the rb200 & bat cars Story

My journey into building custom cars began in the early 2000s. I spent years attending shows, winning awards, and having my work featured in magazines. Back then, I ran a business called BAT CARS — a name taken from my surname, Batey — and custom car building wasn’t just a job, it was my life.

Like many businesses at the time, BAT CARS came to an end during the 2007 recession. After the dust settled, I carved out a new creative path and opened Immoral Art Studio, building a successful career in the tattoo industry. Creativity never left — it simply found a different canvas.

In 2021, everything changed. I was hospitalised with a collapsed lung and came dangerously close to losing my life. That moment forced a hard realisation: life is far too short to ignore what truly matters. I missed building cars. Deeply.

Not long after, I began work on what would become the first RB200 — originally built purely for myself. I spent over a year refining it, but before driving it properly, I made the decision to take full moulds of the car. My thinking was simple: if the worst happened and the car was damaged, I wanted the ability to remake the panels.

At that point, I had no intention of restarting the business.

But people noticed the car. The response was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear that the RB200 filled a gap in the market — something different, something bold, something with real character. That was the moment I rented a new workshop and brought BAT CARS back to life.

Today, I still run Immoral Art Studio, which supported me throughout the entire process of setting up the new business. I tattoo a few days each week and build RB200s on my days off — usually at least three days a week. It’s demanding, but it’s also the perfect balance.

I now feel I’ve found harmony between creating art on skin and creating art on the streets.

To me, cars are art. The RB200s are rolling sculptures — each one slightly different, each one personal, and all of them a clear alternative to the bland, forgettable cars we see on the roads today.

Looking ahead, I’d love to see more RB200s out there: at shows, Sunday meets, and on track days. It genuinely feels like I’m only just getting started, and there’s so much more in store for these cars.

So jump in, fasten your seatbelt, and join me on the journey into the future — with your own RB200.