Gawker: defamer, batmobile

5 Intelligent Screen Cars We Prefer to KITT From 'Knight Rider'

Kyle Buchanan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:10:00 EDT

America, let's face it: KITT from Knight Rider is kind of a bitch. Though he's a car designed for adventuring, KITT is also a big scold, always crying, "Do this!" "Do that!" "Miiiichael, the risk factor is too high!" It remains to be seen whether the Val Kilmer-voiced vehicle in tonight's Knight Rider reboot will prove less neurotic over time, but until then, we thought we'd take a trip down memory lane and give props to the "smart" cars we'd prefer to take a ride in. With the help of Molly McAleer, we've created this loving tribute to five of the best onscreen autos to ever rev their engines. Sorry, Herbie — better luck next time? [NBC]

Special Effects Man Killed In Crash While Following Batmobile

Ray Wert — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EDT

A couple of days ago a special effects technician working on the new Batman movie, Batman: The Dark Knight was killed when the camera truck he was in crashed into a tree while on a stunt test run following the Batmobile. We're assuming by "Batmobile" they mean the "Tumbler" based upon the quote from a spokesman calling the vehicle being followed a "4x4." Warner Brothers says the accident happened off-set and there was no filming taking place. I bet Monday was one of those days where Christian Bale wished he really was a superhero who could save a man's life by wrapping him up with a batarang and snag him before he hit the tree — or maybe he just wishes the guy driving hadn't hit the tree. [via BBC]

Build Yourself A Tumbler PC, Pretend You're Batman

Ray Wert — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EDT

We think the ~~Batmobile~~ Tumbler is pretty sweet as far as superhero movie cars go. True, it's no Transformers Camaro concept or Dukes of Hazzard '69 Charger — but we'd totally take one for our own garage (note to self: inclusion in Jalopnik Fantasy Garage perhaps?). Now, there's a young man with a lot of free time on his hands who's got one for his desk. It's a former Wal-Mart-bought R/C Tumbler with the innards scooped out and replaced with an AMD Sempron chip and...well we're now already out of our league. We'll let our gadget-obsessed brothers take over from here. Needless to say, the only thing cooler would be if this R/C car still drove. [via Gizmodo]

Is The Joker Car From The New Batman Movie...A Truck?

Ray Wert — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:30:00 EDT

Our gadget-obsessed brothers snagged some pics of a vehicle a tipster snapped shots of at a filming location for the new Batman movie. The boys at the Giz believe it's the vehicle for Joker from the new movie. We're not so sure and although it's certainly bigger than the new ride for Batman kind of feel like it could be one of the "secondary" vehicles. We're still hoping for a purple 1950's Plymouth ourselves.

Batpod And Batmobile From New Batman Movie Caught On Film

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:20:00 EDT

In case you haven't heard the next Batman movie will include a motorcycle that's been nicknamed the "Batpod" — yes, we know it's a lame name. But whatevs, thanks to tipster Ninan, we've got the snazzy little cycle on film moving for the first time (not including Meredith Viera straddling the Batpod on the air), along with the Batmobile in the foreground. No, there's not a single sighting of Christian Bale anywhere to be seen. We're OK with that. [via 29MotoGuide]

Breaking! Anna Nicole Smith News Tangentially Involving Cars!

Ray Wert — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:05:30 EST

According to the celeb-watchers at TMZ, John "Texas" O'Quinn, the lawyer for Virgie Arthur, Anna Nicole Smith's mother, collapsed in court just under an hour ago. TMZ says,

"It was unclear what the status of his health was, but a witness provided a Luna bar for relief, as the judge clamored for orange juice."

So what the heck does this have to do with cars? Glad you asked — you see, in addition to being a ~~star leg-humping lawyer~~ fancy-pants attorney in Texas (yes, that's why his nickname is what it is), O'Quinn's also a colorful cinema and celeb car collector, counting among his collection the Batmobile from "Batman Forever" and Pope John Paul II's Ford Escort. According to Wikipedia, that's only part of it:

"O'Quinn also maintains an extensive collection of collector cars with a total value of over $100 million. In October 2005, he bought Pope John Paul II's 1975 Ford Escort GL ( 690,000). In September 2006, he bought a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo covered with 33 celebrity autographs ($500,000), the Batmobile used in the filming of Batman Forever ($335,000), a 1941 Packard limousine used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt ($290,000) and a 1938 Cadillac Town Car used by Pope Pius XII ($250,000)."

Ok, so it ain't much — but we're always looking to remind you of how cars affect our every day lives — even the silly ones. – Ray Wert

Virgie's "Texas" Lawyer Collapses in Court [TMZ]
John O'Quinn [Wikipedia]