Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
Does anyone know the specific whereabouts of the car that MTV awarded to someone in Richmond, VA. in June of 1989? A reporter contacted me and was interested in doing a story on the car in time for the release of the new movie. I guess he was there when the car was awarded, and that is what sparked his interest.
From: Tim
| Posted: 2/14/2005 11:29:15 PM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
That wasn't June of '89, was it? I remember losing that contest and I thought it was a pretty good while after the move was released.
From: www.thebatcave8k.com
| Posted: 2/15/2005 12:54:32 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
Could have been... The reporter guy sent me that approximation. I do not even recall the contest, believe it or not!
From: Tim
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:06:31 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
That's okay, you're probably about 10 years younger than I am...
From: Webmaster
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:13:51 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
Here are 3 articles on it(same reporter sent'em):
VCU STUDENT WANTS TO SELL BATMOBILE HE WON IN CONTEST
Edition: City
Memo: (lsb)
Patrick McLynn has the perfect Christmas gift for the person who has
everything -- a Batmobile.
The Virginia Commonwealth University student and part-time bartender won the
vehicle in an MTV contest. However, the car, a prototype of the one used in
the movie "Batman," doesn't have an engine and McLynn said he needs some
winter transportation.
McLynn has launched a worldwide search for the perfect buyer: whoever
offers the most money. He hopes someone out there wants to put a Batmobile
under the family Christmas tree this year and is accepting sealed bids for
the car until Dec. 20.
The black fiberglass vehicle is a work of art, he said. It was built by
Hollywood Productions Inc., which built two other Batmobiles for the motion
picture. It's the size of two compact cars set end-to-end and contains more
curves than a mountain road.
McLynn, who was selected at random from nearly 1 million callers to MTV, won
the car and $25,000 on June 19. Four days later, it arrived in Richmond with
actor Robert Wuhl, who plays reporter Alexander Knox in "Batman."
The Batmobile hasn't come without headaches for McLynn. He had to sign a
waiver saying he would not use it in any promotion that would benefit him
financially. Any move he made had to be approved by Hollywood Productions.
That hasn't stopped him from letting friends and family take a turn behind
the wheel of the Batmobile -- providing they don't reveal its hiding place.
He is keeping the car under wraps because he can not afford the estimated
$10,000 insurance premium.
McLynn said since he got the car, more than 100 people have climbed into the
"cockpit," wriggled their legs beneath the steering wheel and slid the hatch
shut just for a feel of what it would be like to be the Caped Crusader.
The contract that accompanied the Batmobile meant he had to rule out dozens
of requests from people and organizations nationwide asking if they could
display the car.
He said he wished he could oblige everyone.
"There was a child who had bone cancer and they wanted to use the car as a
promotion to raise money for his transplant operations," he said. "And it
came down to technicalities."
The Science Museum of Virginia borrowed the Batmobile for display during
July, with Hollywood Productions' permission. But the museum was not allowed
to charge admission. In October, McLynn and his uncle finally lined up
transportation to haul the car from the museum to the secret location.
From: Webmaster
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:14:14 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
McLynn, 23, said he makes at least two trips per week to check on his prize.
He drives his blue and white Suzuki motorcycle down a narrow block of
identical storage sheds and scans the area for passers-by before stopping at
the one designated as the bat cave.
He possesses the only key to the door and cracks it only a foot before
crawling underneath and whisking away a blanket to show off the Batmobile.
Although Hollywood Productions said McLynn's vehicle was never used in any
movies, McLynn has his doubts. He believes the movie disclaimer is just a
ruse to lessen the value of the car. The company has already made two offers
for the car.
"They gave us a weasel offer in the beginning," said Andy Grimes, McLynn's
uncle who has been handling most inquiries about the Batmobile.
"We're now in the process of weeding out the people who bid just to get a
hand in it so they can tell people they had a shot at the Batmobile."
Hollywood Production's initial offer was $4,000, which the company later
increased to $25,000 or a brand new Corvette -- with engine.
"They weren't very happy with the way the contest ended up," McLynn said.
"Here they go out on a limb getting the rights to build the car. Their idea
was to take it to car shows and they hoped whoever won it would sell it
right back to them. I didn't."
Estimates of what it cost Hollywood Productions to build the vehicle range
from $16,000 to $60,000.
McLynn said he hopes the bids will be in the range of $125,000 to $330,000.
His uncle said the range should fall between $165,000 to $215,000.
What is clear, is that they want to sell the car soon and are targeting
would-be buyers in Hollywood and car dealers overseas. McLynn has been
studying industrial design at VCU since 1987. He tends bar at a Richmond
club to pay his bills.
McLynn said he hopes to cash in on the hype surrounding the movie in Europe,
where it just made its debut in Italy and Britain.
"My accountant thinks it's going to be more lucrative if we try for somebody
in California," McLynn said. "Somebody who's going to want to sit on this
thing for an investment or just for laughs and has that kind of money to do
that."
McLynn said his cash winnings of $25,000 will dwindle to $18,000 when he
pays taxes April 15. He already used some of the money to buy the
motorcycle.
"I didn't think it would take this long to sell it, but then I haven't
really pushed it," he said. "It's costing me money right now. I'd like to
sell it and start doing something for my future."
From: Webmaster
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:14:34 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
Illustrations/Photos: PHOTO
HOLY CONNECTING RODS, BATMAN, CITY WILL BE HOME TO BATMOBILE
Edition: City
Memo: (ljb)
There's good news and bat news.
The good news is that Patrick McLynn, part-time bartender and full-time
Virginia Commonwealth University student, has won the Batmobile, the hottest
car in Gotham City.
The bat news is the Caped Crusader's vehicle doesn't have a motor and McLynn
doesn't have a car. He gets around on a bicycle or his skateboard.
But he'll also get $25,000 for batgas. That should help cover admission to
"Batman," the big budget Warner Bros. film opening here Friday.
Giving away the Batmobile was part of the nationwide hoopla accompanying the
film.
McLynn pays his engineering school tuition working four days a week as a
bartender at the Tobacco Company. He gets his batwheels Friday at the Ridge
Cinema and the extra money for upkeep from "Batman" co-star Robert Wuhl.
Greg Drebin, a publicist for MTV which gave away the car, explained the
empty space under the hood. "It simply was not streetworthy," Drebin said.
"The car was the real prop used in the picture. But its motor was too heavy,
the ratio wasn't according to regulations. It has only been driven by stunt
men."
McLynn had a motorcycle but some Joker ripped it off three years ago. "I
just got it back but it costs too much to repair."
McLynn "jumped up and down when I heard. I couldn't eat. I called people --
even the newsroom at Channel 6, where they didn't believe me -- I was so
excited."
But then, McLynn didn't believe it either: "When I got the call Monday, I
thought it was the girl I dated the night before pulling my leg."
He had been watching MTV Sunday night. "They said something about a Bat
signal. Then they flashed 'Batman' several times and later a telephone
number. I called 20 times before I got through. They asked my name and
address and phone number. They said I was entered in the sweepstakes. And
then they said they would call me Monday morning between 10 and noon."
He was lucky it wasn't yesterday when his phone service was turned off. A
roommate left town without paying the bill.
"I don't know what I'll do with the car. I think it should be shown at
theaters where the movie is playing and maybe state fairs around the
country."
McLynn said, "I would hate to sell it. It would be great to put a motor in
it. But, I think I'll take the $16,000 I'll have left after taxes and put it
in CDs. And then I could use the interest to buy a motorcycle.
"I would like to visit my folks, who live outside of Frederick, Maryland,
and then ride up to Martha's Vineyard."
At VCU, McLynn is studying industrial design and product engineering. He
aims to be a toy designer.
From: Webmaster
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:14:57 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
BATMOBILE'S A JOKER - NO MOTOR, AND READ THE FINE PRINT
Edition: City
Memo: (lbc) With related review
Holy hyperbole, Batman, the Richmond Batmobile is a fake.
Oh, it's a close copy of the stuntmobile in the movie. But it's really a
$60,000 imitation made from a custom British-built body on an extended
Chevrolet Impala wheelbase.
Richmonder Patrick McLynn's one-in-a-million prize -- he was chosen from
982,950 callers to MTV -- never had a motor, was never shined for the
movie's camera and never had Batman behind the wheel. It moves only if you
push it.
It is touted as an exact copy of the 20-foot-long, high-finned turbojet
zoomer used in the movie; it's actually a bit narrower. The original is
parked in London, stored in the hope that there will be a sequel to
"Batman."
According to Harold Lorah, who brought McLynn's car here for Hollywood
Productions Inc., it was built strictly for promotion. No one can use it for
profit other than Hollywood Productions Inc., which paid the Licensing
Corporation of America for the trademark rights.
Although McLynn now owns it, he had to sign a waiver that he won't use it
for commercial gain.
So the VCU student and bartender at the Tobacco Company restaurant is going
to exhibit it at the Science Museum of Virginia for 30 days. That means the
museum can't charge admission to see it either; it only asks for
"donations."
McLynn is also thinking about displaying it at the Virginia Aviation Museum
and later the Smithsonian Institution. Then he may sell it.
"As long as the buyer follows the terms," Lorah said.
Though yesterday's event was promoted by MTV, it was sponsored by Warner
Bros.
According to Peter Danielsen, promotion manager for MTV, the publicity cost
MTV more than $100,000. He said the company did not receive any part of the
almost 1 million 50-cent-per-call charges made to the 900 exchange contest
line "because that would have made it a lottery. We budget for promotion
every year. This was our most successful fantasy promotion ever."
At 4:30 p.m., in the crowded Ridge Cinema lobby, Robert Wuhl, who plays
ace reporter Alexander Knox in "Batman," presented a (fake) MTV check for
$25,000 to McLynn. Eventually, he will get the money.
When the red-haired McLynn finally climbed into the motorless Batmobile, he
had a look that seemed to indicate he would like to take off like "Batman"
has taken off in Richmond theaters.
Managers at local movie houses say there were approximately 800 people at
the Ridge, 800 at the Chesterfield and 500 at the Midlothian Thursday night
for its local premiere.
"They say kids won't like it, but some die-hard kid fans who wore Batman
T-shirts to last night's showing were here for the first show this morning,"
said Hal Hyronemus, manager of the United Artists Inc. Chesterfield Cinemas.
At the Ridge, there was a line in front of the ticket booth before 7 a.m.
yesterday. Among those seated by 10 a.m. were six youths from 12 to 15 years
old who slept out together in one backyard to be in line early
From: Tim
| Posted: 2/15/2005 1:32:48 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989? "Four days later, it arrived in Richmond with
actor Robert Wuhl, who plays reporter Alexander Knox in "Batman." "
I didn't know Robert Wuhl came with the car. Is the kid also selling Robert, or is he keeping him?
From: www.thebatcave8k.com
| Posted: 2/15/2005 2:10:29 AM
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RE: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
:) lol.
Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car MTV awarded in June of 1989?
