Hollywood has never been one to shy away when it comes to memorable motors, with some of the most identifiable vehicles tracing their roots to a popular motion-picture. We decided to take a brief look at the ten best vehicles, both the weird and wonderful to ever grace the silver-screen.
10. Bumblebee - Transformers (2010)
Shia LaBeouf’s yellow and black Chevrolet Camaro was a diamond in the rough, but we can scarcely admit the vehicle would be in the top ten if it hadn’t shifted into the 2009 model about forty minutes into the first Transformers film. The Camaro was pretty much unstoppable, and can successfully stake it’s claim as one of the most famous movie cars when it turned into a hulking 50ft transformer and started fighting inter-galactic wars.
9. Volkswagen Beetle - Herbie (1969)
No matter what your opinions are on it, Herbie was a resounding success and the VW Beetle’s immortal reputation was no doubt highly influenced by everybody’s favourite ‘car with a mind of it’s own’. Herbie was also pretty darn quick, upstaging the odds to win a collection of racing trophies during his time in the limelight. Characterized by his blue,red and white racing stripes the original Herbie resulted in six sequels and grossed a total profit of over 250 million.
8. Ford Gran Torino - Starsky & Hutch (1964 & 2004)
The famous Ford Gran Torino didn’t need to rely on the silver-screen as a healthy bit of product of placement but if it had it’s appearances were certainly not lacking. Alongside a number of cameos the car even got a film bearing it’s own name in Clint Eastwood’s excellent 2009 thriller. Nobody was attached to the car more than Starsky who absolutely adored it’s swish looks and it's stunt ability in both the popular series and 2004 film re-make.
7. Ford Mustang - Bullit (1968)
Steve McQueen was a dangerous, ice-cool rogue in Bullit and his profile got another shot-in-the-arm with his attractive ride of choice the Ford Mustang. Two were used in the film and one apparently still survives in a barn in the Ohio River Valley. We imagine that would fetch a fair sum if it got to auction!
6. Aston Martin DB5 - Goldfinger (1964)
Made to look so good that special effects wizard John Stears was awarded an Oscar for his work, the DB5 became a Bond-icon after Goldfinger in 1964. The silver-birch Aston has frequented many Bond films over the years, including Thunderball, GoldenEye and a brief cameo in Casino Royale. It continues to enjoy motoring immortality following the Bond films and it’s sales and references in popular culture were, and have been resoundingly increased. We hope the DB5’s ears were covered when ‘M’ played by Dame Judi Dench blasphemed in Skyfall describing the vehicle as: ‘’Not very comfortable’’.
5. Eleanor - Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
Gone in Sixty Seconds wasn’t short of a bit of car-related goodness with countless hot-rod’s appearing in arguably one of Nicholas Cage’s most famous flicks. The car that trumped the lot was the Mustang codenamed Eleanor, which was the crown-jewel for master-thief cage in a film that grossed staggering profits. Reportedly resulted in jump-starting the 60s Mustang and making it one of the hottest properties on the market.
4. Bluesmobile - The Blues Brothers (1980)
However dubious Elwood’s acquisition of the Bluesmobile was, the vehicle became an icon for the musical duo. It started, and ended the film in a bruised manner – we don’t think the owners were particularly bothered! But helped get them out of a few scrapes, although we can’t understand why they traded in the first Cadillac?
3. Ecto-1 - Ghostbusters (1984)
The only vehicle on this list who can claim to have rubbed shoulders with the supernatural, the Ecto-1 was suggested as a 1959 Cadillac and was found by Dr. Ray Stantz who spent less than $5,000 turning it into the slime-fighting ambulance/hearse that graced some of the most profitable films of the 1980s.
Like many of the vehicles on this list the Ecto-1 suffered it’s fair amount of wear-and-tear but managed to pull through to help Murray and co take on troublesome ghouls.
2. Batmobile - Batman Begins (2005)
Questionable whether it should make it onto the list as not (technically) an actual car but the various iterations of Bruce Wayne’s hair-rising jet-black wagon were a force to be reckoned with. It was showcased in all it’s glossy goodness in the 1966 Batman film and still managed to looked good even with Adam West at the wheel – sorry Adam. The most impressive Batmobile was undoubtedly the version designed by everybody’s favourite soft-toned professor Lucius Fox in Batman Begins, and it's hulk-like frame struck fear into the hearts of Gotham's villains. We expect the next batmobile to be quite something when it debutes with Ben Affleck in the driving-seat.
1. DeLorean DMC-12 - Back to the Future (1985)
The DeLorean DMC-12 isn't, ordinarly, a car that jumps out at you and that's exactly why it's our winner. It doesn't have the style of the DB5, or the individuality of the VW Beetle. In fact, the DMC-12 was very grey with distinctly average numbers shipped before it burst into Hollywood. Throw in a flux capacitor and some jigowatts and you're sorted - the DMC-12 became the one constant in Doc and Marty's fractious existences and it's fair to say the on-screen vehicle inspired a revival for the DMC-12 and a fair-few replicas as well. A true cinema great.
