The Top 10 Most Iconic Picture Cars

There are certain films where the cars become bigger stars than the actors; there are even some cars that become outright legends themselves, serving as inspiration for generations of filmgoers. Malibu Autobahn Picture Cars is eager to present its list of the 10 most iconic picture cars of all time. These vehicles are not ranked in a particular order, and represent some of the finest examples of where the “star” of the movie is the car! (Remember, this is just our opinion.)

"Herbie" (1963 VW Beetle) - Herbie

Disney took one of the most ubiquitous cars on the planet and turned it into a silver screen icon. Across 5 films in the Herbie franchise, over 100 VW Beetle picture cars were used throughout their creation, with many of these being destroyed during filming. Extensive modifications were made to some of this fleet; one example from the first film even had a Porsche engine swap, showcasing the versatile modularity of the classic Beetle platform. The sentient “Love Bug” won the hearts of many, showing that even the most mundane-looking picture cars are capable of captivating generations of filmgoers.

"General Lee" (1969 Dodge Charger); The Dukes of Hazzard

The 1969 Dodge Charger was already a symbol of an era, being one of the most respected muscle cars in its heyday. A decade after the ’69 Charger rolled off the Detroit assembly lines, the hulking muscle car was given a new lease on life as the hero car for the TV & film series, The Dukes of Hazzard. Affectionately dubbed “General Lee”, the Charger hosted an exhaustive list of modifications & changes, which included suspension upgrades to handle jumps & stunts, as well as having the doors welded shut to emulate the NASCARs of the era. Fun fact: it is estimated that an average of 2 Dodge Chargers were destroyed per episode in the TV series, due to the extensive list of jumps & stunts. Less than 20 genuine “General Lee” Chargers exist to this day.

"Eleanor" (1971 Ford Mustang Fastback); Gone in 60 Seconds

In the original 1974 Gone in 60 Seconds, director, writer, and chief stunt driver H.B. Halicki commissioned to build a hero car for his passion project, Gone in 60 Seconds, that would capture the essence of the high-powered muscle cars that dominated the 60s. Eleanor’s greenish-silver paint job, adorned with black racing stripes, became an instant hit with filmgoers after the original 1974 film, as well as the 2000 remake starring Nicholas Cage. Becoming a legend in pop culture, Eleanor has become one of the most sought-after picture cars, as many custom shops have made film-inspired tribute cars to honor it.

"Bumblebee" (1977 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28); Transformers (2007)

The 1977 Camaro was not particularly well-loved by Camaro enthusiasts for years, with many lamenting its lack of power due to the emissions regulations of the time. The Z/28 Performance trim, as seen here, only makes around 190 horsepower, making it a forgettable iteration of the "muscle car". This changed upon the release of Michael Bay's smash-hit film, Transformers (2007), where the '77 Camaro Z/28 was chosen by the Autobot warrior Bumblebee as his earthly vessel upon landing in space. Modifications were slight, but tasteful; with a cowl-induction hood scoop riveted directly onto the hood, upgraded wheels, and aftermarket gauges rounding out some of the changes. All it took was one film to turn a forgotten vehicle into a cultural legend!

1964 Aston Martin DB5; Goldfinger

The Aston Martin DB5, once thought of as the definitive car for a gentleman’s grand touring adventures, became cemented as a classic in pop culture with it starring in the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger. Appearing as an unassuming luxury vehicle, the DB5 featured a host of internal modifications & custom fabrications for special effects, which include the smoke screens, ram bumper, machine guns, and the infamous oil-slick sprayer. The DB5 featured in Goldfinger not only informed how Aston Martins were featured in films featuring everyone’s favorite debaucherous spy, but also inspired real-life applications in the future; the “map screen” featured in the interior of the DB5s used for the film became a direct inspiration for modern GPS system layouts in the early 2000s, making the Goldfinger DB5 not only a cultural legend, but a trendsetter for the wider automotive market. Earlier this year, Aston Martin released news that they would be building an extremely limited run of DB5s, using the production methods of that era.

"Wet Nellie" (1971 Lotus Esprit Series 1); The Spy Who Loved Me

Sticking to the theme of James Bond, emerges another cult-classic automobile: a white 1976 Lotus Esprit Series 1, which was famously submerged underwater after going a total overhaul that made the car into a fully functional submarine. In the film, the agent with the “license to kill” jumps the car into the water, where it then sprouts stabilizer fins & props and folds the wheels inwards, before returning back to the beach and returning to its proper car form. Contrary to the movie magic, the Esprit that was converted into a submarine, dubbed by the crew as “Wet Nellie”, was not able to be driven on land, but it was able to travel at a speed of 10 knots.

1981 DeLorean DMC-12; Back to the Future films

Car designer John DeLorean’s dream project, the DeLorean DMC-12, was a real head turner when it was released in the early 80s, featuring a gleaming stainless-steel body. However, due to the car’s high price and lackluster performance, it was a quick flop on the efficiency-obsessed 80s car market. It would have been a car forgotten to the ages, if it weren’t for its prominent role in the Back to the Future films. The DeLoreans used during filming featured multiple additions to their bodies, including the boosters needed to rocket the car through space-time, as well as the “flux capacitor” that powered the time machine in the middle of the front seats.

1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Hearse; Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II

The Ghostbusters’ famous white hearse was prominently featured in the first two films, equipped with a 6.3 liter big-block V8 that was more than powerful enough to ensure that malevolent spirits were contained before wreaking havoc on the living world. Two examples of the Miller-Meteor were used during filming, with the first car being a lightly-modified black example, and the second being the fully-modified white example, featuring the Ghostbusters’ logo emblazoned on its sides. Both hearses still exist, with the first one being owned by Sony, and the second car being restored by a group of well-heeled fans after purchasing it from Sony.

"K.I.T.T" (1982 Pontiac Trans Am); Knight Rider (1982 series)

The Knight Industries Two Thousand, more affectionately known as "K.I.T.T.", started life off as a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am. Before it could begin its crime-fighting quest as an advanced & sentient A.I. living in a heavily-armored sports car, extensive work had to be done to transform these Trans Ams into the Knight Rider's trusty vehicle. This included the installation of a light car in the nose of the Trans Am, which served as K.I.T.T's sensors, as well as "afterburners" at the rear of the car to mimic a turbojet engine. A total of 23 Trans Ams were converted for the series, with only 5 surviving at the end of filming.

"The Tumbler"; Batman Begins & The Dark Knight

A completely bespoke vehicle created with the financial backing of Warner Bros., “The Tumbler” is arguably the most extreme version of the vigilante’s primary vehicle. Powered by a Chevrolet-derived V8 engine, the Tumbler is able to scoot from 0-60 in 5 seconds, even through the car was incredibly heavy and featured 37-inch off-road tires. The Tumbler also featured a “jet engine”, the exhaust flames of which were fueled by a separate gasoline tank located in the vehicle’s body in order to give the Tumbler a “jet-like” feel. It was also equipped with an armored front bumper to ram cars, as well as a weapons arsenal consisting of land mines, rocket launchers, and machine guns. Earlier this year, Warner Brothers signed off on a limited-edition run of 10 Tumblers, which are portrayed to be as “authentic” to the films as possible.