Iconic Cars in Film and TV

As the new Aston Martin DB10 squeals onto the silver screen as James Bond’s latest runaround, it’s clear that the iconic car is as intrinsically linked to the suave British agent as a Vodka Martini that’s shaken not stirred.

Nothing defines an individual better than their vehicle, and arguably nothing defines a movie or TV series more than the car the lead character drives. From the 1960s to the present day, iconic cars have played a key part in countless films and TV shows – so much so that audiences immediately associate that particular vehicle with a certain franchise, such as the Volkswagen Beetle and Herbie or the Pontiac Firebird and Smokey and the Bandit.

Vehicles on screen have been used in different ways. Sometimes they are purely used to define the social standing of the character, such as the Ferrari 308 driven by Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I.

Occasionally they overshadow the lead actor, as in the case of K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider – perhaps not difficult in The Hoff’s case.

Sometimes, long after the film franchise has finished, the cars remain at the forefront of popular culture, such as the DeLorean in Back to the Future. This is a car that sold in tiny numbers in the 1970s, but it is every bit as desirable today as it was when the film came out.

There have been hundreds of memorable cars in films, but in order to make my top five they need to have influenced a generation and become part of popular car culture. Here are my favourites.

1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 – Bullitt

The high-octane chase sequence through the streets of San Francisco is one of the most memorable ever recorded. The Ford Mustang actually reached speeds of 110mph and some concerned residents called the police during the now legendary jump sequence.

1976 Lotus Esprit Series 1 – The Spy Who Loved Me

By the 1970s, futuristic wedge designs were all the rage, and pointy cars such as the Lotus Esprit and Lancia Stratos changed the automotive landscape. The scene where the Lotus drives out of the ocean and onto the beach as it morphs from a submarine into a car is the one that sticks in people’s minds.

1964 Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger

Another James Bond legacy features on this list. Packed with gadgets such as an ejector seat, oil-slick sprayer and machine guns, this spy’s car was one of the most loved to appear on the silver screen. One of the few DB5s to be used in the movies was sold in 2010 for £2.6 million, showing just how influential this car was.

1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – Smokey and the Bandit

After this film debuted, sales of the Pontiac Firebird jumped from 68,745 in 1977 to 93,341 in 1978, and just one year later that number reached 117,000 units sold. Some say this was due to the fast-paced, bridge-jump action sequence, although I put it down to the lure of Burt’s magnificent moustache.

1981 DeLorean DMC-12 – Back to the Future

Never has a car reached such iconic status as the DeLorean DMC-12 from the Back to the Future franchise. Even though the DeLorean wasn’t particularly impressive under the bonnet (the sound of its V6 engine was replaced by a V8 from a Porsche 928 in order to make the Flux Capacitor sequence sound more dramatic), a bit of movie magic meant it became one of the most memorable cars in movie history.

So, whether you see yourself as a Penelope Pitstop in her Compact Pussycat or one of the Ghostbusters in Ecto-1, unforgettable cars like those in my top five will always hold a special place in the heart of the viewer. Fingers crossed that Hollywood keeps it that way.