10 Most Famous Cars in Movies of All Time
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Cars are a common feature in movies. Audiences have always been enthralled by exhilarating vehicle chases and impressive stunts, some of which go on to become scene stealers. With blockbuster hits like "Fast & Furious" and "Transformers" earning millions of dollars at the box office, it's reasonable to argue Hollywood has created a good number of iconic automobiles over the years. You can tell a movie car is great when it elevates above the supporting cast and becomes the star of the show.
These iconic vehicles—from James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5 to the ramshackle 1974 Dodge Monaco that starred in "The Blues Brothers" to the 1985 Modena GT Spyder California that Ferris Bueller got to drive—have shaped automotive culture, impacted generations, and become the stuff that every child dreams of. These are a few of the most recognizable movie cars ever.
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| Top 10 Most Famous Cars In Movies of All Time |
Top 10 Most Famous Cars In Movies in History
1. James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5
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| Photo; cartimes |
Film: Goldfinger (1964)
Franchise: James Bond
Designer: Ken Adams & John Stears
Engine: 4.0 L V6
Horsepower: 282 hp
0-100 kph time: 8 seconds
Top speed: 233 km/ 145 mph
Most people's first thought when the name "James Bond" is mentioned is usually an Aston Martin. The DB5's appearance in the third James Bond movie, Goldfinger, is a major factor in the British automaker's strong tie to the series.
One of the most cherished movie cars ever, the stunning Aston Martin DB5 from "Goldfinger" featured an ejector seat, machine guns, missile launchers, and smoke screens, among many other amazing features. The DB5 is actually the greatest James Bond vehicle ever made! It's interesting to note that the DB5 had a navigation screen in the dash ten years before actual cars did. The Bond DB5 became so popular after "Goldfinger" that Aston Martin produced 25 replicas, which sold for $3.5 million apiece.
2. 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback, Bullitt
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| Photo: Hushhush |
Film: Bullitt (1968)
Designer: Ross Humphries
Engine: 6.4 L V8
Horsepower: 325 hp
0-100 kph time: 8.9 seconds
Top speed: 169 km/ 105 mph
Without a thrilling car chase, an action film isn't complete, and the Ford Mustang is the ideal vehicle for the role. From every angle, this car exudes Americana, and the booming V8 also provides a fantastic soundtrack.
Some critics believe that the 1968 movie has one of the best car chase scenes ever captured on camera. And the Ford Mustang GT390 Fastback, a two-door, dark green four-wheeler with a 390 cubic inch V8 engine, was the vehicle that defined that. Steve McQueen's portrayal of the man behind the wheel in the movie added to the excitement. Fun fact: Out of the two Mustangs used in the chase scene, only one has survived and was sold at an auction in the United States in January 2020 for US$3.4 million.
3. 1966 Ford Thunderbird, Thelma & Louise
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| Photo: barrett-jackson |
Film: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Designer: Frank Hershey
Engine: 7.0 L V8
Horsepower: 345 hp
0-100 kph time: 9.3 seconds
Top speed: 216 km/ 134 mph
These two ladies arrived in style in a 1966 Ford T-Bird, just like any other iconic outlaw. The car was selected purely based on its usefulness for filming: The actors can be easily shot in an open space, and Thelma and Louise can travel with other characters thanks to the backseat. Five cars in all were used in the film: two stunt cars, one camera car, one "hero" car that was only used for exterior shots, and one backup vehicle. The movie car did not receive the usual customization; instead, it was left exactly as it was when it was first taken from the showroom floor.
One car, which had been bought from Metro MGM Pictures in 1991, brought $71,500 when it was auctioned off, but that might have been because of the autographs of Brad Pitt and Geena Davis on the sun visor and armrest, respectively.
4. 1969 Dodge Charger, General Lee, The Dukes of Hazzard
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| Photo: autoevolution |
Film: The Dukes of Hazzard (1977)
Designer: Andre & Renaud Veluzat
Engine: 7.2 L V8
Horsepower: 375 hp
0-100 kph time: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 224 km/ 139 mph
This film takes place in the present, in contrast to Starsky & Hutch, which is set in the same era as the television series. The car has a faded orange color at the start of the film, black steel wheels, a standard front bumper, a hand-painted "01," and no Confederate flag on the roof. The General changes during the middle of the movie after being vandalized: Repainting it in a vivid "Hemi" orange, Cooter also adds ten-spoke turbine wheels, the black grille guard, the flag, a "Dixie" horn, and the "General Lee" above the door openings.
Twelve 1968–70 Chargers are said to have been used for the movie, though the majority of them are said to have perished during the action-packed scenes. The movie cars, once again setting themselves apart from the show, are largely unchanged from the original General Lees, despite the use of aftermarket graphics kits. There was a close-up car scene with one of the TV cars in the movie. After being used in a few scenes, it was returned to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. declared it would cease making the General Lee toy cars following the shooting deaths in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015 and the resurgence of opposition to the Confederate flag.
Read More: Top 10 Most Bizarre and Weirdest Cars In History
5. 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, Herbie
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| Photo: mecum |
Film: The Love Bug (1968)
Franchise: Herbie
Designer: Ferdinand Porsche
Engine: 1.2 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 41 hp
0-100 kph time: 15.4 seconds
Top speed: 100 km/ 62 mph
The primary character of the 1968 American comedy "The Love Bug" was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, positioned prominently. Unexpectedly, Herbie, a sentient Volkswagen with racing stripes in red, white, and blue, would appear in six different films in the decades that followed the original's release. This wasn't your typical punch buggy, though.
Even by itself, the Volkswagen Beetle is a recognizable design. You have the epitome of a love bug when you add the stripes and the number 53 on the side.
6. 1969 Mustang Boss 429, John Wick
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| Photo: luxuo |
Film: John Wick (2014)
Franchise: John Wick
Designer: Larry Shinoda
Engine: 5.0 L V8
Horsepower: 354 hp
0-100 kph time: 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 206 kph / 128 mph
A Los Angeles city bus might be Keanu Reeves's most iconic on-screen vehicle. The Mustang from John Wick, a film he made 20 years later, is his best-looking creation, though. The movie refers to the Mustang in question as possibly being a "Boss 429," but that is untrue. A genuine Boss '9 is extremely uncommon and valuable; in 2015, one went for $550,000 at auction. Most likely, a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 with a 428 or 390 V-8 was used by the film crew. Both have more than enough power for on-screen antics and have a fierce appearance.
The cool thing about this movie is that it's obvious that this is a real car driving, devoid of any computer generated imagery. Reeves reportedly completed performance driving school and then handled the majority of the stunt driving himself. Observing him fishtail the Mustang through a damp airport parking lot and edge it nearer to a line of dump trucks is among the most entertaining scenes. In Chapter 2 of John Wick, the Mustang resurfaces.
7. The Batmobile/ The Tumbler
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| Photo: kienthuc |
Film: Batman Begins (2005)
Franchise: The Dark Knight
Designer: Christopher Nolan & Nathan Crowley
Engine: 5.7 L V8
Horsepower: 500 hp
0-100 kph time: 5.8 seconds
Top speed: 257 km/ 160 mph
Despite being one of the most recognizable cars ever seen on screen, the Batmobile actually originated in the Batman comic book series in the 1930s, so it was seen in various forms long before it appeared on screen.
In 1966, the first season of the television series "Batman" featured the Batmobile as Batman's go-to vehicle for rescuing the people of Gotham City. The Batmobile's 15-inch single-ribbed Rader Wheels, front steel "slasher" blade, and U-shaped steering wheel that resembled an airplane's yoke were all inspired by the Lincoln Futura concept car.
Since its release, the Batmobile has appeared in numerous live-action and animated motion pictures. The most recent of these was "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" from 2016.
8. 1970 Dodge Charger, The Fast and the Furious
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| Photo: tinhte |
Film: The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Franchise: Fast and Furious
Designer: Carl Cameron
Engine: 7.2 L V8
Horsepower: 425
0-100 kph time: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 220 km/ 137 mph
The iconic 1968–70 Dodge Charger is a star of television and cinema. The 1969 Charger dubbed "General Lee" from the television series The Dukes of Hazzard was the most well-known of all. In the cult classic Dirty Mary Crazy Larry from the 1970s, another Charger starred. However, the venerable Charger returned to cinemas in 2000, this time designed as a menacing black street racer for Vin Diesel. The Charger was insanely cool, with a massive engine and supercharger protruding out of the hood, giant rear tires, and a wicked stance.
The movie's climactic action sequence is what really cemented this car's memory. When Paul Walker's character, who is driving a Supra, lines up alongside Vin Diesel's character, the latter floors the throttle, causing the Charger to simultaneously burn out and perform a sick wheelstand. Sure, movie magic, but entertaining nonetheless. A moment after the two cars leap over railroad tracks in the same race, a locomotive passes by, and in a breathtaking conclusion to the chase scene, Diesel flips the Charger.
Read More: Top 10 Best Cars For Women
9. Ectomobile, 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor, Ghostbusters 1 and 2
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| Photo: manchestersfinest |
Film: Ghostbusters (1984)
Franchise: Ghostbusters
Designer: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis & George Barris
Engine: V8
Horsepower: 325 hp
0-100 kph time: 10.9 seconds
Top speed: 201 km/h / 125 mph
The "Ghostbusters" gave their peculiar, iconic Cadillac that appeared in the 1984 movie the name Ecto-1. Constructed as a hybrid of a hearse and an ambulance, it also served as a poltergeist combat vehicle.
Ecto 1 was a cult favorite thanks to its iconic red and white color scheme, abundance of lights and sirens, and respectable road clearing ability.
Even without the extra lights, sirens, and fanciful detection equipment on the roof, the highly customized 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance for the film had an odd appearance. Measuring 20 feet in length and weighing 6,500 pounds, it featured enormous tail fins and a massive front end with numerous lights and a large, glossy grill.
10. DeLorean DMC-12 Time Machine, Back to the Future
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| Photo: autoevolution |
Film: Back to the Future (1985)
Franchise: Back to the Future
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro
Engine: 2.8 L V6
Horsepower: 130 hp
0-100 kph time: 10.9 seconds
Top speed: 175 km/ 109 mph
John DeLorean's DMC-12 was aesthetically stunning, with its stainless steel design created by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro. But underneath, the DeLorean's ostentatious bodywork belied its potential as a supercar; its 2.9-liter V-6 engine only produced 130 horsepower. Whatever.
Aside from the fact that it was a time machine in the movie, the DeLorean's futuristic appearance and a hint of movie magic elevated it to legendary status. It is said that the prop staff upgraded the slow V-6 engine to a faster V-8 from the Porsche 928, which greatly aided Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) in his quest to reach 88 mph, activate the Flux Capacitor, and travel back in time to 1955.
In the 1980s, the DeLorean failed miserably on the market despite its popularity in movies. However, the car has developed a cult following thanks to its distinctive retro-futurist styling. Even a brand-new DeLorean Motor Company is working on upgrading and repairing the vehicles.
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