TOYHEM! Recalling the original in a year of fab re-releases…
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Welcome to TOYHEM! For the sixth straight holiday season, we’re bringing you a series of features and columns celebrating the toys of our youth, which often made for the best memories this time of year. Click here to check out the complete index of stories — and have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays! — Dan
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UPDATED 12/14/24: This is one of my fave TOYHEM stories from the vault, so we’re reprinting it this year, given all the renewed interest in the Corgi Batmobile, thanks to the British company’s wave of re-releases this year. (With more teased for 2025!) The original version first ran in 2019. Right on! — Dan
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2024 gloss re-release
By DAN JURGENS
In the 1960s, we didn’t have much in the way of toys that were based on comics. More than anything, we had toys that were based on TV shows that were based on comics, and the king of them all was ABC TV’s Batman. Not only was it massive as a two-night-per-week TV show, it was also an iconic symbol of pop culture, capturing much of the crazy concepts of the era.
Part of that craziness was the idea that almost every show on TV seemed to have a unique car as part of its “cast”. The Munsters, The Monkees, The Beverly Hillbillies and more all had recognizable cars that were worthy of exploitation by the toy industry. Batman was the leader in that regard, thanks to the Batmobile.
Designed and built by George Barris, the awesome set of wheels was absolutely the coolest thing rolling on TV. When I saw the Corgi Toys version in a Christmas catalogue, it was something I absolutely had to have. Fortunately, in one of those memories that seems as though it only happened yesterday, Santa delivered, and the Batmobile was mine.
At a time when a lot of TV tie-in toys were cheap knockoffs, Corgi came through with a very credible version, made of metal and detailed in proportion to the car. It had a chain cutter, rockets that actually fired and, when the wheels rolled, mimicked the ignition fire of the nuclear engines.
It was, “Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed,” from the moment I laid my hands on it, and still one of the era’s best comics-related efforts.
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ADDITIONAL NOTE from Dan (Greenfield): By the way, these are Dan’s original items. I told him I was impressed that he saved everything.
His reply?
“If I liked the art on them — and many boxes featured painted art instead of photos — I saved them. Same with model kits. I didn’t save the boxes, but I cut the sides off the covers and saved them flat because I liked the pictures.”
That’s a budding artist right there.
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MORE
— The Complete TOYHEM INDEX of Stories and Features. Click here.
— DAN JURGENS Takes THE BAT-MAN Back to 1939 In New Prestige Format Miniseries. Click here.
December 4, 2019
Dan Jurgens is truly a genius.
December 4, 2019
I bet those Batmobile Owner’s Badges are rare now. As I recall, this was an adhesive-backed item printed on fabric.
December 5, 2019
I recently had to sell my corgi Batmobile for nothing near it’s worth – especially to me. Now I may want to buy this one back! Childhood obsession Insanity!
December 6, 2021
I have the corgi batmobile that actually shoots out the rockets from the pipes Ron Albion ny
December 1, 2022
I love the instructions showing the buzz saw tearing into back of the Mustang. (I’m a Chevy person.) My version came with the trailer and boat…..I’m thinking early ‘70s.
December 1, 2022
There’s some talk that Corgi MIGHT reissue the Batmobile if there’s enough of a demand.
December 1, 2022
I’m in if they do.
December 1, 2022
Check out Corgi model club USA Facebook page for details. They’re not working on obtaining the license.
December 1, 2022
Dan, Corgi Model Club USA Is planning to reissue the Corgi Batmobile in the first issue box. They do very high quality work and what’s new will include a Batmobile certificate of authenticity.
December 1, 2022
I am certain I had this when I was a young kid in the 1960s. I also remember the Corgi Black Beauty and The Avengers (the TV series) had two: John Steed’s Bentley and Emma Peel’s Lotus. Wow, I just had a flashback for the first time of the model kit shop in my hometown that was located on the corner of a main street and how just inside the doorway to the left they had a display case of Corgi and Matchbox vehicles.
December 14, 2024
I can’t believe 2 years later we can have a brand new Batmobile. Truly an exciting time to be a kid, whatever age you are!
Frank is the Toy Whisperer!