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July 04, 2005

Batmobile Die-Cast Cars

The history of Batman is also the history of hot wheels, because the Dark Knight always drives in style


			Batmobile Die-Cast Cars

			By Corgi

			MSRP: approx. $8

By Sean Huxter

Batman began in 1939, when he appeared in Detective Comics #27. The first major superhero to have no super powers, Batman relied on his skills, training and cool gear. From his utility belt to his batarangs to his grapple guns, Batman had some of the coolest toys. But of all of them, by far his most famous, and most constantly changing, has been his ride—the Batmobile.

Since the early 1940s, Batman got from point A to point B in a stylish car that reflected the styles of the time. He has changed Batmobiles more often than he has changed outfits, oftentimes leading the cutting edge of automobile design.

Perhaps the most famous Batmobile owed by the Caped Crusader was the one he used in his TV show in the 1960s. Based on an actual vehicle, the Lincoln Futura, this Batmobile was long and sleek and had a distinct dual-cockpit design with what at the time were the most stylish fins on any car.

Corgi, a British toy company that specializes in die-cast vehicles, created what may be the most famous toy car of all time based on this 1966 Batmobile. Accurately modeled, it had several play features and is still one of the most desirable collectible toy cars around.
Many companies have produced Batmobiles since that time, the most famous being from the recent series of films, but within the past year Corgi has re-entered the fray with a series of Batmobiles in 1:43 scale.

In its first wave, Corgi produced seven 1:43 die-cast Batmobiles and one Bat Jet. Each came from a different era of Batman's history. This review includes the 1940s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000 models.

Each model is made of die-cast metal and plastic. The tires are rubber and grip well. Each comes in a window display box that shows the model nicely and focuses on a play feature in each vehicle. Like the original Corgi 1960s model, each Batmobile has a relief sculpture of Batman on the bottom chassis, from the appropriate era.

Seven decades of sweet rides

The 1940s Batmobile is a bulky, round vehicle indicative of its era, with sleek red stripes along a glossy black body. A large fin juts up from the roof of the cab through to the rear of the car. The front grille features Batman's face. Chrome pipes lead from the engine to the covered fenders. Pushing down on the front tires causes the shieldlike grille to shoot forward as a battering ram.

The 1960s Batmobile resembles the famed car from the TV series, but it is not an exact replica. This sleek, black car shares the dual-cockpit design of the TV model and has long fins sweeping back to its rear, but this is the comic-book model. A gray and blue Batman figure sits in the open cockpit (but, alas, Robin is nowhere to be seen). A police siren light is mounted between the two cockpit windshields. Pushing this light causes a metal cutting blade to flip forward from the front of the car, which is a great homage to the original Corgi car, whose retractable chain-cutter was famous among fans. This is the best of the bunch. It's a fine-looking car with a fun play feature.

The 1980s Batmobile was actually in use in the late '70s. This model is blue with an open-cockpit design similar to the 1960s model in some ways. Fins jut back along the rear, and a jet engine is mounted at the center rear. Familiar yellow and black Batman logos adorn the door and trunk. A blue and gray Batman sits in the driver's seat, but, again, no Robin. As its play feature, the front hood (painted in a gloss black with yellow bat-eye headlights) opens forward to reveal a detailed chrome engine.

The 1990s Batmobile looks like a concept car from the far future. Much sleeker than most, it has sharper angles and a tinted, closed canopy. Gold Bat symbols decorate the blue car's doors and hood. The cockpit is empty and does not open. As its play feature, this model's rear lifts to reveal a sharply detailed chrome and gold engine. The wheels are hidden—you can barely see them under a closed ground-effect design, which makes the car look more like a hover-car than a road vehicle.

Oddly, the 2000 Batmobile looks like a throwback to an earlier era. A more stocky car, in muted blue, it has a bat-face symbol covering the grille and has exaggerated fins sticking up and splaying outward from the rear-engine hood. This car also has a clear, covered canopy, with no figures sitting inside. Its play feature is that the canopy lifts to reveal a detailed but figureless interior. This is my least favorite of the five I'm reviewing.

All in all, this is an amazing collection. If you have ever wished to own a collection of excellent Batmobile models that accurately follow the history of the car throughout the comic book's life span, Corgi is making your wish come true in style.

A new wave has recently been released and includes yet more stylish Batmobiles from various eras, and even includes Robin's car, Redbird! Also, Toys R Us produced an exclusive box set with some paint color variations. Nice if you can find it. — Sean