Saturday, March 20, 2010

HOT WHEELS - BATBOAT

The first appearance of the Batboat was in the 1966 film Batman. It was subsequently used in the 1960s Batman television series. It was created by Glastron Industries.
Mel Whitley and Robert Hammond designed the Batboat from a Glastron V-174. They added a red flashing beacon, glowing eyes, batzooka hatches, seats for both Batman and Robin at the front of the boat, twin wind screens, a center console, an outdrive jet cover, and an aft to deck cover with a glowing Bat-Signal on the tail fin. Although the boat was powered by a Merc Cruiser Chevrolet V-6 and Attwood Corporation manufactured the hardwire, a water squirter and a jet nozzle were added to make the Batboat look like it was nuclear-powered. It took 31 days to build.

Eventually, a replica was built of the Batboat. When the Batman television show was cancelled, Glastron used the two Batboats for promotions on tours. After much touring, the boats were sold. One boat went to a Glastron dealer who was a Shriner. He used it in various Shriner parades. This Batboat was then moved to the Car Stars museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.



The original BatBoat was originally designed for the 1966 Batman movie and was subsequently used in the 1966 Batman TV Series. Designed as a submersible hydrofoil with retracting foils, the Bat Boat was powered by a Mercury Cruiser Chevrolet V6 engine. The boat was fitted with twin wind screens, glowing "bat eyes," a red flashing beacon, bazooka hatches and a glowing Batman signal in the tail fin. Our Hot Wheels version comes equipped with a trailer and attaches to the 1966 Batmobile Series 2. Buy it now

CAPTAIN SCARLET SPECTRUM PURSUIT VEHICLE


The 'Spectrum Pursuit vehicle' completed the trio of 'Scarlet' models, also to 1/48th scale. It was finished in a light metallic blue for its ten year production, though this was slightly darker than in the series. It feature an outward sliding door which when opened would lower the rear-facing figure of Captain Scarlet to the ground (the drivers of these SPVs always sat and drove via a TV monitor screen). Also featured were a hinged nise panel with a concealed firing missile, folding aerial and retractable rear quad track unit. In its final years the normally white rubber bumper was replace with a lack one and the 'Spectrum' roundel decals were replaced by somplified labels.