George Barris quietly says goodbye to the Batmobile, which he's kept in his collection since 1966. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

The Batmobile had been parked in a three-car garage space right next to the eerily fun hot-rod hearse from The Munsters show. Next to that is another custom hearse, this one named Gargoyle and built for a movie project with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

After he said goodbye to the Batmobile, Barris expressed his hopes for the iconic celebrity car’s future after the auction, where it’s being offered with reserve as part of the Scottsdale Salon Collection.

“I really feel that it should go to a major collection or museum and have a fine future on display,” he said. “The Batmobile is getting a new life.”

This morning, the Batmobile was dropped off at Barrett-Jackson headquarters in Scottsdale. A gleeful Craig Jackson, CEO of the auction house, took the honors of driving the Batmobile out of the truck and parking it in front of the impressive Barrett-Jackson building.

“You know, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Jackson said of his short drive. “I gotta say, for a kid that grew up after school coming home and watching this on TV, to actually sit in the real car, it is a special feeling.

Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson drives the Batmobile off the truck after its arrival in Scottsdale. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

“This has to be the most recognizable vehicle in the world.”

Auction president Steve Davis wasted no time, hopping in behind the wheel and mugging with the Bat Phone on his ear. He and Jackson then stood back to take a long look at the actual Batmobile, the only car that appeared in the show driven by Adam West as Batman with Burt Ward as Robin.

“The transformation of this car into a star, that’s what’s really significant about this car,” Davis said. “It became part of the show in the sense that it was as much as an actor as Batman or Robin. The key moment was pulling out of the Bat Cave with all that super-cool stuff going on.”

Like any hastily built TV car of its day, the Batmobile has a certain funky, time-worn appeal, though it remains in near-perfect original condition as it was built and revised during the filming. Jackson pointed out the many inventive ways in which the Barris creators made the car’s unique features; the huge faux turbine exhaust outlet is actually an artfully rendered plastic bucket.

Actual power for the big car is provided by a big-block Ford V8 that rumbles deeply at idle, not like the shriek of an actual turbine engine.

Looking into the passenger compartment, Davis pointed out the Bat Radar screen and other special Batman features, including a rather mundane-looking stereo system amid all the fanciful gear.

The Batmobile looks playfully menacing on the Scottsdale street. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

“This is the updated version with a cassette instead of an 8-track,” he said with a laugh.

Jackson noted that as the only car used in the filming of the series, the Batmobile was subjected to many fast driving scenes and stunts.

“They drove the car hard the first season,” Jackson said. “Adam West drove it so hard – and this was just built as a show car, not a driver – that the frame and a lot of things started getting pretty beat up.

“He (Barris) changed the frame and the engine and the tranny so that he (West) could actually beat on it. The original Ghia show car wasn’t built to do Bat turns and all that.”

Jackson said that the Batmobile will carry a high reserve when it comes to auction in January. “This is going to take a few millions of dollars to sell.”

Barrett-Jackson has received inquiries about the Batmobile from around the world, as well as the Internet lighting up with commentary. In fact, Davis said, Batman’s car could be more famous overseas than it is in the United States.

Craig Jackson and auction president Steve Davis check out the Batmobile. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

“The identity of this car, it’s not just in the United States, it’s around the world. This car is immediately recognizable,” Davis said. “It’s part of the culture that created the entire Batman franchise.

“Think back when they did this. This was a roll of the dice. Nobody knew how this would come out.”

The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction takes place Jan. 13-20 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, with 40 hours of live coverage on SPEED. For more information, see Barrett-Jackson.com.

The Batmobile is scheduled to cross the block during the primetime sale Saturday, Jan. 19, when the auction’s most valuable cars are coming up for sale, including those from the elite Salon Collection of ultra rare and historic cars.

For a photo gallery of the Batmobile leaving George Barris’ shop and museum in North Hollywood, see Batmobile Departs Los Angeles.

For a photo gallery of the Batmobile arriving in Scottsdale, see Batmobile at Barrett-Jackson.

For a photo gallery showing the creation of the Batmobile, see Batmobile's History.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at