In The News

Fiberglass Freaks’ Replica Fetches $210k at Barrett Jackson

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ January 18th 2014 – Once again a Fiberglass Freaks Replica Batmobile has graced the stage of the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale AZ Action. This car has some great history behind it. Built in 2005, this was Fiberglass Freak’s second professionally built replica. Dubbed BAT3, it was the first Fiberglass Freaks Batmobile Replica to feature a Roll-top Dashboard and also the first to have a working flame throwing rocket exhaust. It pulled in an outstanding $210,000 for its owner, not bad for a 9 year old replica. Fiberglass Freaks would like to congratulate the seller and proud new owner of this piece of Batmobile history.

 

The World’s First Officially Licensed 1966 Batmobile Is Away!

LOGANSPORT, IN February 1st 2013 – After filling a huge backlog of car orders prior to Fiberglass Freaks obtaining licensing from DC Comics, Fiberglass Freaks’ first officially licensed 1966 Batmobile Replica Vehicle is on board the transport and heading to its home!

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This car is DC001 (s13):
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This is a momentous occasion for Fiberglass Freaks, for DC Comics, and for fans of the 1966 Batmobile.  It represents over thirty years of research and development and it represents the best of the best from Fiberglass Freaks.

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Fiberglass Freaks would like to thank DC Comics for choosing our company to represent them.  We want to thank our fantastic team of Freaks, who work day after day in the fiberglass dust to build these magnificent cars. We want to thank our customers, families, friends, and fans for their outstanding loyalty and support.

Original 1966 Batmobile Sets World Record For TV/Movie Cars At The 42nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

“Kustom Kar” Legend George Barris Parts with His Most Famous Creation After 47 Years
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Scottsdale, Ariz. – (January 29, 2013) – The Original 1966 TV series Batmobile, one of the most recognized and popular pieces of entertainment history worldwide, sold for $4,620,000 and set the world record for the highest price ever fetched for a TV/Movie car, at the 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. The unique vehicle was offered as part of Barrett-Jackson’s spectacular Salon Collection on January 19, 2013.

Barrett-Jackson decided to announce the news only after verifying the records. The previous record was held by the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in “Goldfinger,” which sold for $4,608,500 in 2010, meaning that the Batmobile sold for $11,500 more. In fact, Barrett-Jackson is currently working with the Guinness Book of World Records to add the sale to their list.

“The 1966 Batmobile is a true piece of Americana and fans around the world were curious to see what it would sell for,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We are so proud of the record it set, but more importantly, we couldn’t be happier to help find a new home for such a significant and legendary piece of TV and movie history in front of a record crowd for a Saturday auction and the SPEED TV audience.”

At auction, the Batmobile rolled onto the stage bringing the crowd to its feet with loud applause when the car’s creator, legendary customizer George Barris, stepped out. The bidding took off immediately, and as the numbers quickly rose, so did the reaction from the audience, reaching a mad rush as the bids soared into the multi-millions. Moments later, the car sold along with memorabilia from Barris’ personal collection after an intense coin toss between two anxious bidders.

“The Batmobile revolutionized an entire custom industry that followed in its TV footsteps and you could tell that both Barrett-Jackson fans and Batman fans share an intense passion for this car,” said the company’s President Steve Davis. “It was an exciting sight to see such an exciting bidding war; definitely something we will remember for years to come. It was an honor for me to work directly with George, Joji, Jared and Brett Barris along with Barry Paster to consign this cultural icon.”

The original Batmobile started its life as the one and only 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car, which was designed and built by legendary customizer George Barris to become the original 1966 Batmobile in the live action TV series Batman, as well as the movie adaptation, starring Adam West.

Still as striking as when it first came out of the paint shop, the original Batmobile was part of Barris’ personal collection since he first bought it from the Ford Motor Company for a dollar in 1965. Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction marked the first time the car has ever been offered for sale to the public.

The Batmobile still features a 390cid 1965 Ford Galaxy engine and a B&M Hydro Automatic transmission. Gadgets include a nose-mounted aluminum Cable Cutter Blade, Bat Ray Projector, Anti-Theft Device, Detect-a-scope, Batscope, Bat Eye Switch, Antenna Activator, Police Band Cut-In Switch, Automatic Tire Inflation Device, Remote Batcomputer, the Batphone, Emergency Bat Turn Lever, Anti-Fire Activator, Bat Smoke, Bat Photoscope, and many other Bat gadgets. If needed, the Batmobile was capable of a quick 180° “bat-turn” thanks to two rear-mounted ten-foot Deist parachutes.

In addition to being featured on various television and movie sets, the original Batmobile has been exhibited at numerous car shows and museums around the nation. The car is also exclusively featured in Christopher Nolan’s Batmobile Documentary, which can be viewed as a bonus feature on The Dark Knight Rises DVD.

The Batmobile becomes the second highest-selling vehicle ever at a Barrett-Jackson auction, behind Carroll Shelby’s own 1966 Cobra Super Snake sold in 2007.

Five Batmobile Photo Shoot

Fiberglass Freaks made history again by doing a photoshoot with five completed 1966 Batmobiles!  National award-winning photographer Rich Voorhees took the pics:

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Fiberglass Freaks on “How Do They Do It?”

Fiberglass Freaks was featured on an episode of the “How Do They Do It?” TV show on the Science Channel and on Discovery Channel, in the United States as well as in England.  It is available for purchase from Amazon for $1.99:

http://www.amazon.com/Roulette-Tables-Olive-Oil-Batmobile/dp/B005GDA9MK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314069589&sr=8-1

 

Ally Martin getting the ride of her life in the Batmobile. Photo by WRTV.

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We had a great day with young Batmobile fan Ally today. She is battling leukemia, and currently fighting for her life. Her big wish? To ride in a 1966 Batmobile. Thankfully, we were able to help her out with that…

 

#1 Batmobile to be sold at Barrett Jackson

Fiberglass Freaks is making news all across the world as the only licensed builder of the 1966 Batmobile.  Why the extra attention recently?  George Barris is selling the #1 screen-used Futura converted 1966 Batmobile for the first time!  The car will be sold on January 19th, 2013, at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It should bring seven figures easily!

Fiberglass Freaks Out and About

An F.F. replica will be on display at the Kruse Auction Park in Auburn, IN from August 28th-September 2nd.  I am planning to be there most of the day Tuesday, Aug. 28th, Saturday, Sept. 1st, and to pick up the car Sunday evening, Sept. 2nd if you would like a personal tour of the car, otherwise the car will be roped off.

It isn’t 100% confirmed yet, but they are planning to have a Tumbler and an 89 also (the 89 is up for auction, BTW).  Should make for some great photo ops to have all three cars on hand!


An F.F. replica was driven from Logansport, Indiana to the Chicago Comic Con and back the weekend of August 8th-12th.  At the convention, Mark Racop was interviewed four times by the media.


An F.F. replica was on display at the Hamilton 16 Imax theater in Noblesville, IN July 27th-July 30th.


An F.F. 1966 Batmobile replica was featured on Fox News on July 27th.


An F.F. 1966 Batmobile replica was featured in an article in the Lafayette, Indiana Journal & Courier.


Mark Racop was interviewed on WZPL Friday, July 20th for the Smiley morning show.


An F.F. 1966 Batmobile replica was used for a magazine photo shoot on Tuesday, July 3rd, for the German magazine Auto Bild.  It was a lot of fun, with them taking over 900 photos, but incredibly hot as well!  Temperature was in the high 90s while we were in downtown Logansport at the State Theater, the Cass County jail, and in front of the old post office.  Naturally, wherever we were parked it caused quite a commotion!


An F.F. 1966 Batmobile was at the Wabash, IN Airport from 2-8 on June 30th, 2012 to help raise money for Hands For Hope, a charity bringing awareness to domestic violence.  Our car won best of show!


Great news from Warner Brothers for all 1966 Batman fans–licensed merchandise coming soon!  Here’s the article.


Mark took a Fiberglass Freaks Batmobile to Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, Indiana, for a parade to honor and help cheer up kids that were injured in fires.  In the parade were fire trucks, police cars, a helicopter, dozens and dozens of motorcycles, and the Batmobile!  It was great fun and a real joy.


One of Fiberglass Freaks’ Batmobiles was on the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway track on Cummunity Day.


One of Fiberglass Freaks’ Batmobiles was in Kokomo for an appearance at Indiana Wesleyen University this evening.  There will probably be a photo in the Kokomo Tribune in the next day or two.  😉


Fiberglass Freaks was featured on the Galileo TV show on Tuesday, April 10th, 2012!  Can you speak German?


Mark Racop was a guest speaker at the Logansport Kiwanis Club March, 2012 meeting.

Auto Bild Klassik

Fiberglass Freaks was featured in another magazine!  We are in the October issue of Auto Bild Klassik.  How’s your German?

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Fiberglass Freaks 9 Year Anniversary!

Fiberglass Freaks celebrates nine years in business on September 1st! In honor of the anniversary, FF is offering their officially licensed 1966 Batmobile replicas with either a free upgrade to a 430hp fuel-injected GM crate motor, or $10,000 off the regular price. The offer is good until the end of September. Email or call for details: 574-722-3237.

An F.F. replica was in the Shriner’s Parade 8-26-12 in Logansport, Indiana:

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Indianapolis World of Wheels

Fiberglass Freaks displayed a 1966 Batmobile at the Indianapolis World of Wheels at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds February 10th-12th, 2012:

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Die Laughing

Mark Racop was interviewed in the Quad Cities Dwyer and Michael’s “Die Laughing” show with Dwyer, Michael, and Beth on Friday, 2-3-12.

Friday Guys at 5

Mark Racop was interviewed on the Los Angeles G5 “Friday Guys at 5” show with Don Dabney, Jamie Waterman, and Rick Miron on Friday, 1-27-12.  Here is a link to the interview:

http://g5radio.com/

Galileo

Fiberglass Freaks was host to the German TV show Galileo December 12th, 2011:

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Rotary Club

Fiberglass Freaks Owner Mark Racop gave a speech at the Rotary Club in Logansport, Indiana in late 2011:

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