First production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray draws $1.1 million bid for charity at Barrett-Jackson

Barrett-Jackson has a long and storied history with the Chevrolet Corvette. For instance, back in 2008, Chevrolet auctioned off the very first of its new Corvette ZR1, earning a cool million bucks, and just last year the first 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible crossed the auction block for $600,000.

For the 2013 event, Chevrolet brought along the very show car we all fawned over at the Detroit Auto Show – the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Bidders got to look at this car as they fought for the right to order the very first C7 that rolls off the showroom floor, and they'll get to pick the color and options. We figure it'll be loaded.

After it was all said and done, C7 Corvette numero uno sold for $1.1 million, with 100-percent of the proceeds going to benefit College for Creative Studies.

Rolls-Royce Ghost meets its muddy maker in Jakarta flood

When severe weather or a natural disaster strikes an area, it's hard to get sentimental over trivial possessions like cars, but at the same time, as auto enthusiasts, it always pains us to see a rare car lost regardless of the circumstances. Heavy rains in Jakarta, Indonesia have produced the worst flooding in the city since 2007, which according to Reuters has left an estimated 18,000 people displaced from their homes in addition to six deaths, leaving the roadways covered covered in feet of water.

One of the many cars claimed by the rising waters was this Rolls-Royce Ghost that is surrounded by water that almost fully covers the massive wheels. There is no word as to how much water got inside this Ghost, but it was obviously enough that it could be bailed out by the bucket.

Batmobile for the TV show—sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottdale, Ariz., on Jan. 19 for a final price of $4.62

The original 1955 Lincoln Futura concept—that George Barris turned into the Batmobile for the TV show—sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottdale, Ariz., on Jan. 19 for a final price of $4.62 million, not including fees. The first of six Batmobiles used for the show was the top-selling car in the Barrett-Jackson Salon Collection.

It was followed by Clark Gable's 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe ($2,035,000), a 1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport ($2,035,000), a 1934 Duesenberg J Murphy LWB Custom Beverly Sedan ($1,430,000), a 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept Convertible ($1,375,000) and a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda' Convertible that went for $1,320,000.

“The 2013 5000 Series and Salon Collection featured some of the best collector vehicles in the world today, and we were honored to have them cross the Barrett-Jackson stage,” said Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson's chairman and CEO. “Watching those unique cars cross the auction block was an incredible experience, and I'm glad I was able to share it with our bidders, consignors and fans.”

When transforming of the Futura into the Batmobile, Barris re-formed fins, changed the grille and gave the headlights a gothic look. The wheel wells needed to be opened up, and that's before they added the rocket boosters, machine guns, Bat Radar and Bat Phone. The total build cost, in 1966, was a scant $15,000. It didn't turn out nearly as intimidating as the current tank-inspired Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan films, but it's a piece of history nonetheless.

The winning bidder was Rick Champagne, a business man and car collector from the Phoenix area who has been attending the Barrett-Jackson auctions for years. Champagne told The Hollywood Reporter that he grew up watching the show and was determined to walk away with the car. When asked where he intended to keep the car, Champagne joked he would knock down a wall in his living room.

The movie car ties the record for film-used cars at auction. In 2010 the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger set a record of $4.6 million. Of course, we'll find out more about the real star of the show later in the week, the ex-Graham Kozak 1982 Chrysler LeBaron convertible.