Everyone has opinions about the most famous car that appeared in movies or TV shows. There are countless contenders, from the DeLorean DMC-12 to the Aston Martin DB5. Did your favorite car make the cut?
1. 1969 Dodge Charger – Dukes of Hazzard
The General Lee is one of television’s most iconic cars. This orange 1969 Dodge Charger featured prominently in The Dukes of Hazzard with Bo and Luke Duke sliding into their seats through the windows as they escaped Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. The General Lee features a confederate flag painted on the roof, the number “01” in black on the doors, and a horn that plays a portion of the song “Dixie.”
The car did a lot of long jumps over obstacles and rivers, which is why the production team destroyed more than 300 vehicles during the show’s run. It’s still an entertainment icon, but its Confederate heritage is somewhat controversial these days.
2. 1963 Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger
In the Goldfinger novel, Ian Fleming originally had his spy driving an Aston Martin DB Mark III. However, by the time the book went into film production, the manufacturer had produced the DB5.
James Bond’s third film producer convinced Aston Martin to place the DB5 in the movie, and the rest was history. The DB5 is famous for being loaded with gadgets, but the car initially only had a smokescreen. The film crew started brainstorming ideas for the car’s defenses, and the producers listened.
This collaboration transformed the Aston Martin DB5 into a spy vehicle unlike any seen before. The car was so popular that the same model appeared in 1965’s Thunderball.
Some argue Goldfinger and Thunderball are two of the best James Bond movies because of the car. Fans often think the car in the movie was a 1964 Aston Martin, but it was a 1963 model. The film debuted in 1964, and that year’s Aston Martin model was not for sale.
3. 1976 Pontiac Trans Am – Smokey and The Bandit
The 1976 Pontiac Trans Am and actor Burt Reynolds are among the most iconic car/actor duos in cinematic history, even though the film claimed the car was a 1977 Pontiac Firebird.
Smokey and the Bandit featured a top-of-the-line Pontiac Trans Am with a phoenix decal and air intake on and through the hood. It’s now recognizable by its hood emblem alone.
Even though the Bandit made good use of the sports car, it didn’t have a powerful engine. The 6.6-liter V-8 only generated 200 horsepower, but it did produce a lot of torque at 320 ft-lbs.
The film catapulted the Trans Am into a must-have sports car, prompting Pontiac to keep the body style in production until 1983.
4. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 – Back to the Future
The DeLorean Motor Company produced the DMC-12 as an American-made exotic supercar. It was a market failure when released in 1981 but made a perfect prop for the movie Back to the Future. One could argue that the DeLorean in the film was a precursor to modern hybrid cars, with its power train operating on something other than gasoline.
Today, history repeats itself with the company re-launching the nameplate as a hybrid sports car. Don’t hold your breath if you hope to time travel when it hits 88 mph, though!
5. 1984 Ford Econoline Van – Dumb and Dumber
The Shaggin’ Wagon, also known as the Mutt Cutts vehicle, was driven by characters Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne on a cross-country trip in the movie Dumb and Dumber. The film producers transformed the 1984 Ford Econoline van into a cartoonish canine with the gratuitous incorporation of tan carpet on both the exterior and interior.
The van featured a smiling dog’s face on the front, floppy ears on the side, a tail in the rear, and a rear side leg you lifted to access the gas tank neck. The Shaggin’ Wagon was an instant hit, and movie fans quickly started building their interpretations.
6. 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor – Ghostbusters
You might hear the sound of the wee-wah siren when you think of the Cadillac Miller-Meteor (named Ecto-1″) from the Ghostbusters movie.
The actual vehicle is a Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura Duplex end loader. Miller-Meteor was a company that modified specially produced Cadillacs from the manufacturer to accommodate passengers living and non-living; some of these cars were used as ambulances and hearses. It was a fitting choice of car for this movie.
7. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon – Mad Max
The protagonist of Mad Max drives a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT coupe that is every bit as mean and mad as he is.
The Ford Falcon, known as the Interceptor Pursuit Special in the movie, was built by Ford Australia and underwent heavy modifications for its role.
The 1973 XB GT model was the last Falcon produced by Ford Australia until the nameplate’s return in 1992.
8. 1968 Mustang GT 390 – Bullitt
In the movie Bullitt, Steve McQueen chased the bad guys through the streets of San Francisco in a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390. Many rank it as the most famous car chase scene of all time.
The chase scene was one of the first of its kind. It used camera angles to film the actors and capture shots of the Mustang taking air across the intersections around the city. Playing Lt. Frank Bullitt, McQueen was in pursuit of a 1968 Dodge Charger driven by one of the assassins.
The Mustang GT 390 became synonymous with McQueen, increasing the car’s value exponentially. It sold for $3.74 million in 2020 in its original condition, confirming its status as one of the most famous movie cars ever.
9. 1970 Dodge Charger – The Fast and the Furious
The first Fast & Furious movie centers around a 1970 Dodge Charger with a supercharged engine that produces 900 horsepower, driven by Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel).
The Dodge Charger used in the movie is a 1969 model that received parts from a 1970 Charger R/T to make it look like a typical street drag racing car of the 70s. The engine, while genuine, was used as a prop for filming.
The filming of the driving scenes used the 1969 model with a standard Mopar 440 big block engine, while the prop engine was returned to its owner.
10. 1976 AMC Pacer – Wayne’s World
The 1976 AMC Pacer used in Wayne’s World embodies the loser status of the main characters.
The AMC Pacer was a bottom-of-the-barrel used car when the movie began production in the 90s. This made the Mirthmobile the perfect choice for driving around Aurora and singing “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The AMC Pacer was initially designed to be an economy car and sold well during its first year. However, sales quickly fell in the following years.
There were various reasons, including overall weight, lack of horsepower, and fuel economy.
11. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the character Cameron Frye claims that his father’s car is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and is one of the rarest cars in the world.
However, the car used in the film is anything but a Ferrari. It’s a Modena GT Spyder California built in 1985 and powered by a Chevrolet 7.0-liter V-8 engine.
The car’s interior and exterior design resembled touring cars of the 1960s and closely resembled the Ferrari GT California from certain angles. It was a perfect choice to use as a stand-in for the valuable car.
Extra movie trivia: since Modena Design put the Ferrari badges on the car without permission, Ferrari sued for trademark infringement.
12. 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire – National Lampoon’s Vacation
The 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire was rebranded as the Wagon Queen Family Truckster (affectionately known as the Truckster) in Vacation.
Initially, Clark Griswold was to get an “Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the CB and the optional Rally Fun Pack,” but was a rookie at car negotiation and ended up with the Wagon Queen.
The producers purposefully modified the station wagon to make it a miserable ride — the kind that makes long family trips across the country to visit long-forgotten relatives unbearable.
The Truckster was used as a battering ram, makeshift hearse, cargo carrier, and family hauler. As a result, they went through several station wagons while making the movie.
13. 1966 Ford Thunderbird – Thelma & Louise
When the movie Thelma & Louise came out, the 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible was a legacy car that had passed its prime. The movie used multiple Thunderbirds and even threw one of them off the cliff in the famous final scene.
The filmmakers used two Thunderbirds for the main driving scenes and two others for stunts. The movie revived interest in the Thunderbird and helped it become an icon among collectors.
In 2002, Ford released a new version of the Thunderbird, but it was a total flop, and Ford discontinued it four years later.
14. 1948 Ford Deluxe Convertible – Grease
Part of the movie Grease centers around rebuilding a 1948 Ford DeLuxe convertible that had seen better days.
The car undergoes a magical transformation, going from a white rust bucket to a candy apple red hotrod with white lightning bolts and exaggerated fins. The engine is also upgraded to produce more horsepower. Still, the original engine in the Ford DeLuxe consisted of a flathead V-8 that produced 100 horsepower and reached a top speed of 80 miles an hour.
15. 1963 Volkswagen Beetle – The Love Bug
Herbie, the Love Bug, is a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle featured as the main character in the beloved Disney IP. Herbie has a mind of his own and takes over the driving when he feels he’s not used to his full potential. He could also talk to the driver and passengers.
Walt Disney developed the system to create the illusion of Herbie driving himself. The system consisted of sprockets and pulleys connected to a secondary steering column that ran under the front seat and was handled by a driver in the rear seat, showing that someone could drive from the back seat.
Over the years, the VW Beetle has been popular with car buyers, making it one of the best-selling cars ever.
16. 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 – The Spy Who Loved Me
The second Bond car on the list is arguably one of the most iconic movie cars, the Lotus Esprit S1.
The 1976 S1 supercar was the ultimate gadget mobile and pushed the limits of credibility when it debuted in the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.
Equipped with the usual offensive weapons and defenses, this James Bond vehicle had one more trick under its hood. It doubled as a submarine. Filmmakers placed a Lotus Esprit S1 body on a mini-sub, with the wheel wells converted into fins.
The submarine version of the Lotus was nicknamed “Wet Nellie” and was sold for $100 in an abandoned storage locker auction.
17. 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura – Batman
The original Batmobile created for the TV show is based on a 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car.
In less than three weeks, George Barris did the car’s styling, design, and construction for $15,000 — quite a hefty fee in the 1960s.
The car’s arsenal of artillery and defenses made it so heavy that its tires would often blow out as it took off from the Bat Cave.
Barris kept the car after production of the Batman series ceased, finally selling it in 2013 for $4,620,000.
18. 1923 Good Maxwell Tourer – Jack Benny
Jack Benny was a notorious tightwad, and his 1923 Good Maxwell Tourer vehicle showed just how cheap he was. The car often made sputtering and wheezing sounds (supplied by Mel Blanc) as Benny made his way around town. His passengers were quick to complain about the poor state of the vehicle.
The Maxwell was made in Detroit from 1904 to 1925. It was known for being a reliable car.
Jack Benny donated his Maxwell for scrap during WWII, and the Maxwell cars eventually turned into the Chrysler Group.
19. 1976 Ford Gran Torino – Starsky & Hutch
In Starsky & Hutch, two LA detectives drive around in a Ford Gran Torino. The series used Gran Torino cars from 1974 to 1976 with slight variations to the iconic red paint job with white vector stripes down the side.
It’s not very subtle for a pair of undercover cops, but that’s never stopped Hollywood. The show made the car famous and helped boost sales until the arrival of its replacement, the Ford LTD II.
20. 1967 Austin Mini Cooper S 1275 – The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a star-studded movie from 1969 with Michael Caine, Noel Coward, and pre-Yakkety Sax Benny Hill.
The film’s wild car chases were pulled off with three Mini Coopers produced by British Motor Cars (BMC). 1275 refers to the engine size of 1275 CC, or 77.8 cu-in, to create a 1.3-liter 73-horsepower engine paired with a 4-speed transmission.
The engine was sufficient to power the lightweight Mini Cooper, but one car had to get beefed up with more torque to power its stunts.
This Mini Cooper shouldn’t be confused with Mr. Bean’s 1969 Morris Mini 1000, which is similar to the Austin Mini Cooper S 1275 but not quite the same.
21. 1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine
Based on the Stephen King novel, the movie Christine centers around a murderous 1958 Plymouth Fury bought by an unsuspecting teenager in 1978.
The film brought the anthropomorphic vehicle turned serial killer to life. They used more than 20 Plymouth models, including Belvederes, Savoys, and Furys, all painted the same red color.
King took some liberties with the Plymouth Fury, as the original model came in just one color — Buckskin Beige.
During the filming, stunt drivers could only see out the windshield through small viewing windows cut into the black tint. In the final scene, they destroyed one of these famous cars, and three vehicles used in the film still exist.
22. 1932 Ford Coupe – American Graffiti
Before Star Wars, American Graffiti was George Lucas’ first movie success. The film centers on Lucas’s experience with the California teenage car culture in the 1950s.
The film features a 1932 Ford Coupe with a chop top and exposed engine, the actual car being a Chevrolet small-block V-8. The use of the Chevy engine invalidates its status as a Little Deuce Coupe since it needs a Ford side-valve flathead V-8 to fit the bill.
The Ford was found on a used car lot and bought for $1,300 in an unfinished state. The car got a yellow lacquer paint job to make it look racing-ready and equipped with small fenders to get around California’s laws outlawing hot rod vehicles.
23. The Gigahorse – Mad Max Fury Road
The Gigahorse is pure Hollywood fabrication at its finest. A pastiche of several cars, it was designed just for the movie.
They made this warhorse from two 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille shells sitting above a drivetrain powered by two Chevrolet 502 big block V-8s. A custom gearbox brought the Gigahorse to life, but the Turbo 400 transmission couldn’t handle the engines’ output.
The transmission required a daily rebuild, so the production team switched to an Allison truck transmission. The Gigahorse had two dummy engines powered by a single engine. However, the production designer decided to go all out and put up the money for a vehicle that created 1,200 horsepower when fully operational.
24. 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – Knight Rider
Knight Rider‘s crime-fighting duo consisted of a sentient 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and David Hasselhoff’s Michael Knight.
The exterior wasn’t altered much apart from a red light bar with a back-and-forth pattern to show it’s more than your average Firebird.
KITT featured a computer voice that spoke sarcastically and made snide comments to Knight.
25. 1949 Buick Roadmaster – Rain Man
The 1949 Buick Roadmaster in the movie Rain Man became a famous car due in part to the constant reciting of the car’s specs by the character Raymond Babbitt. All of the specs that the character spouted off are accurate, something car fans appreciated greatly.
There were only 8,095 Roadmasters produced, and the engine was a straight-8 instead of a V-8. The DynaFlow automatic transmission was a new invention when the car came out on the market and a point of pride for GM.
The 1949 Buick Roadmaster was one of GM’s most expensive cars that year. Only a few Cadillacs were more costly.
Actor Dustin Hoffman and director Barry Levinson took home one of the two Buick Roadmasters used in the production. Hoffman sold his car at auction for $335,000.
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