There are movies then there are “car movies”; films centered around slick driving where the cars are just as big of stars as the actors themselves. Here are the most iconic movie hotrods.
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, The Fast and Furious (2001)
Sure it’s an import, but there was something about that lime green paint job that helped this Eclipse steal the screen in 2001’s The Fast and Furious. Also, how could we forget Brian O’Connor just cranking the NOS on this ride until it literally fell apart?
DMC DeLorean, Back To The Future (1985)
The DMC DeLorean was already an iconic-looking car before being in this 80s classic with its brushed stainless steel body and gull-wing doors. Though the 2-door coupe was underpowered and a market failure, it lives forever as Doc’s time machine.
Lighning McQeen, Cars (2006)
KACHOW
1976 Pontiac Trans Am, Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Between all the explosions and Tom Selleck’s mustache, Smokey and the Bandit had many iconic moments, but its signature Pontiac Firebird stole the show plenty of times. There’s just something about that gold and black color scheme!
1963 Volkswagen Beetle, The Love Bug (1968)
Disney’s story about a sentient Volkswagen Beetle has had many movies, shows, and spinoffs. Herbie is recognizable by his signature red, white, and blue stripes and number 53. You can find plenty of fan-made replicas of this iconic automobile.
1961 Ferrari 250GT, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
This John Hughes’ classic wouldn’t be the same without Bueller’s classic joyride in this sleek red convertible. The Ferrari 250GT is an exceptionally rare car, but don’t worry, the specimen totaled in the movie was in fact a fiberglass replica.
2007 Chevy Camaro, Transformers
Other than for the alien robots, the Transformer movies were really just a giant car commercial. But the hotrod in the center of the whole film had to be Bumblebee, the yellow fifth-gen Chevy Camaro. After the series took off the new-gen Camaros became a common sight on American roads.
1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel, Ghostbusters (1984)
Hands-down the slowest vehicle on this list, but just as iconic as the rest is the Ectomobile or Ecto-1 from the Ghostbusters series. Essentially a converted limo, this ride hauled Dan Akroyd and company across NYC to capture ghosts.
2003 Mini Cooper S, The Italian Job (2003)
The compact Mini Cooper S made a big splash in 2003’s reboot of The Italian Job when they squeezed into the LA metro. As a high-octane getaway car, the movie put the tiny Mini Cooper on the map. Actor Mark Wahlberg described the Mini’s handling like driving an intensely-powered Go Kart.
