It’s a risky business, mixing passions across different fields. Many films attempt it, with varying degrees of success. Some have catapulted vehicles to legendary status, whereas others have fallen completely flat. Let’s take a look at a few of the film and TV vehicles which have stood the test of time.
Mad Max
The vehicles used by the Main Force Patrol in the original film are 1973 Ford Falcon XB GTs, sporting a colourful paint scheme and big a 5.8 litre V8. When a disillusioned Max is contemplating leaving the force, he is offered an all-black Pursuit Special. If there’s a meaner, better looking car in film, I’m struggling to think of it. When I first saw it I was instantly in love, so I was genuinely sad when it got wrecked in Mad Max 2.
Back to the Future
This is arguably one of the most familiar cars in film. It may have been a stroke of genius to choose such a rare, oddly designed and instantly recognisable vehicle to double as the film’s time machine. The DMC DeLorean looks fantastic to this day and I cannot imagine any other car which would have captivated peoples’ fascination like this has over the years. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much for the manufacturer’s fortunes. In reality, Dr Brown might have wanted to choose a car which wasn’t plagued with so many issues.
Gone in 60 Seconds
Yes, I’ve plumped for the remake here rather than the 1974 original. My reasoning is based around the fact that I find the 1967 Shelby GT500 much more desirable than the Mustang Mach I featured in the first film. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d have one in my (ridiculously large) car garage. I fear I’d never want to drive it though, as I suspect it’d be a pig to handle and about as reliable as the one which Nicholas Cage struggles with in the film.
James Bond
Another car I have a soft-sport for is the Lotus Esprit (more specifically, the later V8s). With that in mind, I couldn’t ignore the S1 series Esprit piloted into the ocean by Roger Moore in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me. I mean, it’s ridiculous and cool at the same time but certainly not as daft as Pierce Brosnan creeping around in an invisible Aston Martin Vanquish in Tomorrow Never Dies. If you want stealth, choose a Prius, not a stonking great 6 litre V12…
Miami Vice
The original TV series had Crockett cruising the streets of Miami in a Ferrari Testarossa, but things had moved on by the time the 2004 film adaption rolled around. It might have looked ridiculous having a cop chasing bad guys in his own classic Ferrari, but I’m not sure that putting him in a more modern F430 improves things much. What is it with movie cops and inordinately large bank accounts anyway (I’m looking at you too, Michael Lowrey)? The original TV show oozed cool, despite how terrible those white suits with rolled up sleeves appear today.
A-Team
It’s amazing what a paintjob and roof spoiler can do for a vehicle’s image. This is another TV/film cross-over, with the original cast bundling into a 1983 GMC Vandura before it was replaced with a 1994 Chevrolet G20 for use by Liam Neeson and co. in the forgettable big screen adaption. It’s not stretching the truth to state that this vehicle’s mystique is directly derived from being a black van with a contrasting, and questionable, red stripe and colour matched spoiler. I couldn’t have told you anything about the actual van models, or their names, until I looked them up. Famous for a stripe. Congratulations to the TV show design team for that one!
Training Day
“This car is not from the motor pool”.“No, it’s not. Sexy though, isn’t it?”
Yes it is. I don’t know much about a 1979 Monte Carlo Lowrider, but Denzel Washington wasn’t wrong. According to iMDB, this one’s modified with “Dayton wire wheels with bullet caps; a Grant steering wheel; Flowmaster exhaust; and hydraulics. Added to this, the car is outfitted with a sunroof, which that era's Monte Carlos never had”. That said, I’m not sure that a 5 litre V8 with a booming exhaust note is the most logical car for an undercover operative. (Just how did he start that car and sneak off when he left Ethan’s Hawke’s character to his fate at that gang member’s house?)
The Fast and the Furious
Released in 2001 as 'Point Break In Cars', The Fast and the Furious was every teenage boy’s car-fantasy wet dream come true. There are so many cars to choose from in the never-ending series. Some were good (like the Porsche 911 996 GT3 RS, criminally under-used by O’Connor in Fast Five) and some were bad (that VW Touran from Tokyo Drift anyone?), but I feel I should stick to the original which surely leaves it as a head-to-head between Dom’s 1970 Dodge Charger and O’Connor’s 1997 Toyota Supra. I’ll plump for the later, on the basis that it’s instantly recognisable due to its (frankly awful) colour scheme. Of course, the Supra needed no help in attaining legendary status amongst many petrol heads, but I doubt its turn in this mega-franchise start-up did it any harm.
Knight Rider
The Knight Rider TV series kicked off in 1982, introducing the world to David Hasselhoff’s hair and KITT’s judicious tones. The car employed as Hasselhoff’s side-kick was a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, sporting a 5.0 litre V8 heart. The vehicle apparently cost over a quarter of a million dollars (in today’s money) to customise for the show, with the nose and interior designs remaining recognisable to this day. By the time Knight Rider hit the screens, the Firebird Trans Am had already made notable appearances in 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Rocky' but I think its performance in Knight Rider is what it’ll be remembered most for.
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