The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time
Whether they were notable for their superior performance, or for the superior performers who drove them, RideLust’s list of the 50 Most Famous Cars pays homage to all the truly iconic automobiles of our time [and a few that slipped in under "editorial bias"...] So without further ado, and in no particular order:
1. 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 fastback
Where It’s From: Gone in 60 Seconds [2000] film
Claim to Fame:Stuck behind a traffic jam and desperate to outrun the rapidly advancing 5-0, Memphis [Nicolas Cage] throws “Eleanor” and her 428 cubic-inch, 360-hp engine in drive and using a lowered towtruck flat bed as a ramp, launches her 30 feet up in the air. Completely airborne, Memphis flies Eleanor over 15 feet of damaged cars and rescue workers – landing intact on the other side, cocked, locked, and ready to rock
2. 1981 DeLorean DMC 12
Where It’s From: Back To The Future [1985] film
Claim to Fame:Off-screen an extremely ill-fated Irish sports car, in Back To The Future, the DeLorean DMC 12 was capable of breaking the laws of quantum physics. Modified with a flux capacitor and a strategically placed nuclear generator, when traveling at precisely 88 mph, the DMC 12 was capable of time-travel.
3. 1963 Volkswagen Beetle
Where It’s From: The Herbie series [1969, 1974, 1977, 1980, 2005] film
Claim to Fame: Born in Germany in 1963, Herbie is/was a white Volkswagen Classic Beetle famously distinguished by two red and blue racing stripes and the number 53 painted on the hood, doors, and trunk. Capable of driving itself as well as feeling human emotions, Herbie was a zippy little Beetle with a Porsche 356 engine who gave the big boys a run for their money.
4. 1969 Dodge Charger
Where It’s From:The Dukes Of Hazzard [1979-1985] television series
Claim to Fame: With a confederate flag painted on the roof and doors that were welded shut, the General Lee was the Duke boys’ modified Charger R/T who saw as much air time as United. To keep the Charger from going ass-over-teakettle during flight, the Charger’s trunk was routinely packed with about 1,000 pounds of sandbags and concrete [we'll spare you the "junk in the trunk" jokes].
5. 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Where It’s From: Knight Rider [1982-1986] television series
Claim to Fame:Hyper-intelligent crime fighting-mobile, the modified Trans Am known as KITT [voiced by William Daniels] always sounded mildly pissed with his human counter-part, Michael Knight [David Hassellhoff]. In addition to the ability to see, hear, and smell, KITT also came equipped with a frequently-referenced “Alpha Circuit” - a feature that was never completely explained but apparently controlled KITT’s artificial intelligence.
6. 1962 Volvo P1800
Where It’s From: The Saint [1962-1969] television series
Claim to Fame: Famous British lone wolf espionage agent Simon Templar’s [Roger Moore] 4-cylinder Swedish ride – the “Swedish” part really kind of ticking the British motor industry off [apparently, Jaguar was initially approached to provide a car for the series, but declined because they saw little hope in "The Saint" ever really taking off...good one, guys.]
7. 1955 Chevrolet 6700-series bus
Where It’s From: The Partridge Family [1970 – 1974] television series
Claim to Fame: The giant, psychedelic-hued tour bus used by the close-knit family of exceptionally talented musicians. This iconic bus represents the good old days when an 8-person family could share unnaturally close quarters for abnormally long periods of time and not have the Division of Family Services called on them.
8. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4
Where It’s From: Miami Vice [1984 – 1989] television series
Claim to Fame:The first Ferrari model used during the series, the Ferrari 365 GTS/4 was actually a McBurnie-built Ferrari replica sitting on a Corvette chassis. Once the show [and the cars] gained popularity, the 365 GTS/4 was replaced by the Ferrai Testarossas - donated by Enzo Ferrari himself.
9. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
Where It’s From: Dazed and Confused [1993] film
Claim to Fame:David Wooderson’s [Matthew McConaughey] jailbait-magnet of a muscle car. In Wooderson’s own immortal words, “Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packin’ right here, all right. We got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30, 11 to 1 pop-up pistons, turbo-jet 390 horsepower. We’re talkin’ some f[*]in’ muscle.”
10. 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance
Where It’s From:Ghostbusters [1984] film
Claim to Fame:Nicknamed “Ecto-1”, the white endloading modified ambulance/hearse [an efficient albeit morbid combination] ferried around the four ghost-exterminators, Egon [Harold Ramis], Ray [Dan Aykroyd], Peter [Bill Murray], and Winston [Ernie Hudson] who were apparently either saving New York from paranormal warfare, or battling a pretty epic war on hallucinogens.
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huh. no aston martin db5 from goldfinger. hell every Bond car is forever more famous than most of the cars in this list.
I can’t fathom what criteria was used to decide inclusion or rank
Words by charles on August 5, 2008 at 4:20 pm | #
Well one general rule of thumb we tried to follow [and only broke once or twice] was only one car per film.
Inclusion was based on general popularity [ie: How many replica cars are there? If you mentioned the car while sitting at a bar, how many patrons would smile nostalgically and reminisce about its finer attributes?].
The cars are ranked in no particular order.
Words by Suzanne Denbow on August 5, 2008 at 8:54 pm | #
Hmmm no Coyote from Hardcastle & McCormick or the Capris Bodie & Doyle drove in The Professionals
Words by ED on August 6, 2008 at 1:18 pm | #
#37 is an Aston Martin DB5, not a DBS. I know because I used to own one. A great car!
Words by Reed S. on August 6, 2008 at 2:10 pm | #
OMG, Risky Business. What red blooded young man wasnt inlove with Rebecca Dey Morney from that movie. Hey now!! Excellent article dude. Lots of memories.
JT
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
Words by Jim McDosh on August 6, 2008 at 5:34 pm | #
WHAT!! We’re missing one! How can we forget the pickup from ‘The Fall Guy?’ More famous than the POS that walker texas mannikin used.
Oh, I agree with the Coyote from H and C too
Words by Tim on August 6, 2008 at 5:38 pm | #
what a joke. how can you not have the bmw e34 m5 or audi s8 from ronin.
Words by meh on August 6, 2008 at 5:46 pm | #
Personal opinions: Mustang from Bullitt way too low on the list. And the elusive white T-Bird was the iconic image from American Graffiti.
Words by justvisiting on August 6, 2008 at 5:58 pm | #
What about the Wrath?
Words by Randy on August 6, 2008 at 6:43 pm | #
Are you kidding me? Where’s the Munster-mobile? Who wouldn’t want to cruise around in that sweet ride?!
Words by Matt W. on August 6, 2008 at 6:54 pm | #
Great list, one glaring omission: Porsche 550 Spyder (the car James Dean when he died).
Words by Casey on August 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm | #
[...] Most Famous Cars Posted in Uncategorized by rhetorican on August 6th, 2008 Over at Ridelust, they’re oozing with automotive memories from movies and TV shows. Tagged with: Film, TV, [...]
Pingback by Fifty Most Famous Cars « The Rhetorican on August 6, 2008 at 8:26 pm | #
No Audi R8 from Ironman?
Words by Spore on August 6, 2008 at 8:28 pm | #
no chitty chitty bang bang ??
Words by jason on August 6, 2008 at 9:33 pm | #
What the… No Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? It’s a horrid film , but the car is iconic and it’s from IAN FLEMING for fook sake.
Words by Caracatacus Potts on August 6, 2008 at 9:34 pm | #
mini coopers from the italian job.
Words by louiemac on August 6, 2008 at 11:52 pm | #
What? No Keaton-era Batmobile?
Words by fazle on August 7, 2008 at 12:32 am | #
What?? No Monkeemobile?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeemobile
Words by paus on August 7, 2008 at 12:50 pm | #
Ah youth! To omit Jack Benny’s 1923 Maxwell and the Beverly Hillbillies 1923 Oldsmobile flatbed truck is a horrible oversight. And let’s not forget the WWII Willys jeep seen in hundreds of movies and shows driven everyone from John Wayne to Tim Conway.
Words by Paul L Williams on August 7, 2008 at 1:28 pm | #
Peugot 106 from taxi express
http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w295/javierel22/?action=view¤t=taxi.jpg
Words by Javi on August 7, 2008 at 2:11 pm | #
[...] · No hay comentarios Esta es una recopilacion de fotos que mas me gustaron. sacada de la lista con los 50 automóviles más famosos de la historia. Entre mis favoritos están el DeLorean DMC 12 de 1981 (Regreso al Futuro), la ambulancia Cadillac [...]
Pingback by Los diez coches mas famosos de la historia. « Elreves on August 7, 2008 at 5:08 pm | #
Okay, I saw the author’s comment above about the one car per film guideline, but if you’re going to have the Deuce from American Graffiti, you have to include the ‘55 Chevy that Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford) drove in that movie. That same ‘55 was also in “Two Lane Blacktop” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067893/trivia). I think that ought to make it doubly famous!
Words by RC on August 7, 2008 at 8:02 pm | #
Hey, I got a great idea! Let’s read this list of cool cars and the complain about the cool cars that aren’t on it!
Words by sticknick on August 8, 2008 at 7:45 am | #
Number one…utterly insane choice.
The car from ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ on the top, above…well, every single other car on this list? So, one of the MANY cars from a really bad movie, that lots of people haven’t (mercifully) seen over all of these frankly iconic and beloved vehicles? Some of them being the centerpiece to the TV show or movie.
Like the idea for the list, and sure there are some missing, but that ranking is completely nuts.
Words by Andy on August 8, 2008 at 10:09 am | #
Hard to please eveyone,but quite well done.Ranking impossible as we all have different tastes/memories,Perhaps part 2 and/or 3 as memories are jogged…
*Munstermobile &Granpas Coffin-coupe
Orig MadMax V8 Interceptor
Route 66 Corvette
Bandit’s Firebird
*Orig Batmobile
Horror vehicles,like”Christine*,*Wraith”,Semi from “Duel” etc.
and maybe even Columbos Hillman?
Words by JoeK on August 8, 2008 at 10:12 am | #
What the heck, ragging on Plymouth in Christine?
Oh, and where the hell is Nash Bridge’s 71 ‘Cuda ‘vert?!
Words by CrypticJ on August 8, 2008 at 11:03 am | #
If you are going to include campy ridiculous movie cars, where is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
Words by MemphisDog on August 8, 2008 at 1:32 pm | #
The order of this list, and some of the inclusions are absolutely terrible! Also, what about the Jaguar/hearse from Harold and Maude?!
Words by Tim on August 8, 2008 at 2:42 pm | #
How bout the ‘71 Hemi Cuda from the Phantasm movies?
Words by Phil on August 8, 2008 at 4:20 pm | #
No Wienermobile?
Words by Big Dog Bill on August 8, 2008 at 4:47 pm | #
What about Lt. Columbo’s Peugeot 403?
Words by Da Pig on August 8, 2008 at 9:40 pm | #
Thankyou for including the Best Caer Ever Made:
Volvo 1800!
Words by SimonTemplar on August 9, 2008 at 12:00 am | #
[...] 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time See it here I was actually amazed how Bullit Mustang was so low on the list, I thought it’d more known. Also [...]
Pingback by The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time - SMCars - Car Blueprints on August 9, 2008 at 1:04 am | #
Magical
Words by Mayor of Kentonville on August 9, 2008 at 7:41 am | #
Welll….it is a great list if you are only concerned about American audiences. That being said, the Number one choice is undoubtedly wrong, as are a few others in the top ten. The Batmobile is by far the most recognized and famous and should be at the top, in any of it’s incarnations. Two is the Delorean and three should be the Mustang from Steve McQueen’s movie “Bullitt”. Four is Ghostbusters vehicle, five The Dukes of Hazzard, six Knight Rider, seven is James Bond’s Aston Martin, eight is the Oscar Mayer Hot Dog car, nine the Popemobile, and ten the Moon Rover. Special mention goes to number eleven Bigfoot.
Words by Bubba on August 9, 2008 at 7:27 pm | #
[...] The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time | Ride Lust - Motion + Mobility “Whether they were notable for their superior performance, or for the superior performers who drove them, RideLust’s list of the 50 Most Famous Cars pays homage” [...]
Pingback by Community Guy, Jake McKee - Rapid Fire - Saturday, August 09 on August 10, 2008 at 2:00 am | #
[...] 50 most famous cars of all [...]
Pingback by “Got Birthday?” on August 10, 2008 at 9:34 am | #
Very Good!
Thanks.
Words by Almanakut Brasil on August 10, 2008 at 8:53 pm | #
[...] The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time Whether they were notable for their superior performance, or for the superior performers who drove them, RideLust’s list of the 50 Most Famous Cars pays homage to all the truly iconic automobiles of our time [and a few that slipped in under "editorial bias"...] So without further ado, and in no particular order: The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time [...]
Pingback by The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time « Kiwi is Online on August 12, 2008 at 12:45 am | #
[...] So without further ado, and in no particular order here’s the 50 most famous cars of all time [...]
Pingback by 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time | micklanders on August 14, 2008 at 6:01 am | #
Hello Test,test!! Is this thing on??? What about that cool Gran Torino Sport from Starsky&Hutch??
Words by Rono on August 26, 2008 at 6:38 pm | #
where is the batmobile? http://babes-cars.com/content/batmobile-blonde-girl
Words by zappy on September 1, 2008 at 4:59 am | #
[...] The 50 most famous cars of all time. [...]
Pingback by Other Things We Found Mildly Interesting Today | The Comedy Feed on September 4, 2008 at 9:22 pm | #
[...] The 50 Most Famous Cars Of All Time | Ride Lust - Motion + Mobility [...]
Pingback by 150 Lists: An Introduction « Benjamin Montgomery on September 8, 2008 at 10:02 am | #
dale earnhart goodrench #3
Words by carl thomas on September 19, 2008 at 8:31 pm | #
Hyper-intelligent crime fighting-mobile, the modified Trans Am known as KITT [voiced by William Daniels] always sounded mildly pissed with his human counter-part, Michael Knight [David Hassellhoff]. In addition to the ability to see, hear, and smell, KITT also came equipped with a frequently-referenced “Alpha Circuit” - a feature that was never completely explained but apparently controlled KITT’s artificial intelligence.
Words by Ricky on September 26, 2008 at 10:27 am | #
what about the monte carlo in training day, that car was fly
Words by glo on November 22, 2008 at 5:53 pm | #