Munsters and Batman Tribute Cars to be Featured in 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction
The 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction will soon be held January 21-29, 2023, and will feature a wide variety of vehicles, automobilia, and classic cars that enthusiasts will want to add to their collections. will be on display. Among them I found three vehicles that recreate movies and TV shows. These cars have been the basis for my articles over the years, so I always keep an eye out for them.
I recently reported that the real Batmobile from "Batman" (1989) and "Batman Returns" (1993) is available for $1.5 million, but its EV drive, which can only propel it to 30 mph, limits its mobility, speed, and means of catching the Joker is limited; the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction will feature a super-custom Batmobile powered by a military-grade Boeing jet engine as a tribute to the Dark Knight's turbine-powered ride.
It is described as "the world's only turbine-powered Batmobile based on the 1989 Batman movie." Built from race cars and military parts by Ohio auto restorer and designer Casey Putsch, the car is incredibly faithful to the original in that it has an actual jet engine."
The performance of the 365-horsepower jet engine accelerates the Batmobile to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 185 mph. The engine is paired with a two-speed automatic transmission to send power to the rear wheels.
The Batmobile can run on jet fuel, kerosene, or diesel fuel, with fuel economy ranging from 3 to 10 miles per gallon. The jet turbine takes a few seconds to spin up and requires no warm-up. The jet turbine sound is described as almost high-pitched, but louder up close and quieter as it drives away. Exhaust gases are hot, but not hot enough to destroy or blow up anything behind the car.
The Batmobile has a rear flamethrower and a functional upper gun that fires for sound effects. Check with Alfredo or your local enforcement agency to see if these features are available.
1930 Pontiac "Munster Coach" reproduction
As a kid, I spent too much time watching TV reruns. I don't regret it, however, because watching too many old sitcoms gave me the ability to make esoteric references to "Green Acres" and "The Flying Nun" that no one would find funny. It's also been a good experience to have friends and family look at me with obvious boredom when I praise the on-screen chemistry between Eva Gabor and Arnold Ziffel.
"Munsters" was in heavy rotation in my childhood (KICU TV 36 or KFTY TV 50, I think), and since it only aired for two seasons, I watched each episode multiple times. It was an unconventional sitcom about a family of monsters, but it was a different era of television entertainment at a time when creepy sitcoms were on the rise.
Munster Coaches provided room for the whole family in a style that was perfect for the residents of 1313 Mockingbird Lane. The design and construction was done by George Barris, who was given 21 days to complete the project. Haste makes waste, but the Munster Coach was an exception, built in 1964 for $18,000 ($173,599 adjusted for inflation), an extreme build using three Ford Model T bodies and a handmade 133-inch frame that eventually made the Koach 18 feet long. Like Brady Bunch's Plymouth station wagon, the Munster Coach offered comfort for a large family.
The original Munster Coach is at the Volo Museum, but will be properly reproduced at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. The listing for this vehicle states, "It has been professionally reproduced down to the last detail. You could put this Koch next to the original and you would not be able to tell the difference. "
Judging from the photos in the listing, it is a wonderful tribute to Barris's creation, which is signed by Butch Patrick, aka Eddie Munster.
The recreation of Munster's Dragula
The lack of a dragster with a coffin motif is a cultural flaw that affects us all. While we do not know how it will affect us, this problem can be rectified with a reproduction of the Munsters Dragula available at Barrett-Jackson's 2023 Scottsdale auction. A Ford 302ci V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission powers this literal coffin on wheels. The power-to-weight ratio would be high for a Dragula, but it is sold with a bill of sale and is not roadworthy.
"Dragula features a custom purple velour interior with fringe bobbles, the same V-shaped steering wheel as the original, eerie candle-flicker headlights, and of course, the famous tombstone up front," the listing states.
The original Dragula was designed by Tom Daniel and built by George Barris. It is a truly unique vehicle in its own right, while maintaining the same style and theme as the Munster Coach.
All three vehicles will be available without reservation at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. The auction will be held January 21-29 at Westworld in Scottsdale.
This article, written by David P. Castro, originally appeared on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.
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