Batman Arkham Knight: Is The 1960s Batmobile A Preorder Exclusive?

It seems likely that the 1960s Batmobile is joining the 1960s Batman costume in Batman Arkham Knight.

We know the 1960s Batman skin is a preorder exclusive for the GameStop edition of the game. Now, it seems a listing has appeared in New Zealand online retailer Mighty Ape, which has a similar seeming special edition, with extra content.

Based on the listing, the special edition will have:

• Steelbook
• Exclusive Batman skin (60’s TV Batman, Batman 3000 & 60’s Batmobile)
• Harley Quinn Challenge Maps
• The Scarecrow Nightmare Mission pack

For those curious, Batman 3000 is based on a new incarnation of the character in the current DC Comics continuity. However, the reveal of the 1960s Batmobile remains the most curious part of this listing.

The 1960s Batmobile is a kitschy, stylish car, with some surprising, but completely vetted, origins. The producers of the TV show hired George Barris, famed Hollywood car customs man, to make the vehicle. Barris managed to acquire a unique vehicle: the 1955 Lincoln Futura, a concept car that never went to market. Some of Ford’s best car designers worked on the Futura, and it was manufactured in Italy by car design studio Carrozzeria Ghia for $ 250,000, over $ 2 million today.

Barrie bought the car from Ford for a dollar (along with ‘other valuable consideration’), and after letting it languish in his shop for years, Barrie decided to modify it to make it into the Batmobile.

Now, it does not entirely make sense for the 1960s Batmobile to be a skin for the Arkham Knight Batmobile, because, obviously, the 1960s Batmobile doesn’t transform. Perhaps, rather than a skin, it’s a literal different vehicle, or maybe it’s just a paint job.

Do you think this listing is real? How do you think we will experience the 1960s Batmobile in Batman Arkham Knight? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Batman Arkham Knight will be released on June 2, 2015 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.