LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! The Dr. Stewart Berkowitz Collection

January 7, 2025
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

LOT #1414 – 1966 FORD GALAXIE NO. 3 BATMOBILE – NO RESERVE

Dr. Stewart Berkowitz, a pop-culture collector extraordinaire, was always obsessed with the shows from his childhood. Growing up watching some of the most popular and influential TV shows from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, he was able to turn his love for classic TV into a passion for collecting. His collection contains many screen-used costumes and props, and he commissioned museum-quality private builds of some of the most authentic TV and movie cars from his favorite shows. Vehicles from “The Monkees,” “The Honeymooners” and “Gilligan’s Island” are just a few of the builds in his vast collection. But the original “Batman” series from 1966 always held a special place in Dr. Berkowitz’s heart.

“The original ‘Batman’ series was kind of hokey and lighthearted, compared to the versions that have come out in more recent years,” said Dr. Berkowitz son, Jordan. “My dad was that way – he was very funny, very lighthearted and a little corny.” Jordan added that his father liked to make dad jokes, the kind that you would often hear on the original “Batman” series. “That’s probably where he got a lot of them from,” he said.

As an early adopter of eBay, Dr. Berkowitz began collecting antique toys representative of his favorite shows. Eventually that passion transitioned into collecting comic books, which led to collecting memorabilia, costumes and movie props, all before acquiring such pop-culture items really took off and became a mainstream hobby for many. During this time, he amassed everything from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” set to iconic costumes from “Star Trek: The Original Series” (1966) and the whole collection of Batman costumes from the 1966 television series featuring his favorite heroes and villains. The crown jewel of his collection is the first car he acquired as part of his 53-vehicle collection: Batmobile No. 3. The Batmobile was from the 1966 “Batman” television series and was based on a modified 1966 Ford Galaxie created by George Barris. The iconic car was also used in the 1966 film “Batman: The Movie.”

“My dad was very thorough in everything he did,” said Jordan. “Having bought the Batmobile from a private party, he got in touch with George Barris and invited him to come out to his house in New Jersey to look at the car and authenticate it.” Jordan added that while Barris was at the collection, he signed the Batmobile, gave it a certificate of authenticity and took photos with his dad.

Dr. Berkowitz’s love for Batman didn’t stop there. He commissioned professional builds for five vehicles to compliment his Batman ensemble: the Batgirl Cycle (based on a 1967 Yamaha YCS1 motorcycle), the Batcycle (based on a 1966 Yamaha YDS3 motorcycle, with a sidecar windshield autographed by Burt Ward, who played Robin in the 1966 television series), a Batcopter (based on a modified 1967 Bell 47G with the rear propeller also autographed by Ward), a Batboat (based on a modified 1966 Glasstron V-174 motorboat), and a Jokermobile (based on a modified 1923 Ford Model T).

“The Batman collection really demonstrates my dad’s eye for detail, his singular focus and his exacting standards,” Jordan said. According to Jordan, some of the commissioned replica vehicles took years to complete because his father would look for the exact year, make and model base vehicle as the one used for the show, and then source parts from all over the world to complete the build, making it as close to authentic as possible while maintaining a museum-worthy quality.

LOT #1414.2 – 1921 OLDSMOBILE MODEL 46 “BEVERLY HILLBILLIES” TRUCK – NO RESERVE

The vast majority of Dr. Berkowitz’s collection is comprised of top-quality commissioned replicas, with a few exceptions. The HayWagon Jalopy is the authentic vehicle used in “The Beverly Hillbillies” television series that debuted in 1962; it was previously part of the Ron Pratte Collection, which sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2015 Scottsdale Auction. The modified 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 was also used in the 1993 “Beverly Hillbillies” film. It’s complemented by a Volo Museum replica of Clampett Jalopy/Swamp Rat and Jethro’s Hot Rod, each based on a modified 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 like the ones used in the 1962 television series.

LOT #1415 – 1966 PONTIAC GTO “MONKEYMOBILE” RE-CREATION – NO RESERVE

The Monkeemobile, as seen in 1965 television series “The Monkees,” is based on a modified 1966 Pontiac GTO and was a replica vehicle Dr. Berkowitz purchased as a completed build. The glove compartment was signed by Monkees members Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz.

“My dad never collected purely for himself,” Jordan said, pointing out that his father was always interested in sharing what he collected, especially as his collection grew and started to include so many other vehicles.

LOT #785.1 – 1983 DELOREAN DMC-12 “BACK TO THE FUTURE” RE-CREATION – NO RESERVE

Over the years Dr. Berkowitz’s collection gained notoriety, which helped him get several of his vehicles autographed, like the “Starsky and Hutch” 1976 Ford Gran Torino, which was signed by Paul Michael Glaser (Detective Dave Starsky) and David Soul (Detective Ken Hutchinson). Dick Van Dyke, who portrayed Caractacus Potts in the film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” signed a brass plate on the replica vehicle in the collection, Christopher Lloyd (Dr. Emmett Brown in the “Back to the Future” saga) signed the dashboard of the replica DeLorean Time Machine, and the replica “Get Smart” car from the popular ’60s television series (based on a modified 1965 Sunbeam Tiger), was autographed by Don Adams, who played Maxwell Smart, and Barbara Feldon, who portrayed Agent 99.

Fantastic replicas in the collection include:

• The Munster Koach and Dragula from “The Munsters” television series
• The Bamboo Island taxi from the “Gilligan’s Island” television series
• Herbie from “The Love Bug” film
• Ecto-1 from the movie “Ghostbusters”
• Mach 5 from the “Speed Racer” TV series
• Sheriff Justice’s patrol car from the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit”
• The Mystery Machine from TV’s “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”
• The Island Wagon and the Tattoo Signature Island golf cart from the 1977 “Fantasy Island” television series
• Black Beauty from the 1966 “Green Hornet” TV series
• The Mayberry police car with a custom enclosed trailer from TV’s “The Andy Griffith Show”
• The Deathmobile from the film “National Lampoon’s Animal House”
• The Bluesmobile from “The Blues Brothers” 1980 film
• The Flintmobile from “The Flintstones” movie
• The “Fonzie Jumps the Shark” motorcycle as seen in the television series “Happy Days”
• KITT from the “Knight Rider” TV show
• The Wagon Queen Family Truckster and a Ferrari 308 GTS (based on a 1986 Pontiac Fiero) from the 1983 film “National Lampoon’s Vacation”
• The park vour Vehicle from the 1993 “Jurassic Park” film
• The “Mother” car from the 1965 television series “My Mother the Car”
• A 1967 Plymouth Belvedere from the film “Tommy Boy”
• The Pacer from the movie “Wayne’s World”
• The Shaggin Wagon as seen in the movie “Dumb and Dumber”
• A 1942 Dodge WC54 as seen in the M*A*S*H television series
• Police bike as seen in the TV show “CHiPs”
• The Coral Key Marine Preserve boat as seen in “Flipper,” the 1964 television series

One of the first collectibles Dr. Berkowitz obtained was an antique “Honeymooners” bus toy, so it’s no surprise that the “Honeymooners Transit Bus” was one of Dr. Berkowitz’s favorite replicas to build. It’s based off a modified 1954 GMC Model 4512, which, according to Jordan, was never really in the show but is one of the most famous images associated with it. “It took my dad a long time to figure out the exact year,” Jordan said. “Once he found it, he had to buy a second bus because he needed it for parts.”

The collection boasts several other remarkable highlights, including a 1937 DeSoto famously featured on the cover of Action Comics #1. Dr. Berkowitz’s passion for celebrity-owned vehicles is evident, with notable pieces such as Jackie Gleason’s personal 1978 Lincoln Continental limousine and the actor’s custom golf cart. Also included is Lucille Ball’s personal golf cart, along with two unique golf carts designed by George Barris for Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. The collection is further enriched by a diverse array of interesting and unique vehicles that include a 1962 Citroën ID-19, a 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, a 1959 GMC COE ramp truck, a 1959 Dodge Power Giant flatbed truck and a 1967 Thiokol Spryte Snowcat.

Dr. Berkowitz’s collection stands as a testament to his passion for preserving the magic of classic television, film and pop culture. From iconic vehicles tied to beloved shows to carefully crafted replicas, his incredible dedication to authenticity and detail shines through every piece. More than a private treasure trove, the collection reflects his joy in sharing these pieces of entertainment history with others, keeping the stories and nostalgia alive for generations to come. Through his unwavering devotion and eye for detail, Dr. Berkowitz has left behind a legacy that celebrates the cultural icons of his youth and reminds us of the enduring charm of these timeless classics.

Bidders at Barrett-Jackson’s 2025 Scottsdale Auction will have the opportunity to take one – or more – of these remarkable vehicles home with them as they cross the block with No Reserve, Jan. 18-26 at WestWorld from the Dr. Stewart Berkowitz Collection.

Written by Nicole Ellan James