Collecting movie memorabilia is a pricey game, there’s just no way around that. The stakes get even higher when you mix in a character as popular as Batman.
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At a recent auction, a couple of props used in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy were sold, and the final prices blew expectations out of the water. After one of the Batsuits from the films sold for almost $250,000, the Batpod from The Dark Knight Rises was up for grabs.
You may not recognize the name Batpod, but the item is easy to recall if you see a picture. Batman’s motorcycle was one of the most extravagant props in the film, and it was ridden by both Christian Bale’s Batman, and Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman.
The estimated sale price for the Batpod, which isn’t even in running condition, was somewhere between $80,000-$110,000. Boy, was that off.
By the time the auctioneer yelled “sold” the price for the bike had reached $406,184.
No, you’re not seeing things. Batman’s prop motorcycle from The Dark Knight Rises was bought for almost half a million dollars. Let’s put that in perspective.
Accoring to Census.gov, the average price of a new home in the United States in 2010 was $272,000. A bike that doesn’t function went for roughly $134,000 more than a new house.
One thing is clear – someone really loves Batman.
Even though the Batpod isn’t functioning, it’s only missing a couple of key elements before it’s ready for the road. Throttle controls, a battery, and a fuel pump are missing from the equation, but the bike does come equipped with a Honda 750-cc engine.
If the new owner really wanted to drive the Batpod back and forth to work each day, it wouldn’t take much more money to get it rolling.
It’s worth noting that getting the motorcycle street legal could also significantly raise the price. Maybe the buyer thought they could turn it for profit, or maybe they’re just the biggest Batman fan there ever was.
The Prop Store, a company that specializes in selling film props, hosted the auction on Tuesday, In addition to the Batsuit and Batpod, a few other pricey items found new homes.
Badges used by Scully and Mulder in The X-Files each sold for around $10,000, while a TIE Fighter Helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope went for $273,423.
Source: Motor Authority
