The most iconic cars from the silver screen
With the passing of the Grammy Awards on February 5th, we have officially entered award season and now find ourselves with award-worthy films on the brain! Influential movies can dictate the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the places we travel, and the cars we drive (... or at least hope to drive). After much debate amongst the troops in the office, we narrowed it down to 5 of the top movies that shaped the destiny of 5 particular makes and models of vehicles for the better by making them undeniably iconic….
#1 Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger, 1964
Ok, so this one is no-brainer! In our minds, it would be absolutely absurd to start this list with anything other than the Aston Martin DB5 from the 1964 Bond film, Goldfinger. Although it is a pre-requisite that all Bond films feature lust-worthy vehicles laden with spy modifications, this one in particular, was a work of art. Plus, the ‘64 Bond was played by Sean Connery (may he RIP!) … so yea, bonus. Regarded by many as the most beautiful Aston Martin produced, DB5 shares many similar traits to DB4. However, DB5’s most substantial change occurred under the bonnet (Brit. speak for hood). The engine capacity was enlarged to 4 litres and had three SU carburettors. Also significant was the introduction of a full synchromesh ZF 5-speed gearbox. Since 2017, owning one of these beauties has once again become a real possibility thanks to Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell (the original home of the DB5), where they are building “Continuation Cars” including this most-instantly recognizable car of all time.
#2 Alfa Romeo 1600 Duetto Spider, The Graduate, 1966
Between the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack and Anne Bancroft's performance, which inspired generations of Mrs. Robinson fantasies, there’s a lot to love in the movie The Graduate. Lyrics and lust aside though, we have always been particularly drawn to the bright red Alfa Romeo 1600 Duetto Spider driven by the main character, Benjamin Braddock, played by none other than Dustin Hoffman.
This two-seat convertible roadster was designed by Battista “Pinin” Farina and was distinctive with its sharp nose, boat-tailed rear and enclosed headlights. It went into production a year before The Graduate’s debut and caught car aficionados’ attention with not only its looks but also its ability to do 0-60 in about 10 seconds and with a top speed of 118 mph, powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. Unfortunately though, at $4,000 the vehicle was far out of reach for most in 1965 and therefore was not commercially successful. Only 6,000 of the Series I Spiders were produced before it was replaced by the Spider Veloce 1750. The allure of this vehicle remained in the hearts of many though, which inspired the manufacturer to introduce a Spider model with a “Graduate” trim level in the 1980’s.
#3 Mustang GT 390, Bullitt, 1968
It’s impossible to describe Steve McQueen without using the word “cool”. Because he was, effortlessly so! He simply had “it” and like Midas, everything he touched, turned to gold. So it’s no surprise that his vehicle in the 1968 film, Bullitt, became a true classic. One could argue that the Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 didn’t need any help, to begin with, but there is just something about watching McQueen behind the wheel in the movie’s chase scenes on the streets of San Francisco, that is pure magic. You might even say, they are some of the best chase scenes ever recorded on film. Maybe it's the stripped-down look of the vehicle, making it a touch “meaner” looking than regular production Mustangs… or the original magnesium American Racing Torque Thrust wheels that gave it its aggressive stance? Whatever the case may be, the vehicle transcended its cult movie status and became an icon when Ford not once but twice made a limited edition version called the Bullitt Mustang.
#4 DeLorean DMC-12, Back to the Future, 1981
The DeLorean DMC-12, typically referred to simply as a DeLorean, was by no means the best vehicle in the world but became forever famous thanks to the iconic film, Back to the Future. Manufactured by the DeLorean motor company from ‘81 to’93, the vehicle was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was an instant standout with its gull-wing doors. It had a 2.85-litre V6 PRV engine and maintained the same styling throughout the production run. Sadly though, it was poorly built and didn’t offer the driving experience one would hope for but its appearance in the cult-classic movie as a time-travelling vehicle earned it its seat as an iconic vehicle and the type of car that people still stop to stare at.
#5 Modena GT Spyder California, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1985
Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? In 1985 it was the Modena GT Spyder California that served as a chariot to freedom for three young students playing hooky in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The vehicle’s “role” in this fun-loving movie earned it its place in the hearts of many. The scene in which (spoiler alert!) the vehicle rolls through the glass made many flinch as the vehicle crashed to its demise but car buffs can take comfort in the fact that the Ferrari wasn’t actually real. As the movie was made on a limited budget, a real Ferrari just wasn’t in the cards so a “replicar” was built to resemble a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California, which would have cost around $300,000 at the time. In reality, the movie vehicle was a mish-mash of parts including a steel-tube subframe, a Ford-sourced small-block V8 and Ferrari-inspired fibreglass bodywork and emblems. Three replicas were made for filming, one used for most of the movie, a second for stunts, and a third for other shots. Two of them went up for auction in this century through Mecum, one in 2013 garnering $235,000, and a second in 2020, selling for a whopping $407,000. In any case, the “replicars” fooled most and solidified the model's position as “the car to have” in the minds of many movie-goers.