If you are a lover of the well-known Batman saga, you may be interested to know that next December one of his most iconic vehicles, the illuminated Batpodwill be auctioned at PropstoreAuction. The same one that was used in both parts of The Dark Knight: “In The Dark Knight, Batman (Christian Bale) used the Batpod to escape the wrecked Tumbler during his pursuit of the Joker (Heath Ledger).”
“Later, he used it in his failed attempt to save Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and in his search for Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). In The Dark Knight Rises, Batman and Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) used the vehicle while facing Bane (Tom Hardy) and the new League of Shadows.”they explain from the website in charge of its sale.
Honda engine and custom bodywork
Conceived by Nolan himself and production designer Nathan Crowley, the Batpod was devised as a more agile alternative to Batman’s Tumbler. This strange mechanical monstrosity was completed by Crowley and special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, eventually building up to six versions of the vehicle.
Two main aspects stand out in its design: On the one hand, the width of its enormous 31″ Hoosier tires and on the other, the use of a 750 cc Honda engine to drive it. The Batpod is ergonomically configured for a pilot in a prone position, steering with the arms and shoulders.
It also incorporates advanced design elements such as an exhaust system integrated into the chassis. The latter, custom-made, is surrounded by a fiberglass body painted in metallic gray, also responsible for covering the engine and handlebars. The imaginative culmination comes with the addition of two plastic, resin and fiberglass cannons anchored to the front, and an illuminated laser pointer mounted on the right grip.
The radiator and hydraulic system are located behind the seat, and the braking system is operated by controls on the left handlebar and right pedal. With overall dimensions of 380 cm x 120 cm x 107 cm, “for greater comfort while driving, black foam padding has been installed on the body, seat and legrests”allude from PropstoreAuction.
The Batpod on the big screen
They explain in the ad detail that the Batpod faithfully reproduces the Joker’s chase in The Dark Knight through several distinctive marks and scratches on the right side of the vehicle. The vehicle was driven by the stunt specialist Jean-Pierre Goy during the filming of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Crowley received Oscar and BAFTA nominations for his work on the film.
It was also the star protagonist in numerous promotional events, which is why it shows some wear on the body panels and slight corrosion on the chassis, with damage to the left cannon support due to its use on the set. The vehicle is in very good condition and is delivered with a metal stand for display.
A whim within the reach of only a few
As important aspects before trying to acquire this cult object we must know two things: first that Sold in non-functional condition, only suitable for display. “All fluids have been drained and the battery, fuel tank and throttle controls have been removed.”they explain from the website. On the other hand, the minimum amount to enter the bid is 225,000 pounds…
If the latter has left you somewhat confused, just tell you that initially it is expected to raise a figure close to 900,000 pounds, something like 1.1 million current euros. Dreams are meant to be fulfilled, yes, although no one said it would be easy…Or cheap. More information and details by visiting the official PropstoreAuction website.
