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The first Batmobile to hit stores after Mattel got
the license was this 100% Hot Wheels version of Tim Burton's Batmobile
in August of 2003. Although the gold accents weren't exactly
movie-accurate, it was a beautiful work of art and STILL resides on my
Top Ten Best List. |
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Also hitting stores in August of 2003 was this
gothic, gloss black Batmobile based on Mattel's unique Batmobile design.
It was released in a three pack that included Joker and Bane cars.
Little did I know at the time how many wild variations would soon
follow. |
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Next up, the First Edition 1/100 Batmobile hit stores
in September of 2003. The first single carded release of the Hot
Wheels main line, this Batmobile was purple with black fins. |
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In December of 2003 Batmobile FE #31/100 showed up in
stores. This version of the Batmobile was inspired by the Tim
Burton/Michael Keaton movie version. |
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Around the same time, it was revealed Mattel released
an unpainted or "Zamac" version of the 1/100 Batmobile. Limited to
10,000, these were very tough to find in stores and fetched $40 to $50
on eBay. |
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I kicked off 2004 with a strange discovery.
Mattel released this FE #42/100 Hardnoze Batmobile. It kinda
looked like the movie Batmobile in a funhouse mirror and a wild paintjob
that included gray flames. Oooookay. |
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Another variation of the #1/100 Batmobile showed up
in the the Batman Blaster track playset in January of '04.
This one was black with a red canopy. It was VERY sharp looking.
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Also in January of '04 Mattel started releasing
Batman 2-Packs. The first one included this plum purple Batmobile
and a Riddler car. This shade of purple was quite a bit different
than the car that was released in 2003. |
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This second 2-Pack hit stores in March of '04.
The FE #31/100 Batmobile was re-released with a Penguin convertible.
I didn't notice any differences when compared to the car that was
released in December of '03. |
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In June of 2004 I found what I consider to be
Mattel's WILDEST Batmobile design. FE #69/100, also known as the
Crooze Batmobile, seemed to look like the #1/100 Batmobile smooshed and
stretched like taffy. It was found with both a gloss and a flat
black finish. |
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Later in June, I found this menacing-looking
black-on-black version of the Batmobile in the Batman 2X Turbo Power
launcher. This is my favorite variation of Mattel's #1/100 design. |
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This sharp-looking blue & black variation of the
Batmobile was found in the Killer Croc 2-Pack in July of 2004.
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In October of 2004, a 5-Pack started hitting stores
that included this wild variation of the movie Batmobile. This
version was dark blue with blue flames and black wheels. |
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Okay, the folks at Mattel started getting a little
wacky with this release. In late October of 2004 I found this
chrome-with-flames version of the Hardnoze Batmobile in a 2-Pack that
included Catwoman's Dairy Delivery Van. Really? |
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This black-with-red-flames version of the Hardnoze
Batmobile was an Avon exclusive released in December of 2004. Part
of the Park-N-Plates line, it was released with a slick-looking Joker
car. A Superman set was also released at the same time. |
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In April of '05 I found another 2-Pack in stores.
A flat-black-with-black-wheels version of the movie Batmobile was
package with Mr. Freeze's "So Fine" Buick. |
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In May of '05 I found a set of vehicles from
Batman Begins, a few weeks before the movie hit theaters. The
Tumbler was offered in black and camo versions, as well as a non-movie
cycle and copter. |
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Here's the camo version of the Tumbler from Batman
Begins. For reasons I still don't understand, the folks at
Mattel decided to redesign the front end from what was seen in the
movie. |
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At the end of June I finally found the
Batman/Scarecrow 2-Pack. Ugh. This gray & yellow color
scheme makes this variation, in my opinion, one of the UGLIEST releases
to-date. I just can't imagine Batman driving this thing.
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In July a chrome version of the Tumbler from Batman
Begins was offered as an exclusive at the 2005 San Diego Comic Con.
I wasn't able to attend, but I got one on eBay. |
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After almost a year and a half with no new Batman
releases, this stunning version of the #1/100 Batmobile suddenly
appeared in stores in October of 2006. With its gold accents on a
black body, this was the last version of this design to hit stores.
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In November of 2006 a new design arrived in stores in
Mystery packaging. This version was based on The Batman
animated series. I never cared much for the Mystery packaging,
since I found so many ripped open in stores by thoughtless collectors.
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A mystery no more, the Mystery Batmobile began showing
up in 2-Packs in December of 2006. Notice the stripes near the
rear fins are a significantly lighter shade of blue, almost white, in
this version that was included in Joker's Last Laugh 2-Pack.
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There was also a very-hard-to-find variation of the
Joker's Last Laugh 2-Pack. It included a green Jokermobile and
the Batmobile sported bluish highlights. I've never seen this in
stores and I'm still hoping to add it to my collection one day. |
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In January of 2007 Mattel started using pre-existing
castings and called them Batmobiles, a trend I wasn't too fond of.
This yellow and black oddity was included in the Batman Blaster
track playset. |
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I'll always remember 2007 as the year of the Bat.
Officially announced in October of 2006, the 1966 TV Batmobile first hit
stores in January of '07 sending collectors into a FRENZY. The
first carded sample that showed up on eBay sold for over $100. I
got my first one in February of '07 directly from George Barris. I
didn't see my first one in stores until April. |
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In March of 2007 this wacky (or should I say BATTY)
Batmobile was included in a 2-Pack called Temblor Getaway.
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In April I found another version of the Mystery
Batmobile included in a 2-Pack called Mr. Freeze Escapes.
This time the car sported green accents. |
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This red & black Batmobile was the ONE Batmobile I never
added to my collection. Supposedly, It was included in the
Arkham Asylum Escape playset in June of 2007. I never saw it in
stores. I only saw the strange "Gatman" version and refused to buy it. |
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In July a highly detailed version of the '66 TV
Batmobile was offered as an exclusive at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con. |
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In May of 2008 I found two 2-Packs based on The Dark
Knight several months before the movie hit theaters. One of
the sets included the black Tumbler (again) but the second set included
this Bat-Pod. |
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My search for this RD-10 Batmobile almost drove me Batty
until I finally got my hands on one in August of 2008. It was
included in The Batman Hero Launchers and despite being an
pre-existing Hot Wheels casting, is one of my favorite Batmobiles in my
collection. |
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In May of 2008 Mattel started taking orders on a
beautiful online exclusive version of the '66 TV Batmobile. It
arrived in the mail in October of 2008. With its all-metal base
and body, redline wheels and retro-style packaging, this version of the
Batmobile is hands-down my favorite car in my entire collection.
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This version of the '66 TV Batmobile, with Faster
Than Ever wheels, hit stores in January of 2009. Sadly, it was
the ONLY 1:64 scale Batmobile that was offered at retail in all of 2009. |
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I did, however, find this 1:87 scale version of the '66
TV Batmobile in July of 2009. It's incredibly detailed considering
its size and was VERY difficult to find in stores. I've only found
two so far. |
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In February 2010, the Burton/Keaton Batmobile showed up
in stores after a long absence as part of a Monster Duo 2-Pack.
This version sports a yellow Bat-Logo on its roof. |
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The last several years were dominated by Mattel's 1:50
scale line of Bat-Vehicles, until July of 2010, when the Batmobile
FINALLY returned to the Hot Wheels main line with THIS beauty: The
Batmobile from the Cartoon Network series The Brave & The Bold. |
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After MONTHS of searching, I FINALLY found the Color
Shifters Batmobile from The Dark Knight. The first reports
of this car hitting stores started coming in July of 2010. I
didn't find this car until early October. |
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In October of 2010, Mattel unveiled their new-look cards
for the 2011 line. Among the cars hitting stores was a red-striped
version of the Batmobile in Track Stars packaging and
featured in the animated series The Batman. |
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In February of 2011, this arrived in the mail from a
fellow collector. I have not seen it in stores yet. It's the
Color Shifters version of the '89 Batmobile. |
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In April of 2011 another brand new casting arrived in
stores as part of the mainline. This time, it was the Arkham
Asylum Batmobile based on the popular video game. No other
Batmobiles appear on the list for 2011. |
