SDCC 2008 Comic-Con Hot Wheels Exclusive 3 Pack: Batgirl Cycle, 1966 Batmobile & Batcycle 1:64 Scale

This limited edition set, available only at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con, contains the previously released Hot Wheels ’1:50′ replicas of the 1966 Television series Batmobile and Batcycle in a nice display box. However, the main component of interest for collectors is the replica of the ‘Batgirl Cycle’, which at this point has ONLY been made available this way. Whether it remains exclusive to this box set remains to be seen, although I find it hard to believe that Hot Wheels would go to the expense and trouble of licensing and creating a sculpt for an entire new vehicle, and not try to maximize the return on their investment by making it available to the general public.

The Batgirl cycle, while not 100% accurate ( as so few replicas are ), is still a delightful little toy, with hysterically overdone details – faithful to the television series – such as the the lacy fringe around the front cowling, and the large ribbon bow under the taillight. The body is rendered in purple with yellow trim, and has a white seat and fuel tank. It appears to be in scale with the equally accurate Batcycle, but both cycles are completely out of scale with the Batmobile giving the lie to the “1:50 scale” description.

All three vehicles are securely mounted on posts that protrude through the bottom of the inner display diorama. The inner box artwork is designed to give the vague impression of the interior of the ’60s Batcave, with three ‘turntables’ printed on the floor underneath each vehicle ( in the series the Batmobile would revolve on a turntable platform to orient the car towards the cave exit after the “dynamic duo” would return from their latest adventure ). While by no means accurate to the series, the artwork makes a nice backdrop to display the toys against.
The box exterior is decorated in a rocky brown motif representing the outside of the cave, with the series “Batman” logo on the side flaps. On the rear panel is brief description of each vehicle, and the SDCC logo is on the top of the box.

Now to answer the question posed in my headline: Is it necessary? Well, that depends on how much of a Batman collector you are, how much you want to spend, and whether you are willing to take a chance and wait to see whether or not Hot Wheels will eventually release the Batgirl Cycle by itself. I am a collector, so I went ahead and ordered it – despite the fact that I already bought the Batmobile and Batcycle separately – as I wasn’t willing to take the chance on missing out. If you feel that way about your collection, then I would advise you to go ahead and get the set. If you’re not that hot for the Batgirl cycle, I would say skip it and wait.