Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 17, 2023 | 5 comments

And by “outlandish,” we mean AWESOME!

Heritage Auctions’ Ultimate Batman Collection auction is in full swing and we’ve been posting highlights along the way. This time out it’s one of the centerpiece categories — tin Batmobiles made and distributed in Japan and Taiwan in the ’60s and ’70s.

These can range from fairly standard depictions of Batman’s ride to wonderfully, hilariously over-the-top models. Now, I could have included other vehicles, whether it be a Batcopter or a dump truck festooned with Batman imagery, but I’ve chosen to focus on the Batmobile itself — or as much as you can when you’re dealing with some seriously off-model and garish cars.

So dig THE TOP 13 MOST OUTLANDISH ASIAN TIN BATMOBILES FROM THE ’60s AND ’70s — RANKED, including the official auction descriptions. And check out Heritage Auctions’ website to follow the action — or bid yourself. The auction runs into early August. (Note: This is by no means a definitive selection because there are almost certainly other examples out there not in the auction. Buy, hey, this is for fun, right? Right? Right.)

Batteries to power, folks! Turbines to speed…

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13. Batman Japanese Tin Batmobile with Original Box (Aoshin, 1966). This is pretty much the closest you’ll come to screen-accurate 1966 TV Batmobile. It is gorgeous. I would love to own one. But by definition, it’s not outlandish at all, except for some of the plastic flourishes. So while this is a magnificent item, it clocks in at No. 13.

This black tin Batmobile was produced in Japan by Aoshin in 1966. The battery-operated car has rubber wheels with a black body and tri-colored rocket tubes on the trunk. The plastic Batman head is on a tin lithographed body. Each of the four hubcaps have red Batsymbols on them and the back license plate reads “Batman”. On the front, the headlights and grills are unpainted tin. The car has some light scratches and a small dent at the rear passenger corner. Also included is the original box which solid and has good color. There is a 4″ tear in the center of the box top vertically and 1″ horizontally. The cover has light scuffs and minor creases while the box bottom has some age discoloration. Inside the box are the original styrofoam inserts. The car untested, so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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12. Batman Blue Tin Batmobile with Original Box (Aoshin, 1966). This is the one I got as a kid and I still have one. It’s my only Japanese tin Batmobile. For some, this is the quintessential version because, I believe, it’s one of the few that made it Stateside. A wonderful toy, but like No. 13, it’s pretty close to the George Barris design, other than the bright blue chassis — so points off for accuracy!

This blue tin Batmobile was produced in Japan by Aoshin in the 1960’s. The battery-operated car has rubber wheels with a blue body and translucent red rocket tubes on the rear. The plastic Batman and Robin heads are on tin lithographed bodies. Each of the four hubcaps have red Batsymbols on them and the back license plate reads “Batman”. On the front, the headlights and grills are unpainted tin and on the back there are lithographed tail lights. The car has some scratches and a bit of rust on the front passenger fender. Also included is the original box which has moderate wear. The cellophane window has a large crack and is 75% detached from the box. The top of the box is worn with bends, creases, and small tears. The box bottom contains the original cardboard inserts to keep the car from moving inside the box. The battery compartment is clean but the car has not been tested so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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11. Batman Open Top Red Batmobile with Original Box (Yonezawa, 1960s). I’d like to think this is an homage to Batman’s original red roadster from the comics, but it’s not. It’s just a cheap attempt to put Batman in a car. A groovy little, mid-’60s convertible but not really outlandish other than it’s just a groovy little, mid-’60s convertible.

This red open-top Batmobile is a very rare tin toy produced in 1966 by Yonezawa for the Japanese market. It features a friction-powered motor and a painted plastic Batman at the wheel. The hubcaps are lithographed as well as the blue seats. It comes with the original Japanese writing box with artwork of Batman and Robin on the front. The car is in excellent condition with some light age discoloration on some chrome areas. There are a few small surface scratches on back seat and the plastic Batman has few small marks on his head. The box is solid with some wear and creases on the cover.

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10. Batman Red Tin Batmobile in Original Box (Cien Ge, 1970s). Now, we’re getting somewhere: Combine Numbers 11 through 13 and you get this — a bright red Barris Batmobile complete with loud verbiage. Dig the attempt at the mid-’60s comics logo on the hood and the oh-so-obvious “Batmobile” writtten in bumpy style on the side.

This red tin body Batmobile was made in Taiwan by Cien Ge in the 1970’s and comes with the original box. It is the short version car with Batmobile written on the side. The box shows artwork of the Batmobile instead of a photo of the toy that is on many similar boxes. The car is in excellent condition with a few small scratches. It has good color, a clean battery compartment, and rubber wheels with white tin hubs. It has black pinstripes on the sides with black across the tops of the fins and blue translucent lights and red rocket exhaust with a tin bumper. Batman and Robin have painted heads over tin upper bodies in great condition. The front grills are tin and very clean. The doors, hood, and dashboards are lithographed with great color. The box advertises “Blinking Warning light and jet engine noise” when activated and is marked “NO: 2001”. The box is solid with some creases, surface wear, and crushing at the bottom right corner. The car has not been tested so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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9. Batman Japanese Tin Remote Control Batmobile Race Car (Aoshin, 1966). Some of the cars that were produced are similar to others, with only minor tweaks or different boxes. The box was a deciding factor here because, dang is it pretty. But what I dig about the car is that it’s based on the comics of the time, and not the TV show (the box art notwithstanding). It would be lower on the list due to its relative accuracy but you gotta love “Batman” on the hood and that fabulous logo on the side.

This blue tin remote control Batmobile was produced by Aoshin for the Japanese market in 1966. It has rubber wheels with a lithographed body and a blue tin wired remote / battery case. The plastic Batman head is on a tin lithographed body. The car has some light scratches but overall, the car looks unused. The battery compartment is clean with the original cardboard battery insertion instructions and there is white string still tied around the remote cord. The box is original and has vibrant colors. The bottom has some crushing on the sides and a price in pencil on the side. The box top has warping and some creases but no tears. The car is untested, so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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8. Batman Japanese Blue Tin Batmobile Race Car with Original English Box (Aoshin, 1966). Similar to No. 7, but more colorful. Far out.

This blue tin Batmobile race car was produced in Japan by Aoshin in 1966. It is friction powered and has a blue lithographed body with blue plastic fins. The bumpers are unpainted tin and Batman has a plastic head over a lithographed tin body. Batman and a logo adorn the front of the car while “Batmobile” is written on both doors and the trunk. The original English box is also included which has moderate wear. The box cover has a one inch tear in the top left corner. The cover has some scratches and creases but retains good colors. The car has good colors and the plastic Batman head has light paint wear. There is a residue mark in the center of the hood under the logo. There are very light scratches and light tarnish to the tin bumpers and windshield border. The bottom of the car is very clean with no scratches and seems unused.

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7. Batman Japanese Tin Batmobile Race Car (Yonezawa, 1966). Y’know how there was a pitch for a Batman vs. Godzilla movie? Well, wouldn’t it have been great if there were a Batman vs. Elvis movie that was a sequel to Viva Las Vegas? You could call it Viva Gotham City and the King and the Caped Crusader would have a grand prix showdown before teaming up to beat Cesare Danova. Guess-starring Ann-Margret! And bring Yvonne Craig into it too!

This blue tin Batmobile was produced by Yonezawa for the Japanese market in 1966. It is friction-powered and has rubber wheels with a lithographed body and hubcaps. The plastic Batman upper body and head sits inside with a transparent green windshield in front of him. The car has some scratches throughout with paint loss and dark spots on the hood. The Batman head has wear on the ears and there are small marks on the bottom of the car. The box is reproduction and has wear and soiling overall.

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6. Batman Red and Yellow Japanese Tin Super Flat Batmobile (Ichiko, 1960s). There are a few of these “super flat” Batmobiles out there. This must have been a thing in Japan. But, hey, love the color scheme, the fighting Batman on the back, the Japanese printing and whatever that is in the hood.

This red and yellow tin Batmobile was produced by Ichiko for the Japanese market in the 1960’s. It features the Batsymbol on front with “Batman” written on the back and sided in Japanese. It has artwork of Batman on the back as well as Batman and Robin inside the car cockpit. In front is a cutout area where a spinning wheel with Batsymbols turns when the car is moving. The car has great colors with light scratches. Please note that one of the wheels is missing.

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5. Batman Japanese Tin Batmobile Race Car with Original Box (Masudaya, 1966). I want this. I really want this. A sleek, black roadster that looks like no Batmobile I’ve ever seen but wish actually existed on film or on the page. Dig the complementary red, orange and gold color scheme — including the painted flames shooting from the rocket tubes. Bats himself is in glorious orange (though it’s really red that’s faded over the last 50-plus years). As Mr. Freeze might say, “Vild!”

This black tin Batmobile was produced by Matsudaya for the Japanese market in 1966. The wide-eyed Batman is very distinct and doesn’t quite match the determined expression on the box cover. The car is friction-powered and has rubber wheels with a lithographed body. The plastic Batman head is on a lithographed tin body and has a vinyl red cape behind him, both of which have some fading from age. The car has some light scratches and scuffs but is in excellent condition. The box bottom and top are solid but the top has some tears in the corners as well as in the center. There are some creases, edge wear and a surface tear near the Japanese writing. The car is untested and no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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4. Batman Japanese Tin Super Bat Flat Batmobile with Original Box (Yonezawa, 1960’s). Takes the flat Batmobile a couple of steps further, with a mostly white chassis, a laser rifle, and a red-and-blue Batman painted on the hood. The clincher, though, is that same red Batman popping up from the cockpit that gives you a 3D effect and a seriously warped depiction of Adam West.

This tin flat Batmobile was released by Yonezawa for the Japanese market in the 1960’s. Made entirely of lithographed tin, the body is red and white with a red-suited Batman driving and leaping in a graphic on the hood. In addition, “Batman” in Japanese is written on the front, back, and both sides. The interesting graphics also include a flowing cape, gun, and even Batman’s head is made of tin. Measuring only 9″ by 4″ by 2″, the car has an incredibly low profile. Also included is the original box that has a classic red Batmobile and a red-suited Batman on the front. The side panels show a blue-cowled Batman head in the center of red bat wings. The car is in beautiful condition with beautiful paint with minimal scratches. There are small nicks along the edge around the middle of the car where the top meets the bottom. The car bottom is also very clean. The box is in excellent condition as well with good colors and light edge wear. There is a wave on the top of the box and some very small creases at the left corners and edges. Overall, it would be difficult to find another one in such beautiful condition.

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3. Batman Gold Tin Piston Batmobile in Original Box (Cien Ge, 1970s). Back to the Barris design but in gold, with, well, what the hell is all that on the trunk? I don’t know — but I love it.

This gold tin body Batmobile was made in Taiwan by Cien Ge in the 1970’s and comes with the original box. It is the long version car with pistons “Batman” in the logo on the side. The box is the angled photo box version. The car is in excellent condition with very light wear. It has great color and a clean battery compartment and rubber wheels with white tin hubs. It has black pinstripes on the sides with black across the tops of the fins and red translucent lights and rocket exhaust. with blue lower tail lights. Batman and Robin have painted heads over tin upper bodies. The heads have a bit of paint wear and the rear bumper is chromed plastic while the front grills are tin. The box shows a translucent orange windshield while the car has a green translucent one. The doors, hood, and dashboards are lithographed with great color. The box advertises “Bump N Go” “Mystery Action” when activated and is marked “CG-1228B”. The box is solid small creases and surface wear. There is a crescent shaped crease at the top left of the cover and a strip of cardboard missing inside the box bottom. The car has not been tested so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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2. Batman Japanese Tin Tank Car with Original Box (Yanoman, 1966). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you hulking Green Batman in his red-and-white Bat-tank, complete with radar scope so the Caped Crusader can keep an eye on the Boy Wonder. Special tip of the cowl to the unique Bat-emblems. Holy Valencia!

This red tin Batman tank car was made in Japan by Yanoman Toys in 1966. It is friction powered and features a lithographed tin body with a plastic bust of Batman driving it. In front of him is a large targeting display. Also included is the original box with artwork of Batman and Robin both looking angry and yelling which fits in with the tank theme. The tank car has good color with some scratches and Batman has some paint loss and has yellowed from age. The box bottom has some crushing while the top shows surface scuffs and edge wear. there is some roughness to the corner edges and a price is written lightly on Batman’s chest.

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1. Batman Red Tin Piston Batmobile with Antenna in Original Box (Cien Ge, 1970s). This. This. This. Combines many of the elements of the other tin Barris Batmobiles but caps it off with a gigantic antenna that makes the whole thing an explosion of colors and whacked-out design. This is an absolute beast — and the ultimate over-the-top, outlandish, bonkers tin Batmobile.

This red tin body Batmobile was made in Taiwan by Cien Ge in the 1970’s and comes with the original box. It is the short version car with pistons and antenna and “Batman” in the logo on the side. The box is the angled photo box version. The car is in excellent condition with very light wear and a few small scratches. It has great color and a clean battery compartment and rubber wheels with white tin hubs. It has black pinstripes on the sides with black across the tops of the fins and translucent blue lights and red rocket exhaust. Batman and Robin have plastic painted heads over tin upper bodies and the bumpers are silver tin. The doors, hood, and dashboards are lithographed with great color. The box advertises “Bump N Go” “Mystery Action” when activated and is marked “NO. 2002”. The box is solid in good condition with a crushed top left corner and bottom right corner with creasing and light scuffing. There are also dents in the cover from pressure on the top of the Batmobile inside. The car has not been tested so no guarantee can be made of its working condition.

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