The 10 best movie cars ever

These are more than mere vehicles; these beautiful cars are icons and movie stars in their own right.

I wanted to take a quick look at a few of the greatest looking cars around. Not only do they look good, these incredible cars become a character an icon they are part of movie history – and in some cases are more memorable than the films they are part of.

Director Jean-Luc Godard once said that “the only two things you need to make a movie are a girl and a gun”. Well, I would like to add one more ingredient – the car.

01. Mad Max

Aussie Ford Falcon

Before Mel Gibson went mad, he was Mad Max. And his car was one of the most badass in movieworld ever. He drove a customised 1973 Ford Falcon XB Interceptor that had been souped up to fit in with the futuristic world of the film. In reality however, the car remained relatively untouched. Aside from the modified front nosecone, everything else was fake.

02. Transformers

Originally a VW Beetle, became a Chevy Camaro for the movie

Talking about cars as characters; here’s Bumblebee from Transformers. For the 2007 movie, the character was created using a 2006 Chevrolet Concept Camaro. With his signature yellow chassis and black go-faster stripes, he’s become one of the most recognisable movie cars of the last decade.

03. Batmobile

Based on a revamped Chevy Impala

When Tim Burton gave the 1960s series a makeover, he really went to town on the Batmobile. The jet-engined monster was based on a revamped Chevy Impala chassis, and totally re-defined the image of the caped crusader for whole new generation to enjoy.

04. Back to the Future

1982 DeLorean DMS-12

Doc Brown’s 1982 DeLorean DMS-12 is for many film-buffs the ultimate movie car. Today, John DeLorean’s Irish-built steel sportscar is the world’s most famous time machine and still its biggest claim to fame is still its role in the franchise. It was was the perfect fit for the feel and tone of the film; put any other car in its place and it just doesn’t work; perfect casting.

05. Ghostbusters

1951 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura ambulance

Forget iconic: Ecto-1 is the stuff of movie legends. This vehicle may not have played as large a role as some of our other examples, but it is still one of the most recognisable movie cars ever. A wreck of a vehicle, with ear-piercing sirens and terrible suspension.

06. Dumb and Dumber

A 1984 Ford Econoline

This van was customised to look like a giant dog. One of the most memorable concept cars in movie history. It probably had the shortest role of any of our vehicles on the list but still one of the most memorable.

07. Knight Rider

The black 1984 Pontiac Trans Am

The KITT car, short for Knight Industries Two Thousand, in addition to extraordinary mechanical powers, it possesses a very dry sense of humour.

08. The A-Team

1983 black GMC Vandura cargo van

With its characteristic red stripe, black and red turbine mag wheels, and rooftop spoiler, has become an enduring pop culture icon. It is a common error that the van is said to be all-black, whereas in fact the section above the red stripe is metallic gray; this error was even continued on most toy models of the van.

A number of devices were seen in the back of the van in different episodes, including a mini printing press an audio surveillance recording device , and Hannibal’s disguise kits in various episodes.

09. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

There were several Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars made for the film, but only one that actually worked. The vehicle was designed by Ken Adam and built by the Ford Racing Team.

Its bonnet is crafted of polished aluminium; the boat deck is hand-crafted of red and white cedar, and the brass fittings taken from Edwardian cars.

The car is powered by a Ford three-litre V6 engine and has a dashboard plate from a British World War I fighter plane.

Chitty was completed in 1967 and registered with the number plate GEN 11, given to her by Ian Fleming, who wrote the novel the film was based on. The registration spells the Latin word “genii”, meaning magical person or being.

10. the 1966 Batmobile

Lincoln Futura

In 1955, the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company designed and built a futuristic concept car called the Lincoln Futura. It was built entirely by hand in Turin, Italy at a cost of $250,000, and like many concept cars, was never put in to production. In the mid 1960’s, George Barris of Barris Kustom City acquired the car for $1 directly from Ford.

Fast forward to August 1965, the Batman TV show producers approached George to have him build a new Batmobile for their upcoming show. The only catch was the car had to be ready for action in a mere three weeks. Seeing the bat-like qualities his Futura already had, George knew it was the perfect answer to the quandary 20th Century Fox had created.

In October of 1965, the Batmobile was completed and delivered to Fox where it made its television debut on January 12, 1966.