Put the Pedal to the Metal

Car chases, iconic characters, classic movies—we’ve seen a lot of amazing cars driven by a lot of amazing actors over the years. While we couldn’t possibly name them all, we did manage to narrow down some iconic vehicles that have a special place in our hearts. 

Bob P. B. on Wikimedia Commons

1. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future, 1986)

When you hear “DeLorean,” you think Back to the Future, and both rightfully earned their spot in pop culture. It may not be an actual time machine, and its ability to reach 88 mph is a little questionable, but this classic car put us in the back seat alongside Doc and Marty.  

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2. 1967 Shelby GT500 (Gone in 60 Seconds, 2000)

You probably know her as “Eleanor,” the code name given to each Mustang in the original film and remake. Though we adore the original ‘71 Ford Mustang, we have a soft spot for Nic Cage’s ‘67 Shelby. Whichever Eleanor your heart belongs to, either is a beaut. 

Sicnag on Wikimedia Commons

3. 1963 Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger, 1964) 

We’ve gone through countless Bond flicks, experienced several new faces, but there’s no more iconic duo than Sean Connery and his Aston Martin. Equipped with artillery and smoke screens, this sleek car is the true face of the 007 franchise. 

Calreyn88 on Wikimedia Commons

4. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986)

We all knew Cameron was an anxious guy, but one look at his dad’s car and it was easy to see why. Fantastic close-ups and a classic John Hughes soundtrack only hammered home how pretty this car is. (Let’s all just try to ignore its fate.) 

Buch-t on Wikimedia Commons

5. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon (Mad Max, 1979)

We were just as blown away by the Pursuit Special as Maxwell was the first time we laid eyes on it. A star in its own right, this muscle car hung around for nearly the entire franchise and we were stoked to see it every time. 

Ferenghi on Wikimedia Commons

6. 1973 Chevrolet Malibu (Drive, 2011)

It’s only fitting that a good mechanic has a good car, which is exactly why Ryan Gosling’s nameless character owned an ever-sleek Chevy Malibu. It might not come with all the bells and whistles of 007’s cars, but it’s a good-looking vehicle that gets plenty of deserved screentime.  

Greg Gjerdingen on Wikimedia Commons

7. 1960 Ford Anglia 105E (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 2002)

Harry Potter is hardly the franchise for petrolheads. However, everyone from car enthusiasts to Gryffindor students can rally behind a flying car. It may not have the real-world ability, but we kids didn’t know that! Seeing a light blue Ford cruising the skies was more than memorable.

 Alf van Beem on Wikimedia Commons

8. 1968 Ford Mustang (Bullitt, 1968)

Often touted as the greatest car movie (certainly the greatest car chase), Steve McQueen drove like nobody’s business in this classic Ford Mustang. Don’t be fooled by the ‘60s feel either—this film and car still hold their own today. 

J-Ham2000 on Wikimedia Commons

9. 1974 Dodge Monaco (The Blues Brothers, 1981)

Better known as the Bluesmobile, Dan Aykroyd is to thank for this memorable co-star as he considered the Monaco “easily the hottest police vehicle of the 1970s.” And hot it was, flipping over cars and getting the boys out of trouble…right until it fell apart. 

The cikka on Wikimedia Commons

10. 1966 Ford Thunderbird (Thelma & Louise, 1991)

Thelma, Louise, and the Thunderbird—all characters you really shouldn’t get attached to. We won’t spoil any more, but you’ll have more than enough time to enjoy this gorgeous getaway car. We definitely did. 

zombieite on Wikimedia Commons

11. The Batmobile (Batman, 1989)

From Michael Keaton to Robert Pattinson, Bruce Wayne went through a few cosmetic changes over the years. The Batmobile, however, remained forever iconic. Though we have plenty to choose from, nothing tops the original. 

Ank Kumar on Wikimedia Commons

12. 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor (Ghostbusters, 1984)

Who you gonna call? You may know it as the Ectomobile (or Ecto-1), but this Cadillac is best known for its memorable paint job and ghost-busting abilities. It not only starred in the movie franchise, but its classic design also appeared in TV series and video games.

mark6mauno on Wikimedia Commons

13. 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX (Baby Driver, 2017)

With so many great movies, we can’t keep up with all of cinema’s amazing car chases. We can, however, tip our hats to Baby Driver’s opening scene and the shiny red Subaru that stole the show. 

Dennis Boberg on Wikimedia Commons

14. 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am (Smokey and the Bandit, 1978)

The only thing that could make a ‘77 Firebird cooler is Burt Reynolds behind the wheel. Movie and car lovers alike were treated to double trouble in this classic film, featuring an incredible car with even better hood graphics.  

Calreyn88 on Wikimedia Commons

15. 1967 Austin Mini Cooper (The Italian Job, 1969)

Who would’ve thought that such a little car had so much personality? Michael Caine handled the original compact car whereas Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron handled their own in the 2003 remake. We have to admit, we were enamored with both sets. 

Sicnag on Wikimedia Commons

16. 1967 AMC Pacer (Wayne’s World, 1992)

Baby blue paint job? Orange flames up the side? That’s right—we could only mean the Pacer from Wayne’s World! It might not be much to look at but that doesn’t negate its memorability or our nostalgia. 

Eric Friedebach on Wikimedia Commons

17. The Tumbler (Batman Begins, 2005)

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about Christopher Nolan’s take on the Batmobile. Up until his 2005 flick, we’d never seen the likes of a militaristic mobile, and its design had everyone excited in their theater seats.  

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18. 1970 Dodge Charger R/T (Fast & Furious, 2001)

This franchise introduced us to several amazing cars but our collective jaws dropped when Dom first revealed his Charger. It’s so iconic, in fact, that it’s appeared in nearly every sequel over the last 20 years. 

先従隗始 on Wikimedia Commons

19. 1971 Volkswagen T2 Microbus (Little Miss Sunshine, 2006)

What’s more memorable than a yellow hippie van with a broken horn? Though these microbuses were once covered in peace signs and filled with hitchhikers, they experienced a well-deserved resurgence thanks to this indie classic. 

Oxyman on Wikimedia Commons

20. 1958 Plymouth Fury (Christine, 1983)

An apt name for a dangerous car, this Plymouth Fury was a little too invested in its owner. (Though, what did we expect from a Stephen King adaptation?) Despite the horrors that followed, we couldn’t help but gawk at Christine. 

Nathan Dimartino on Wikimedia Commons