Holy Car Show! Original Batmobile Comes to Newburyport’s Cruisin’ the 50s

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. - Aug. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Newburyport, MA, Aug. 7, 2013 – Think the Batmobile is just for TV?  Think again.

The original Batmobile will be on display at the Institution for Savings’ 93 State Street Newburyport Office during this year’s Cruisin’ the 50s, a free car show and concert taking place on Thursday, August 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Newburyport.

Cruisin’ the 50s, sponsored by “The Legends” WNBP Radio, St. Jean’s Credit Union and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry, is celebrating its second year and will feature live doo wop music and dancing along with 150 specially selected classic cars representing the best American vehicles from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.  The rain date is August 22.

The original 19-foot-long black, bubble-top Batmobile used in the 1960’s Batman TV show sold  at auction for $4.6 million in January of 2013. It is now owned by Rick Champagne, a businessman and car collector from the Phoenix area.

Legendary car customizer George Barris created the car from a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car that Ford never put into projection. In 1965 the Batman TV show producers tasked Barris with building a car for the “Caped Crusader” in a mere three weeks. Barris went on to transform the distinctive Futura into the famous crime-fighting vehicle.

“There is a little bit of kid in all of us,” said Guardian Angel Motorsport’s Bruce Ledoux. “Lending Champagne Logistics’ 1966 Batmobile to Cruisin’ the 50s is our attempt to cater to everyone’s inner kid and raise money for a very worthy cause.” Guardian Angel Motorsports is a charitable organization that raises money and awareness for several children’s charities.

While there is no cost to view the Batmobile, donations will be accepted with 100 percent of funds collected being donated to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley. In addition, WNBP will raffle off several opportunities to have exclusive photos taken in the Batmobile, again with all proceeds going directly to the Boys and Girls Club. The station hopes to raise $5,000 in donations and has already pledged the first $1,500.

“We are happy to bring this iconic vehicle to Newburyport and thrilled to have the privilege of hosting it right here at the Bank,” said Michael J. Jones, Institution for Savings President and CEO.  “The fact that this event will also raise funds for one of our local organizations, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, is something we wholeheartedly support.”

The Boys and Girls Club, located in Salisbury, opened in 2001 with 16 members, and since that time has served the needs of more than 2,500 children, ages 6-18 years from Salisbury, Newburyport, Amesbury, Newbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Byfield, Merrimac, Hampton, NH, Seabrook, NH and other surrounding communities. Located in the former Salisbury Memorial School, the club today is an essential part of the lives of hundreds of young families and a place where school-age children can have fun and learn in a safe and structured environment.

Jim Keenan, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, noted that proceeds raised by contributions and donations will be used to cover scholarships, which benefit more than 50 percent of their members. “No child is turned away due to financial hardship,” he added.

“Cruisin’ the 50s was an enormous success in its first year and promises to be even bigger and better this year,” said Pete Falconi, co-owner of WNBP.  “The whole community really gets into the spirit of the event, and it can be a great economic boon for local merchants and shop owners as well. Visitors can browse the rare classic cars parked on both sides of State, Pleasant, and Inn Streets, and then stay on to enjoy all that Newburyport has to offer.  We are happy to bring this great event once again to our community.”

For more information about Cruisin’ the 50s, visit www.wnbp.com or www.newburyportchamber.org.

About the Institution for Savings

The Institution for Savings is widely recognized as one of the oldest and most stable mutual banks in the country, with assets totaling approximately $1.4 billion as of June 30, 2013. It is the largest mutual savings bank in the greater Newburyport region and the third largest on the North Shore. The Bank offers a full menu of personal and commercial financial products and services for individuals, businesses and organizations, including deposit accounts, lending services, Internet/Mobile Banking and Bill Pay, and retirement accounts.

About Cruisin’ the 50s Sponsors

WNBP AM 1450 and FM 106.1 has been serving the Greater Newburyport area since 1957. In March 2009, locally owned and operated Port Broadcasting, LLC, purchased the station from Westport Communications and implemented a Legendary Songs by Legendary Singers format with mission to serve the community and keep radio local. Port Broadcasting acquired local radio station AM 1220 “The Legends” in Sanford, ME, in October 2012. The station can be heard on AM, FM and streaming worldwide on the Internet at www.WNBP.com.

St. Jean’s Credit Union is Massachusetts first credit union and has been proudly serving more than 14,000 members throughout the North Shore for more than 100 years. Located in Newburyport, Salem, Lynn, and Revere, St. Jean’s is a full service financial institution with products and services to fit all of your financial needs, including auto loans, mortgages and home equity loans. To learn more about St. Jean’s Credit Union, call 978-462-2771 or visit them online at www.stjeanscu.com.

The Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a leading advocate for sound, balanced economic development in the greater Newburyport region. As a vital organization that represents the diverse interests of more than 850 members from many different business sectors and locations, the Chamber speaks as a collective voice on issues that impact business, the economy, and the community as a whole. For more information, please visit www.newburyportchamber.org.