Five outrageously expensive gift ideas
OK, OK. We admit: Without an outrageously large discretionary income, we probably wouldn鈥檛 buy these gifts either. But we did enjoy window-shopping for them 鈥� and think you will too鈥�
1.聽The original 1966 Batmobile: 鈥渕ultimillions鈥�
A truly one-of-a-kind gift option for the new year, this iconic car from the live-action Batman TV show drives onto the auction block Jan. 19 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company 谤别肠别苍迟濒测听迟辞濒诲听迟丑别 L.A. Times that the car鈥檚 reserve price is 鈥渋n the multimillions.鈥�
If that鈥檚 affordable, check out the auction聽press 聽for more details. If not, check out the聽replicas聽officially licensed by DC Comics 鈥� they鈥檙e only $150,000.
2.聽Personal submarine: $2 million
This sub measures 10.5 feet long 鈥� which makes it about 6 feet shorter than a full-size car 鈥� but can carry two people 1,000 feet underwater for up to six hours at a time.
鈥淧roviding access to underwater features such as coral reefs, shipwrecks, and the sea floor, a completely transparent, climate-controlled 3 1/4鈥�-thick acrylic pressure sphere keeps explorers safe while dipping even into the mesopelagic zone, offering a chance to see exotic, bioluminescent species such as lanternfish,鈥� says Hammacher Schlemmer, a curious company whose motto is 鈥淥ffering the best, the only, and the unexpected.鈥�
3.聽Tyrannosaurus rex statue: $8,500
鈥淩ealistically sculpted with rows of menacing teeth, a fearsome tail and scaly skin, our prehistoric statue is cast in quality designer resin and hand-painted with powerfully convincing color and texture,鈥� says Design Toscano, the only place where you can buy a T-Rex statue that stands 11 feet tall and 22 feet long.
No room (or money) for a one-story-tall dinosaur? The equally realistic聽T-Rex garden sculpture聽stands 2 feet tall and runs $150.
4.聽Dictionary: $300
The electronic version of Merriam-Webster鈥檚 unabridged 3rd New International Dictionary is billed as 鈥渢he largest, most comprehensive dictionary ever conceived for the American English language.鈥� It contains about 470,000 definitions and 500,000 thesaurus entries, among other features.
This clamshell-style device is also currently聽on sale聽at Amazon. But while it may be a perfect present for a diehard logophile (that鈥檚 defined as 鈥渁 lover of words鈥�), The New York Times鈥� Gadgetwise blog聽review聽suggests saving your money for a tablet.
5.聽A dozen roses: $259
Since when are roses worth $22 apiece? When they鈥檙e as tall as the person you鈥檙e buying them for, apparently. And fortunately for anyone still in need of a gift idea, a 5-foot-long bouquet is currently on sale for $190 鈥� such a deal, right?
The聽3-foot-long聽version is also on sale: $90.
Karla Bowsher covers consumer, retail, and health issues. If you have a comment, suggestion, or question, leave a comment or contact her at聽karla@moneytalksnews.com.
Karla Bowsher is a writer for聽, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.
