Cinematic Rides: 12 Unforgettable Cars From the Movies
Some cars just are the movie. They don’t just sit in the background — they steal the spotlight, burn rubber through chase scenes, or become full-on characters themselves. Here are a dozen famous movie cars that earned their place in Hollywood history.
1. Aston Martin DB5 from ‘James Bond’
Nothing about 007 was lame, but his car (equipped with endless gadgets) was one of the classiest, coolest things about him.
2. ‘Eleanor,’ the 1967 Mustang From ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’
Who was a bigger star in “Gone in 60 Seconds:” Nicholas Cage or Eleanor? We all know the answer.
3. 1968 Ford Gulf GT40 From ‘Le Mans’
Steve McQueen behind the wheel of this bad boy was nothing short of iconic. Gearheads everywhere went ga-ga.
4. 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 From ‘Bullitt’
That chase through San Francisco? Legendary.
5. DeLorean DMC-12 From ‘Back to the Future’
Obviously.
6. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am From ‘Smokey and the Bandit’
The Trans Am in “Smokey and the Bandit” did for the movie what the soundtrack did for “Saturday Night Fever.”
7. 1963 Volkswagen Beetle (Herbie) From ‘The Love Bug’
Some movies have cars that are so drool-worthy that they become the star, while other movies are blatantly built around the car. “The Love Bug” was the latter, and it’s one of the most famous and recognizable movie cars as a result. Cute lil’ Herbie.
8. 1970 Dodge Charger From ‘The Fast and the Furious’
“Fast and Furious” is obviously chock full of iconic cars, but none have as big of a cult-like following as Dom’s charger.
9. 1958 Plymouth Fury From ‘Christine’
So beautiful. So sleek. And yet, we can’t look at the ’58 Plymouth Fury anymore without being a little terrified.
10. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder From ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’
Watching these dipstick teens obliterate this Ferrari should be included in round-ups of the biggest heartbreaks in film, right alongside Jack and Rose’s 100% avoidable tragic fate.
11. 1966 Ford Thunderbird From ‘Thelma & Louise’
The Thunderbird that embarked upon the trip of a lifetime. So much nostalgia.
12. 2007 Chevrolet Camaro From ‘Transformers’
Bumblebee! Any version of him was cool, but the 2007 one is probably the most iconic.
More car content:
- Awkward, Odd, and Outdated: 16 Cars That Make Us Laugh Today — These 16 awkward cars are ones we can’t help but look back on and make fun of, whether due to their shape, color scheme, or all-around weirdness.
- 20 Vintage Photos of Classic Ford Cars From the 1960s — These vintage photos take us back to what Ford vehicles looked like during the swinging ’60s.
- 11 Rare Muscle Cars That Made Millions at Auction — Whether it’s the legendary Shelby, the iconic Hemi Challenger, or other notable classics, some of these cars sell for eye-watering amounts.