Where does Batman get those wonderful toys? We may finally have an answer for the Joker: Batman shops on eBay, just like the rest of us, and he apparently also sells off his unwanted bits and pieces after they've served their purpose. Such is the case with the classic 1966 Batcycle, which was ably replaced a few years back by the far more menacing Batpod.

The Caped Crusader must have finally decided the Batcycle would be better served fighting crime in the hands of a new hero than collecting dust in a remote corner of the Batcave, as it's just been sold on eBay with a final winning bid of $29,500. It seems that Batman had put just 8,245 miles on his Batcycle before retiring it for more advanced machinery.

According to the auction, the bike itself was designed and assembled by Kustomotive for the original 1966 Batman feature film and made subsequent appearances in the television series from the '60s. The seller notes that this Batcycle was based on a 250cc Yamaha Catalina with a custom sidecar featuring a removable go kart for Robin that was powered by its own 50cc engine. While it's clear that the Batcycle wasn't exactly a barnburner, it sure makes up for its lack of power with style.



[Source: eBay via Tilted Horizons]

Most know how James Dean died; driving his Porsche 550 Spyder on Highway 466 in California. Dean even received a ticket earlier in the day, prompting many to assume that he was driving recklessly when the accident occurred. Later examination of the crash showed that the Hollywood icon was likely driving around 55 mph at the time of the crash; which was the legal limit at the time.

While Dean was shooting the film Giant (released posthumously in 1956), the Hollywood superstar shot a quick public service video for the program Warner Bros. Parents. The short was about the dangers of speeding on the highway, and Dean insisted that speeding was for the race track and not for public roads. Chillingly, he ends the interview saying "Take it easy drivin'... the life you might save might be mine." As Dean died soon after filming the short segment, it reportedly never aired. Hit the jump to view the two minute interview.

[Source: YouTube]

The actress Farrah Fawcett passed away today at the age of 62 from cancer. She was known for many roles in her long acting career, but historians of popular culture will remember her most as a private investigator on the 1970s TV show Charlie's Angels and the pinup girl who posed for a poster that sold 12 million copies and made this actress an icon of sexuality.

But automotive enthusiasts will remember Farrah for another role. She played Pamela Glover in the original Cannonball Run movie that was written by Brock Yates and released in 1981. Her co-stars included Burt Reynolds as J.J. McClure, Dom DeLuise (who also passed away this year) as Victor Prinzim and Captain Chaos, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Roger Moore, Jackie Chan and many others who combined to this movie a cult classic. Those with really good memories may also remember Farrah's appearance in a commercial for the 1975 Mercury Cougar XR-7 (follow the jump to watch).

[Source: Inside Line | Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty]

Did Jesse James really pilot a hydrogen-fueled vehicle faster than anyone else ever has in history? Possibly. Did he set a world record as claimed in doing so? Not so fast says noted world landspeed historian Louise Ann Noeth. It seems that Jesse's run wasn't quite up the the standards of a proper world record undertaking. Says Noeth:

The claim is without merit since the activities were conducted without benefit of any motorsports sanctioning authority. The vehicle was neither inspected, nor certified and all the timing personnel were on the James TV payroll. World speed records require two runs over a one-mile course within one hour. James was 5,148 feet short -- being timed one-way for a total of 132 feet; he made only three or four passes over an eight to ten-hour period. Any world record holder will tell you it's quite a technical feat to hold speed for a full mile.

Ouch. When given the opportunity to explain the apparent discrepancies between his so-called record run and the actual official record-holding BMW HR2, Louise says "James responded with a short crude retort that reminded her that vulgarity is indeed the refuge of a destitute mind." In conclusion, she adds:

Mr. James efforts count for absolutely nothing on the world motorsports stage and amount to little more than a self-promoting "TV racer" PR stunt since he chose to ignore the sport's sanctioning rules that have applied to all records certified for the past 80 years.

Click past the break for more from the official press release.

[Source: Landspeed Louise]

Jeremy Clarkson has written that some time after the new season of Top Gear begins tonight at 8 p.m. on British televisions, "Stig barges into the studio and in an atmosphere that you could cut with a knife removes his helmet."

Ostensibly, that means we'll finally learn the identity of the white-suited mystery man of motorsports. Of course, "removes his helmet" is a long way from actually finding out who The Stig is. And coming from TG's Master of Shenanigans – and after the last time The Stig was "revealed" – well, let's just say we're not ready to fall for the ol' banana in the tailpipe trick just yet. Hat tip to everyone and their fathers.

[Sources: The Daily Mail UK; BBC | Photo Credit: Jalopnik]

From the impossible-to-kill Toyota pickup truck, to the amphibious cars the three presenters created to cross the English Channel, to the Reliant Robbin Space Shuttle they tried to put into orbit, our fondest memories of Top Gear over the years almost always seem to center around the ridiculous vehicular challenges that the show's producers provide for Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

Soon, anyone wishing to catch a first-hand glimpse of these machines will get their chance as the U.K.'s National Motor Museum just opened the doors to its new World of Top Gear exhibition. Also on display will be a full-scale reproduction of the stage where Top Gear is filmed before a live studio audience, the infamous Cool Wall, and the Celebrity Lap Time board. Want to know more? Click here to visit the official website and hit the jump to read the press release.



[Source: National Motor Museum Beaulieu]

Season 13 of Top Gear is right around the bend, and in addition to an epic competition involving a steam engine, a head-to-head-to-head-to-head drag race with airport vehicles and tests of the Mercedes SL Black, Audi R8 V10, Focus RS, Megane R26.R, BMW Z4 and a face-off between the Jaguar XFR and BMW M5, James May apparently made the trek across the pond to sample Ken Block's Subaru-sliding skills. The combination of Block's driving, an empty runway and Top Gear's often imitated but never duplicated cinematic abilities should make for some stellar TV when the show airs this Sunday. If you've got access to the Beeb, set your DVRs to record or wait for the torrents to hit later that night. In the meantime, we've posted Block's Gymkhama 2 video after the break to whet your appetite.



[Source: Top Gear]

Between special one-offs like the disaster-relief F430 and record-breaking classics like the 1957 250 Testa Rossa, if you've had your eye on acquiring an especially special Ferrari at auctio, there has been no shortage of opportunities. And here's another to add to the docket: Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo's own 599 GTB Fiorano.

The chairman's ride is being auctioned off online to raise scholarship funds for young aspiring researchers. The example in question features a deep red Rosso Monza metallic paintjob over an interior swathed in charcoal leather and trimmed with extra carbon fiber bits. It's also been outfitted with sat-nav and an iPod as well as carbon-ceramic brakes behind 20-inch wheels. This marks the first occasion that Ferrari has auctioned off one of its vehicles online, and will come accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the current owner, who carries a bit of clout around the factory. Follow the link for more information, including a video of Montezemolo presenting the auction, or to place your bid. Thanks for the tip, Patrick!



[Source: Ferrari]

Earlier this month, we caught wind of Jesse James' plan to set a new land-speed record in a hydrogen-powered vehicle. According to a press release issued by Spike TV, the daredevil motorcycle enthusiast was successful in his quest, hitting a top speed of 199.7 miles per hour on a run the El Mirage dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert in California.

Though ultimately successful, the run didn't go off without a hitch. Apparently, the car needed three passes before the crew was able to keep enough blowing dust out of the cockpit and feed enough air into the monster 740-hp hydrogen-fueled 572 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 engine.

The previous mark for a hydrogen-burning car was set by BMW in Germany a few years back with its H2H race car. James seems pleased with his accomplishment, saying, "This, I honestly believe, is world-changing. We can't rely on gasoline forever. I'm paying it forward."

Want to see the whole thing go down? Tune in to Spike TV to watch Jesse James is a Dead Man on Sunday, August 9th at 10 pm Eastern.