Sunday, May 18, 2008

50 Most Memorable Movie Cars Part 2

Courtesy of www.ROTTENTOMATOES.com

A couple of quick notes before we get started. For the most part, we're only picking one car per film. Also, a car has to show up in a movie to make it on the list, so KITT and the A-Team van don't make it. And the rankings refer to how memorable a car is, not how cool it is (that would be a much different list). Lastly, a special thanks to our friends at The Internet Movie Car Database for use of their screenshots and car data.


American Graffiti

40. Milner's Deuce Coupe

Type of car: Customized 1932 Ford Coupe

Special features: Legendary license plate number

Appears in: American Graffiti

George Lucas was a hot rod enthusiast, and this film based on his own teenage years in Modesto, California definitely shows that. John Milner's 1932 Ford introduced a whole new generation to this type of old style hot rod.

American Graffiti

Cobra

39. Cobretti's Mercury

Type of car: Customized 1950 Mercury Monterey

Special features: Custom paint, nitrous injection system

Appears in: Cobra

Apart from relatively cartoonish violence, Cobretti's 1950 Merc is probably the most memorable thing about the whole movie. Sadly, the car is completely destroyed by the end of the film.

Cobra


Tucker: The Man and His Dream
38. Tucker Torpedo

Type of car: 1948 Tucker Sedan

Special features: Directional front headlight, rear engine, padded dash

Appears in: Tucker: The Man and His Dream

In an attempt to start his own manufacturing company, Preston Tucker came up with a car with innovative features and radical styling. The company closed down amid fraud allegations, and only 51 cars were ever made, making the "Tucker Torpedo" a very rare and collectible car.

Tucker: The Man and His Dream


National Lampoon's Animal House

37. Flounder's brother's Lincoln

Type of car: 1964 Lincoln Continental

Special features: Custom bodywork and paint

Appears in: National Lampoon's Animal House

While on the ill-fated road trip with Otter, Boon, and Pinto, freshman Delta pledge Flounder severely damages his brother Fred's Lincoln Continental. But no matter, D-Day "fixes" it just in time for Faber's annual Homecoming parade.

National Lampoon's Animal House



Rain Man

36. Charlie Babbit's Buick

Type of car: 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible

Special features: Can be driven slow on the driveway

Appears in: Rain Man

This classic convertible is the sum total of Charlie Babbitt's inheritance, after his father passes away. It's not the same as getting $3 million, but the car's true value lies in bringing Charlie together with the brother he never knew he had.

Rain Man


Tommy Boy

35. Richard's classic Plymouth

Type of car: 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX

Special features: Can carry stunned deer in back seat

Appears in: Tommy Boy

Another road movie with a classic car, but this one gets more and more abuse as the movie goes one. They lose the top. And the hood. And a door. And finally the car catches fire. But at least Tommy and Richard save the company...

Tommy Boy



Dumb and Dumber

34. Shaggin' Wagon

Type of car: 1984 Ford Econoline

Special features: Custom bodywork and exterior fur lining

Appears in: Dumb and Dumber

Ask Harry and Lloyd; there's nothing like having a company car. Even if it does look like a giant sheep dog.

Dumb and Dumber


Transformers

33. Bumblebee

Type of car: 1977/2009 Chevrolet Camaro

Special features: V8 engine, robot mode

Appears in: Transformers

Although previously seen as a Volkswaken Beetle, Bumblebee makes his film debut as a 1977 Camaro. But he's sensitive about how he looks, so he changes himself in to a 2009 Camaro. What else can he change into? A giant robot, natch!

Transformers



The Italian Job

32. Charlie's getaway MINIs

Type of car: 2003 MINI Cooper S

Special features: Gold bar hauling capacity

Appears in: The Italian Job (2003)

When BMW reintroduced the MINI in 2000, it was only a matter of time before someone got around to remaking The Italian Job. The action moves from Rome to Los Angeles, but the idea is the same; watching MINIs outrun anyone trying to chase them.

The Italian Job



Days of Thunder

31. Cole Trickle's race car

Type of car: 1990 Chevrolet Lumina NASCAR

Special features: NASCAR racing specs

Appears in: Days of Thunder

It gets wrecked and rebuilt, and sees multiple paint schemes over the course of the film, but that's to be expected for a typical NASCAR racing machine.

Days of Thunder

1 comment:

  1. let me guess # 1-2-3
    THE DeLORIAN from BACK TO THE FUTURE
    the DeLORIAN from BACK TO THEFUTURE PART II (cause it flys and it's got Mr. Fusion on it making it different?)
    chitty chitty bang bang car (same reason)

    ReplyDelete