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Movie Cars Make Cinematic History

Some Of Films Most Memorable Cars

POSTED: 11:00 am PST February 19, 2008

Some of the biggest movie stars in film history haven’t been actors, but the cars that the actors drove.

Here is a list of the cars in cinematic history that made you want to go back in time, play hooky, become a secret agent, go on a mission from God, bust some ghosts or truck 400 cases of illegal Coors beer east of Texas.

10. 1948 Ford from 'Grease'

No movie that takes a nostalgic look back at the 1950s would be complete without a super-cool hot rod, and Greased Lightning delivered the goods.

In a movie most remembered for its musical numbers, “Grease” also has one of the most memorable car races of all time when John Travolta takes on the leader of the Scorpions at Thunder Road in Kenickie’s 1948 Ford.

9. 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from 'Bullitt'

“Bullitt” has what is considered by many critics like Gary Susman of Entertainment Weekly to have one of the greatest car chases of all time.

In the scene, Steve McQueen chases two bad guys while driving a 1968 Ford Mustang through the steep streets of San Francisco.

8. 1959 Cadillac Ambulance from 'Ghostbusters'

One of the biggest and most successful comedies of all time, “Ghostbusters” was full of scenes and images that were unforgettable, and one of them was their 1959 Cadillac ambulance, aka Ecto 1, speeding through the streets of New York.

Columbia Pictures image

All it needed was some suspension work, shocks, brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end, some new rings, mufflers, and maybe a little wiring. All that for only $4,800.

7. 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe from 'American Graffiti'

George Lucas’ homage to cruising and drive-ins was released in 1973 and seemed to be chronicling a long-ago, forgotten, more innocent time in America, although the film took place only 11 years prior.

It is widely credited with creating 50s/early 60s nostalgia and the hot rod culture that exists today. Films like “Grease” and TV shows like “Happy Days” probably never would have existed had Lucas not asked audiences, “Where were you in ’62?”

Universal Piuctures image

Of the dozens of hot rods highlighted in the film, none were cooler than Paul Le Mat’s 1932 Ford, the “fastest car in the valley,” and his drag race with Harrison Ford near the end of the film is one of the most memorable races in film history.

6. The Batmobile

Tim Burton breathed new life into the world of comic and television hero Batman with his 1989 film "Batman," which took a radical departure from the campy 1960s TV show.

Burton’s Batmobile was revamped from the TV show’s 1955 Ford concept car into a sleek, futuristic, one-of-a-kind auto that was as unforgettable as Jack Nicholson’s performance as The Joker.

5. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from 'Goldfinger'

“Goldfinger” is considered by many critics to be the best film in the James Bond series, and his 1964 Aston Martin certainly has something to do with it.

The car alone would be pretty cool, but add a set of .30-caliber machine guns, tire spinner blades, bullet-proof windows, a radar and tracking scanner, an oil slick spray, and a smoke screen that comes out of the rear exhaust and you’ve got a car for the ages.

4. 1974 Dodge Monaco from 'The Blues Brothers'

“The Blues Brothers” has some of the most memorable car chases in movie history.

Universal Pictures image

Who could forget the site of the Bluesmobile crashing through a mall, jumping the 95th Street Bridge, back-flipping over the Illinois Nazis, speeding its way through downtown Chicago with about 100 police cars behind it and smashing its way through the Richard J. Daley Center?

Was there a better car to drive if you were on a mission from God?

3. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

Everybody broke the rules a little when they were kids and maybe even played hooky once or twice. But when Ferris and Cameron stole Cameron’s father’s 1961 Ferrari, they took things to another level.

“It is his joy, it is his love, it is his passion,” Cameron tells Ferris.

“It’s his fault he didn’t lock the garage,” responds Ferris.

The rest was one great day off.

2. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from 'Smokey and the Bandit'

There have been many memorable car chases in movie history.

Universal Pictures image

What made “Smokey and the Bandit” so memorable was that the entire movie was basically one long car chase. Burt Reynolds’ character had to drive in his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from Georgia to Texarkana, Texas and back in 28 hours while running blocker for a semi hauling 400 cases of illegal Coors beer.

Along the way he picked up Sally Field, got in about two dozen car chases with the police and made cinematic history. Audiences flipped for ‘“Smokey and the Bandit,” which was released in 1977 and was the second-highest grossing film that year at the box office, right behind a little film called “Star Wars.”

1. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 from 'Back to the Future'

Near the beginning of “Back to the Future,” Doc Brown tells Marty McFly, “"The way I figured it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?"

Universal Pictures image

Doc Brown was right. The DeLorean that took you back in time as soon as you hit 88 miles per hour is probably the most identifiable car in cinematic history.

“Back to the Future” grossed over $210 million at the U.S. box office and was one of the biggest films of the 1980s. It is hard for anyone since 1985 who has seen a DeLorean on the streets not to immediately think of the film.

WORST

Not all movie cars are memorable because they were so cool. Here are the five least cool cars in movie history that are so bad, they’re good.

5. 1973 Ford Gran Torino from 'The Big Lebowski'

All that The Dude ever wanted was to get his rug back. But if he knew what his car would go through in the process, The Dude (or Duder, or His Dudeness, or El Dudarino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing) might not have bothered.

Through the course of the film, The Dude’s 1973 Gran Torino is shot accidently with a machine gun, has the windows smashed out with a crow bar, is stolen, used as a toilet, crashed into a dumpster and lit on fire.

4. The ice cream truck from 'Borat'

Roger Ebert said that “Borat” was “the funniest movie in years.” One of the funniest scenes in the film is when Borat goes to buy a car.

Dune Entertainment image

Most of that scene, like most of the film, is unprintable, but he did end up with an ice cream truck that he, Azmat and a bear drove across the country.

3. Volkswagen Microbus from 'Little Miss Sunshine'

Like the movie “Vacation,” the T2 Microbus from “Little Miss Sunshine” reminds everyone how terrible cross-country trips with your family can be.

The Microbus was at least roomier than the Family Truckster, but on the downside it needed to be pushed by the whole family so it could be jump-started.

2. 1976 AMC Pacer from 'Wayne’s World'

If you have ever seen "Wayne's World" it is impossible to hear the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen without the image of Wayne and Garth cruising around in Garth’s 1976 AMC Pacer jumping into your head for at least a second.

1. The Wagon Queen Family Truckster from 'National Lampoon's Vacation'

If you are thinking of taking the tribe cross country, the Wagon Queen Family Truckster is your automobile.

Warner Bros. image

One of the most awful, ugly cars in cinematic history, the Family Truckster brings back nightmare memories for anyone who was dragged on some cross-country odyssey by their parents when they were growing up.

You think you hate it now, but just wait until you drive it.

Honorable Mention:

  • 1983 Ferrari 308 GTSi, "National Lampoon's Vacation"
  • 1958 Plymouth Fury, "Christine"
  • 1973 Ford Falcon, "The Road Warrior"
  • 2003 Mini Cooper S, "The Italian Job"
  • 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, "Herbie: Fully Loaded"
  • Batmobile Tumbler from “Batman Begins”
  • The ‘Mutt Cutts’ van from "Dumb and Dumber"
  • 1970 Challenger R/T 400 from “Vanishing Point.”
  • 1949 Mercury Series 9CM Coupe from “Rebel Without a Cause”
  • 1973 Lotus Espirit from “The Spy Who Loved Me”


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