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In the 1990s, CORGI wanted to reissue their famous diecast
model of the 1966 TV BATMOBILE. Trouble was, there was
a copyright quagmire surrounding the car which meant that their
plans were thwarted. Eventually, they decided to go with the '60s
comicbook version, which had sort of developed from the TV car
when the artists grew either fed up or too lazy trying to capture
designer GEORGE BARRIS's classic chassis.
Thus evolved the comicbook version, which, from the front,
bore a startling similarity to the TV incarnation. In a nod to the
'60s toy, Corgi gave their 'new' Batmobile a chain cutter, and the
same outline of Batman's figure adorned the base of the car. To
be frank, the overall result didn't have the same visual impact,
being too simplified a version of Barris's original design.
The paint job had a speckly effect, rather than the deep, rich,
gloss black of the '60s car, which further cheapened the look of
the model. It was a brave attempt by Corgi, but it failed to set the
world of diecast toys on fire in the way that the '60s car had done.
The addition of a ROBIN figure would've given the model a much
needed splash of colour, but, alas, production expense had to be
taken into account and it was not too be. (Although I hear that
a 'special edition' model with a Robin figure was later made
available. Anyone ever seen it?)
Corgi released a series of Batman-related cars at this time,
but as nice as some of them undoubtedly were, nothing came
close to matching the beauty and wonder of the '66 classic.
Posted in: Cartoons
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