The original licensed Batmobile, which was built in 1963 by Forrest Robinson and predated the ’60s “Batman” TV series by two years, will be on display at NorCal KnockOut’s Hall of Fame. This vehicle was built from a 1956 Oldsmolbile and was toured around small towns on the American East Coast in the ’60s. It was abandoned in a field for four decades before it was dug up and refurbished. (Photo courtesy of Hank and Korena Forss)

Holy hot rod, Batman! Did you know that the original Batmobile is going to be on display at the NorCal KnockOut bike and auto show at the Solano County Fairgrounds? That should be reason enough to go, but as with past NorCal KnockOut shows, the amount of reasons to go could power a V-8 engine.

The auto show will be returning to the Fairgrounds for its seventh year. As in past years, it will host a variety of pre-‘70s vehicles, including hot rods, low riders, gassers, old race cars and more. Plus, that’s not all. There will also be music, vendors, food, drinks and more. In addition, the Hall of Fame inside the Expo Hall will return, featuring several notable vehicles including the Batmobile.

Many would associate the car with the vehicle that appeared in the Caped Crusader’s many live action movies. Others would think of Batman’s titular TV series from the ‘60s. This incarnation, in fact, goes back even further.

This Batmobile was built by 26-year-old Westmoreland, N.H. native Forrest Robinson and his friend Len Perham in 1963 after a three-year creation period. The car was built from a 1956 Oldsmobile 88 and 324 Rocket engine. They also put in a large fin, bat nose front end and pocket sliding doors to make it resemble the Batmobile from the DC comic books.

As Batman started to become more popular throughout the decade, Robinson was approached by DC Comics licensee All Star Dairies about the possibility of touring the vehicle in small East Coast towns as “Batman’s Batmobile.” It went on to become the first DC-licensed Batmobile and captured the attention of the press in the small American towns it visited.

In 1967, the George Barris-designed Batmobile from the TV series would also go on tour. Eventually, Robinson sold the vehicle for $200, and it would end up in a New Hampshire field for 40 years, almost forgotten.

The car was then rediscovered in 2008 and sold online to a Chicago auto dealer. Auto historian George Albright purchased the car and tracked down Robinson as well as former DC  and All Star Dairies executives. In 2013, the car was transported to vintage auto body shop Borbon Fabrications in Sacramento, where it was restored within a year. The newly renovated original Batmobile can be seen at NorCal KnockOut.

Also on display in the Hall of Fame will be a 1932 Ford Highboy built by Daryll Hollenback of Concord, which won the award for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show. There will also be a 1954 Mercury built by Altissimo Restorations in American Canyon for Scott and Holly Roberts of Los Angeles. The car was awarded as the Best Custom at the Goodguys All American Get-Together in Pleasanton.

In the past, NorCal KnockOut has hosted a mustache contest, which this year has expanded into a mustache and beard contest. If you have a mustache that could put Sam Elliott to shame or a beard that the “Duck Dynasty” cast would be jealous of, this is your chance to win a stunning golden trophy.

The event will also have tattoo vendors, custom T-shirt makers, tiki carvings, pinstripings and more. Additionally, music will be performed by DJ Tanoa Samoa Boy, Sacramento-based rockabilly band The Twilight Drifters and Alameda-based rockabilly band The Bad Men, who also have punk edges.

NorCal KnockOut will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 2, at Solano County Fairgrounds, located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo. Tickets are $10 for general admission and free for children ages 5 and under, military veterans with ID and police with badges. For more information, email info@norcalknockout.com.

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