Top 5 Movie Cars
From growling gas guzzlers, to high powered cruisers, these films offer some of cinema’s best on screen cars.
Whether it’s patrolling the wasteland or speeding through the streets of Gotham, a great cinematic vehicle should not only distill their owner’s identity into 4 wheels, but shape the aesthetic of the world they inhabit.
Read below for our top 5 movie cars.
What better vehicle for flamboyant secret agent Austin Powers than a 1961 Jaguar E Type with a union jack paint job? It’s an extension of his velvet suits and ruffled shirts, communicating to us that this character is, above all else, groovy. But it also speaks to the world he inhabits, the free spirited, stylish and hedonistic ethos of the swinging sixties - complete with a license plate that reads ‘SWINGER.’
There’s been multiple incarnations of this iconic crime fighting van, but there are a number of constants. The colour scheme; although the arrangement has varied, the green, blue, and orange tones have become a staple for the Scooby Gang. The live action films opt for more of a surfer dude aesthetic, with the orange pattern at the bottom resembling waves, while most animated versions channel a groovier look, with orange being used for flowers at the front and sides. The vehicle; while other iconic cars have differed across multiple depictions, the mystery machine has always been a boxy van, plain and simple. The vibes; despite these small differences, the vibe remains retro, friendly, and most of all fun. Perfect for spooky hijinx.
Mad Max has driven a lot of cars over his years in the wasteland. There’s the yellow Interceptor from his 1979 debut, the war rig from Fury Road, and we can’t forget the cow print cruiser from Beyond Thunderdome. But Max is best known for driving the iconic V8 Interceptor, by the name of The Pursuit Special. This black muscle car reflects Max’s grit and determination, as this sturdy old banger will keep going forward no matter what the wasteland throws at it. Although largely absent from Fury Road, it makes a brief cameo at the beginning of the film before being stolen by Immortan Joe’s pesky war boys.
Some cars need to be rugged to survive the apocalypse, some need to be groovy to fit into the zany world of the swinging sixties, but some face much more mundane challenges. What better car to survive a family road trip than the station wagon from National Lampoon’s Vacation. This modified 1979 Ford Country Squire has ample room for the kids in the backseats, as well as a sturdy roof rack for all of your luggage needs, perfect for a Griswold family vacation!
Whether it’s Micheal Keaton’s sleek cruiser or Christian Bale’s tank like tumbler, there’s no shortage of on screen batmobiles. In terms of live action films, the caped crusader has found himself behind the wheel of the six unique vehicles, each bringing justice to Gotham in their own special way. Fitting with the more fantastical setting, the earlier batmobiles of the Micheal Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer films have a design based on a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, capturing the perfect balance between comic book fantasy and grounded realism. For when Christian Bale stepped into the role we saw perhaps the most realistic take yet. Presented with this armoured behemoth, Bruce Wayne had only one request - “does it come in black?”. Ben Affleck’s batmobile was perhaps the most destructive we’ve seen, cramming machine guns, missile launchers, harpoons, and night vision into its armoured frame. Finally we have Robert Pattinson, bringing with him a set of fresh new wheels. This batmobile is a departure from any that came before, featuring the frame of a heavy muscle car, opting for a blunt force approach rather than the surgical precision of high tech gadgets.
How many of these iconic cars have you seen? Dive into our catalogue to explore the cornucopia of vehicular fun we have to offer!
Read below for our top 5 movie cars.
1. The Shaguar
What better vehicle for flamboyant secret agent Austin Powers than a 1961 Jaguar E Type with a union jack paint job? It’s an extension of his velvet suits and ruffled shirts, communicating to us that this character is, above all else, groovy. But it also speaks to the world he inhabits, the free spirited, stylish and hedonistic ethos of the swinging sixties - complete with a license plate that reads ‘SWINGER.’
2. The Mystery Machine
There’s been multiple incarnations of this iconic crime fighting van, but there are a number of constants. The colour scheme; although the arrangement has varied, the green, blue, and orange tones have become a staple for the Scooby Gang. The live action films opt for more of a surfer dude aesthetic, with the orange pattern at the bottom resembling waves, while most animated versions channel a groovier look, with orange being used for flowers at the front and sides. The vehicle; while other iconic cars have differed across multiple depictions, the mystery machine has always been a boxy van, plain and simple. The vibes; despite these small differences, the vibe remains retro, friendly, and most of all fun. Perfect for spooky hijinx.
3. The Pursuit Special
Mad Max has driven a lot of cars over his years in the wasteland. There’s the yellow Interceptor from his 1979 debut, the war rig from Fury Road, and we can’t forget the cow print cruiser from Beyond Thunderdome. But Max is best known for driving the iconic V8 Interceptor, by the name of The Pursuit Special. This black muscle car reflects Max’s grit and determination, as this sturdy old banger will keep going forward no matter what the wasteland throws at it. Although largely absent from Fury Road, it makes a brief cameo at the beginning of the film before being stolen by Immortan Joe’s pesky war boys.
4. Griswold Family Station Wagon
Some cars need to be rugged to survive the apocalypse, some need to be groovy to fit into the zany world of the swinging sixties, but some face much more mundane challenges. What better car to survive a family road trip than the station wagon from National Lampoon’s Vacation. This modified 1979 Ford Country Squire has ample room for the kids in the backseats, as well as a sturdy roof rack for all of your luggage needs, perfect for a Griswold family vacation!
5. The Batmobile
Whether it’s Micheal Keaton’s sleek cruiser or Christian Bale’s tank like tumbler, there’s no shortage of on screen batmobiles. In terms of live action films, the caped crusader has found himself behind the wheel of the six unique vehicles, each bringing justice to Gotham in their own special way. Fitting with the more fantastical setting, the earlier batmobiles of the Micheal Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer films have a design based on a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, capturing the perfect balance between comic book fantasy and grounded realism. For when Christian Bale stepped into the role we saw perhaps the most realistic take yet. Presented with this armoured behemoth, Bruce Wayne had only one request - “does it come in black?”. Ben Affleck’s batmobile was perhaps the most destructive we’ve seen, cramming machine guns, missile launchers, harpoons, and night vision into its armoured frame. Finally we have Robert Pattinson, bringing with him a set of fresh new wheels. This batmobile is a departure from any that came before, featuring the frame of a heavy muscle car, opting for a blunt force approach rather than the surgical precision of high tech gadgets.
Honourable mentions
- The sleek Ford Mustang from Bullitt, which can typically be found zooming through the streets of San Francisco.
- The Shaggin’ Wagon from Dumb and Dumber, a goofy, dog-shaped van, complete with floppy ears and a sticking out tongue.
- Barbie’s convertible, a vibrant pink dream car she took from Barbie Land to the real world, little did she know Ken was hiding in the back.
How many of these iconic cars have you seen? Dive into our catalogue to explore the cornucopia of vehicular fun we have to offer!