thru panel box a separate compartments for the car chassis and additional parts and accessories.

The 1960’s comic book Batmobile took its look from the Batman TV series.

The shape is very similar except the comic book version has a huge bat symbol on it front grill. The familiar horizontal grill lights, headlight and signal are the same.  The model has real rubber tires, bat symbol wheels, open cockpit with thin bubble windshields and two seats that are supported by body flairs behind them. 

Twin read fins, duel exhausts and taillights make up the rear of the car.

The interior features a full instrumentation dashboard, a red telephone and gear shift.  A single red flashing light is mounted between the bubble windshields. The entire car is basically the TV version with a few minor changes.