CEDAR FALLS, IA (KWWL/CNN) - Days after the death of TV’s original Batman, Adam West, super fan Robert Jungweber is showing off the most prized item from his huge memorabilia collection - his Batmobile.
Jungweber’s garage is a real-life bat cave, and his Batmobile is a one-of-a-kind replica. It has special additions including bluetooth, a backup camera, a sound system that mimics a jet engine and a flamethrower that actually works.
He said he met the late Adam West while showing his Batmobile at events around the US.
“He was a really personable guy. I wish most actors kind of had that kind of personality,” Jungweber said of West. “He was really easy-going.”
He said the news of West’s death didn’t feel real.
“My daughter told me Saturday that he passed away, and I thought it was another Facebook hoax,” he said. “So I got on my forum I belong to. I verified it there, and it was kind of shocking. It kind of stuck with me for a few days.”
Despite the bells and whistles on Jungweber’s Batmobile, he said driving the souped-up vehicle isn’t as glamorous as you might think.
“Looking through the windows, it’s like looking through a fishbowl, and depth-perception is thrown off because of the long hood, so if you make a sharp turn, it’s kind of tough,” he said. “You almost have to have a second person when you pull into the garage.”
Jungweber said he shows the car at Comi-Cons across the country about once a year. His wife bought the Batmobile for him as a gift nearly six years ago. Replicas like his typically cost anywhere from $190,000 to $250,000.
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