The people behind the new Mazda Thrillseekers campaign have asked us for suggestions on the most awesome cars ever seen in the movies, and after a heated debate in Hecklerspray Towers we think we’ve come up with the ultimate list to please movie lovers and motorheads alike.
Having a thrilling movie car can make even the worst films great. It could have the worst script and acting in the world, but stick four wheels on it, an engine so powerful it can move you to tears and a nice paint job and you could be sitting on the next Citizen Kane.
That's because everyone likes cars. They steal the show. Just think of all the films that could have been saved by simply putting a good car in them.
Would Waterworld have sucked so badly if they had made it so the earth was covered in tarmac rather than water?
Would Pluto Nash have been such a bad film if Eddie Murphy had driven a Cobra 427?
Actually, yes!
But cars can cover a multitude of sins – just look at Speed Racer ? a film so bad nobody has actually managed to watch it the whole way through without wanting to jab themselves in the hand with a biro.
Even Driving Miss Daisy won an Oscar, for God?s sake.
Well, as Hecklerspray has always dedicated its existence to answering the questions that have haunted humanity for centuries, we felt it was our mission to tell you which movie cars were so thrilling they made you puke all over your popcorn.
And to help, we even arranged them in a handy order, with the most thrillingest at the top. Oh, and we stuck a few honourable mentions in there because we were so indecisive.
So which cars made the grade? The ones that make you feel like a kid again. The ones that bring back memories of when you peed yourself because you were finally allowed on the big slide. Happy days!!
Enjoy, and be sure to tell us what we missed out in the comments…
21. 1970 Dodge Challenger
Movies: Death Proof (2007) and Vanishing Point (1971)
Need we say anymore? Sheer class.
20. 1980 Lamborghini Countach
Movie: Cannonball Run (1981)
It really was a toss-up between whether you were looking at the car or the ladies driving it. As a seven-year-old kid, it was probably the latter, but there is no doubt it is a very special car.
19. 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe
Movie: American Graffiti (1973)
This car really did steal the show on American Graffiti.
18. Ferrari 512
Movie: Le Mans (1971)
Only just pipped by the Porsche 917, which is the only time this site will choose a Porsche over a Ferrari.
17. Porsche 917
Movie: Le Mans (1971)
Fed our love of cars at a very young age.
16. 1973 Ford Falcon
Movie: Mad Max (1979)
Talk about covering up the cracks, this car even made good old ?sugartit? himself, Mel Gibson, look good.
15. Ferrari Daytona
Movie: Gumball Rally (1976)
After watching this car I vowed that one day it would be mine. Still saving.
14. 1976 Ford Gran Torino
Movie: Starsky and Hutch (2004)
Forget the movie, the car rules.
13. Subaru GL 4WD
Movie: Cannonball Run (1981)
Even put the Countach in the shade with its stealth mode.
12. 1969 Dodge Charger (General Lee)
Movie: The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)
OK, the film was terrible, but the General Lee made Saturday tea-times a lot more thrilling.
11. Shelby Mustang
Movie: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
We like this car so much, we even forgot how much we hate Nic Cage ? for about 60 seconds.
10. Lotus Esprit
Movie: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The first Bond car to appear, and what a car. Forgetting the fact it has the kind of looks that would make grown men question their sexuality, it can turn into a submarine and shoot down helicopters. Bonus. Did anyone not own the toy of this car? Losers.
9. Aston Martin DB5
Movies: Various James Bond films
James Bond?s greatest car.
8. 2002 Nissan 350Z Fairlady
Movie: The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
A car that really has the wow factor.
7. Batmobile
Movie: Batman (1989)
The best of the Batmobiles, in our humble opinions.
6. The Mach 5
Movie: Speed Racer (2008)
Talk about covering up cracks. Speed Racer has cracks the size of the Grand Canyon.
5. Frankenstein (Modified Chevrolet Corvette)
Movie: Death Race 2000 (1975)
Imagine driving this down your estate?
4. 427 Cobra
Movie: Gumball Rally (1976)
Another car that has sadly alluded me since childhood. It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.
3. 1981 Turbo Trans Am
Movie: Smokey and The Bandit II (1980)
So thrilling a guy called ?The Bandit? drives it while wearing a cowboy hat and leather and no one questions his sexuality.
2. 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT
Movie: Bullitt (1968)
Even the sound of it is enough to make you very excited.
1. 1981 Delorean
Movie: Back to the Future series
OK, the Delorean is not a good car really. But there has never been a more thrilling movie car. Anyone who wants to argue can answer to George McFly.
Honourable mentions:
1964 Lincoln Continental from Animal House
1958 Plymouth Fury from Christine
1968 Dodge Charger from Blade
Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day
Ferrari 250 GT California from Ferris Bueller?s Day Off
Ecto 1 from Ghostbuster (cool, but ?thrilling??)
(by John Russell)
Karla says
OOOH it was love at first sight with the Lotus Esprit for me…
By the way, you forgot to mention a car……the spooky car from… THE CAR!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFWea3Eu97E
Kate Sayer says
What about the Dodge Challenger in Vanishing Point (1971)? http://image.motortrend.com/f/9233654+w750/112_0608_19z+1970_dodge_challenger+vanishing_point.jpg
Mark says
Ummm ….
The Dodge M4S … otherwise known as the car from “The Wraith. That car MADE that POS ….
http://caritis.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dodgeturbointersceptorm4sppgpa.jpg
j says
What about the Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor from The Wraith…
MontanaHans says
You forgot the Audi S8 MB 450SEL 6.9 from the epic car chase in RONIN.
Rudy says
You guys seriously picked the turbo Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit II instead of the original?????? That thing is a complete piece of crap
bananabox says
“2002 Nissan 350Z Fairlady” 350z lover spotted… i dont even remember this car from The Fast and The Furious.
Why not a Supra, GTR or the big ass muscle cars?
Salt says
What? I was amazed to see that the Ferrari from Ferris Beuler’s Day Off didn’t make the list.
Jake says
You totally missed the ’67 Camaro SS from Better Off Dead.
Brian says
Why answer to George? I think you mean Marty.
Justin says
The cars in Death Race 2000 were actually based off of VW Beetles, and some were merely styled to look like the C3 Corvettes.
Jessica says
I love watching the movie of “The fast and The furious” exciting drift and stunning stunts. All this cars is great :)
francis says
Fast and the furious?! NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Those are not car movies, they are adverts for toys’r’us.
I also agree about the original “Bandit One” being the best. Life wouldn’t be the same if there was a list I could totally agree with though. :) Several of the films on the list are more about shitty acting and over-production than cars sadly. (One of them in gone in 60 seconds, yeah, I went there)
Art says
Very insightful list. I would have included Batman 66′.
jonbly says
Can we lose Death Proof (perhaps the worst movie ever made) from 21, and just stick with the classic Vanishing Point?
Joe says
I guess my first question is, what makes the car thrilling? A couple that come to my mind:
1970 Plymouth Cuda in Phantasm (even the hearse for that matter)
1974 Dodge Monaco sedan in Blues Brothers
1978 Trans AM in Hooper.
I’m sure there’s a lot more out there…
Lee says
The Coyote from Hardcastle and McCormack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4-6Rdoqy8Q
Aaron R. Stewart says
What about the A-Team van???
pt says
Hey! Where’s Herbie the Love Bug?!
joe says
you morons! you forgot ecto-1!
Blaine says
What about the pickup from The Expendables?
The sound of it is the only reason to watch that movie–ROARS like a lion!
http://www.westcoastcustoms.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/wcc-expendables-truck02.jpg
ed says
on word
“christine”
jeff says
What about the Mach One from the original Gone in 60 Seconds? If you want a thrill watch some real driving in action. That movie had it all, cops and crooks, car chases and crashes and last but not least acting that compares to the remake.
kmillard says
you forgot the wraith!!amazing car n Christine and Echo-1 man urlists are wayyyy off
etoo says
i love cars
stoneweather says
not even an honorable mention of KITT from the original Knight Rider?
Strictly Commercials says
What a great list! Lots of fun and good choices
Some cars I dig that were not on it:
-All the 1990’s James Bond BMWs (not as cool as the Astons or the Lotus but still great
-the yellow VW from “Little miss sunshine”
-the Winnebago from spaceballs. (unless the fact that it is used exclusively as a space ship in the movie means that it doesn’t count :-D )