If you’ve ever had a dream car growing up, chances are it was etched in your mind the moment you laid eyes on it in a movie or TV show. Films and TV do a great job of glamourizing inanimate objects — why do you think product placement is so lucrative? So here’s a look back at some of our favourite Hollywood dream cars.
1. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 ("Back to the Future")
The epitome of 80s cool, the DeLorean has come to represent one of cinema’s most beloved and celebrated sci-fi classics. A timeless symbol of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, this makeshift time machine is known for its gull-wing doors, stainless steel body, and flux capacitor of course. Sadly, the DeLorean brand is no longer with us, but thanks to the enduring popularity of the franchise, its legacy will live on forever.
Lee Haywood on Wikimedia Commons
2. 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ("Eleanor")
Famous for its pivotal role in Nick Cage’s shlock fest “Gone in 60 Seconds”, the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is no doubt a beautiful vehicle. “Eleanor”, as it’s lovingly referred to in the film, is known for its powerful yet sleek classic muscle car aesthetic combined with an unmistakable V8 engine that would leave any car fanatic in awe.
Tadekptaku on Wikimedia Commons
3. 1963 Aston Martin DB5 ("James Bond")
The progenitor of the classic spy car trope, 007’s iconic tales of espionage just wouldn’t be the same without his classic 1963 Aston Martin DB5. This modified British grand tourer helped epitomize the character’s penchant for elegant and ingenious gadgets when it was first introduced in 1964’s “Goldfinger”. Since then, the car has appeared in several subsequent Bond films — drawing attention and admiration from millions of fans.
Alexandre Prévot on Wikimedia Commons
4. 1969 Dodge Charger ("The Dukes of Hazzard")
Easily one of the most recognizable cars on TV, this 1969 Dodge Charger is known to most fans as the “General Lee” in the popular 80’s CBS series “The Dukes of Hazzard”. This particular version of the car is notorious for its bright orange paint job and Confederate flag rooftop — and became a defacto star in the long-running series due to its high-octane stunts.
Photo by Cook aynne on Wikimedia Commons
5. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS ("Fast & Furious")
As protagonist Dominic Toretto’s car of choice in the long-running “Fast & Furious” series, the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS has certainly seen its share of high-flying action. The muscle car icon, with its roaring V8 engine and sleek yet rugged look, has appeared in several films in the series, making it an instant favourite among car enthusiasts and filmgoers alike.
Bull-Doser on Wikimedia Commons
6. 1968 Ford Mustang GT390 ("Bullitt")
Steve McQueen’s thrilling car chase through the streets of San Francisco was forever immortalized thanks to this product of sheer American muscle. The 1968 Ford Mustang GT390, with its iconic green paint job and old-school muscle car look, was the car of choice in Steve McQueen’s 1968 classic “Bullitt” during the film’s often cited and highly revolutionary car chase sequence.
7. 1989 Batmobile ("Batman")
The standard by which all Batmanmobiles were judged going forward, this Batmobile from Tim Burton’s 1989 classic helped breathe new life into the caped crusader’s cinematic return to form. This ruthless automotive wonder sported a jet-black finish and cutting-edge design that combined a menacing aesthetic with a litany of high-tech gadgets, easily making it any comic fan’s dream car.
8. 1975 Ford Gran Torino ("Starsky & Hutch")
This classic American muscle car is most recognizable as the vehicle of choice for the titular crime-fighting duo in the 1970s ABC series “Starky & Hutch”. The 1975 Ford Gran Torino, with its bold design and signature red and white paint job, was an indispensable asset to Starsky and Hutch in their efforts to stamp down crime in the fictional Bay City, California.
9. 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 ("The Spy Who Loved Me")
Known for its fictional underwater capabilities in the classic bond flick “The Spy Who Loved Me,” this elegant sportscar is a standout among the British spy’s myriad of high-tech vehicles. Sporting a distinctly sharp and angular design, this 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 is most notable for the fact that it can seamlessly transform into a submarine in the middle of an intense car chase.
Corvesprit on Wikimedia Commons
10. 1966 Ford Thunderbird ("Thelma & Louise")
The 1966 Ford Thunderbird was immortalized in this 1991 classic about two women embarking on a road trip that quickly turns sour after a brush with the law. The iconic muscle car practically served as a third co-star along with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, with its role in the film’s climatic ending cementing its place in film history.
ZidaneHartono on Wikimedia Commons
11. 1985 Ferrari Testarossa ("Miami Vice")
Serving as the ultimate symbol of the luxury and excess that pervaded the 1980s, this 1985 Ferrari Testarossa was just as much a part of “Maimi Vice” as its two main characters Crockett and Tubbs. The car’s sleek, elegant design and roaring V12 engine made it a fan favourite among fans of the show, with its unique and contemporary aesthetic embodying a bygone era in pop culture.
12. 2003 Mini Cooper S ("The Italian Job")
The iconic 2003 Mini Cooper S was pivotal in this remake of the classic caper film of the same name. With its impeccable blend of charm and performance, the 2003 remake of “The Italian Job” borrowed from its predecessor and brought back the Mini as the heist vehicle of choice. Not only were these cars nimble and stylish, but several of them were specifically engineered to be electric vehicles due to LA’s strict rules regarding exhaust fumes in their subway tunnels.
13. 1985 Modena GT Spyder California ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off")
It turns out that the iconic Ferrari from “Ferris Bueller's Day Off" wasn’t actually a Ferrari, but a replica composite of several different Ferraris, mostly the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. The perfect accompaniment to the film’s charming tale of three high schoolers playing hooky, this expertly crafted replica is a beautifully designed show-stealer in the classic 80’s John Hughes flick.
Mr.choppers on Wikimedia Commons
14. 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT ("Mad Max")
By far the best ride to have in the middle of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT embodied the desolate world of the “Mad Max” series with its rugged and decrepit look. Commonly known as the “Interceptor,” this highly modified Ford Falcon is an iconic part of the storied film franchise, and it's one that fans of the series would surely love to take for a ride.
15. 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ("Knight Rider")
Commonly known as KITT from “Knight Rider,” the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is no doubt a legend of the silver screen. Sporting a sleek black exterior and elegant AI personality to match, this gadget-laden supercar was all the rage in the 1980s, easily placing it among the most iconic dream cars in pop culture.
Jacek Rużyczka on Wikimedia Commons
16. Porsche 911 Turbo ("Bad Boys")
The Porsche 911 has always had a pivotal role in the long-running “Bad Boys” film series, including the franchise’s most recent outing “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”. But it’s the classic Porsche 911 Turbo — with its distinct ducktail spoiler and timeless aesthetic — that serves as the ultimate dream car, dating back to its iconic appearance in the first film in 1995.
17. 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 ("John Wick")
A car so compelling that you would dare mess with the world’s most decorated assassin to get your hands on it? Surely, there’s got to be something to it. The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 is most known as John Wick’s car — and with its timeless elegant look and powerful performance, it’s easy to see why someone might come for the Boogeyman himself to have it.
18. 2008 Chevrolet Camaro ("Transformers")
Seamlessly transitioning from an unassuming yellow 2008 Chevrolet Camaro to a massive robot in a matter of seconds, this blatant example of product placement quickly won the hearts and minds of filmgoers around the world. The sleek, modern design of the Camaro combined with Bumblebee's quirky and unique personality made the car and character a fan favourite for years to come.
19. 2008 Audi R8 ("Iron Man")
The Audi R8 has a storied reputation as being Tony Stark’s car. Throughout the blockbuster Marvel franchise, Tony Stark is seen whipping around in his Audi, and this all began in 2008 with the first “Iron Man” film. Since then, Stark has routinely driven the sleek and futuristic-looking sports car, even though he has a suit with rocket propulsion. If it’s good enough for Iron Man, it’s surely good enough for the rest of us.
charlo.be on Wikimedia Commons
20. 1973 Chevrolet Malibu ("Drive")
The 1973 Chevrolet Malibu was prominently featured as Ryan Gosling’s car in the unique 2011 action drama “Drive”. The car’s unassuming retro appearance was an ideal complement to Gosling’s detached and methodical protagonist, striking a perfect balance between performance and aesthetic befitting the film’s gritty neon-soaked setting.
Greg Gjerdingen on Wikimedia Commons
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