What is a Picture Car?

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Chief Action Officer for Netflix

Hollywood’s Backbone – What is a Picture Car?

Today we’re diving into a topic that might not be on everyone’s radar: Picture Cars.

(Or “Movie Cars” as some may call them)

Picture cars are the unsung heroes of the screen, adding depth, character, and sometimes even plot twists to your favorite movies, shows, music videos, or album covers. Picture cars allow a production team to convey creativity more than a normal vehicle would be able to. Let's break down what makes a picture car, a picture car.

Picture Cars: More than just Props

A Picture Car, or “Movie Car” is any vehicle that is part of the visual aspect of any production, including: movies, TV shows, commercials, music videos, concerts and more. A picture car can be so prominent in a production that it becomes a character itself in the story, such as the Batmobile or Kit from Night Rider. On the other hand, even when a picture car is used just as a background prop, its important toll is portraying the era, atmosphere and circumstances of the creative. 

A well-prepared picture car should blend seamlessly into the world of the film, and that is what we do at Malibu Autobahn. When done right, the audience doesn’t think about the car as anything other than a part of the story. But behind that seamless integration is a lot of hard work, creativity, and painstaking hours spent sourcing the perfect car. Whether it’s a flashy sports car for a music video or a beaten-up old truck, picture cars are carefully curated to support the narrative. Each scratch is intentional and each imperfection is perfect in its own regard.

To help with the  process of selecting and preparing a picture car, productions work with specialized picture car companies like Malibu Autobahn. Picture car companies specialize in working directly with productions and understand that each project has unique needs. While an inventory of ready to go cars are maintained, oftentimes Malibu Autobahn specializes in curating and creating the perfect car for a given shoot.

The production team, including the director, production designers, and sometimes even the stunt coordinator, will decide what type of vehicle best fits the narrative. They come up with a big idea, and we help bring that idea to life in every aspect. 

Customization and prep:

These vehicles are often customized or modified to fit the exact needs of the production. Whether it’s the iconic DeLorean from Back to the Future, the heavily armored Batmobile, or the Military Tank that Arnold Schwarzenegger used in his Netflix commercial, picture cars are meticulously chosen and tailored to fit the story being told.

These cars aren’t just meant to look good on screen; sometimes they must be able to jump, drive, or be destroyed to perform specific roles. Maybe the car needs to survive a high-speed chase in Fast and Furious without a scratch, or perhaps it needs to look like it's been through a war zone. That is where companies like us at Malibu Autobahn come in – the ability to not only source but prepare or rig these vehicles with special effects is no small feat. Sometimes these projects are so ambitious  that a vehicle must be built  from scratch to meet the exact needs of Hollywood.

The Craft Behind the Scenes

Once a vehicle is selected and approved, it’s off to one of our many shops to do all of the finishing touches. Need a car to flip over on cue? It’ll be fitted with roll cages and rigging to keep the stuntman safe. Need it to explode? There’s a special effects team for that, and that is Hollywood’s time to shine. Even the interior might be stripped and replaced with camera mounts to get specific rolling shots to match the intended theme. No idea is too big for us, it is all dependent on a client's budget and desire. 

Functionality and Fashion

But it’s not always about the stunts. Some picture cars are chosen for their aesthetic appeal or historical accuracy. Think of the classic cars in Mad Men or the muscle cars in Fast & Furious or the stage cars for Coachella sets that we have done in the past that are “Mad Max” themed. These vehicles help set the tone and period of the story, becoming characters in their own right. 

That’s the beauty of a picture car, is that one might even consider it a main actor in a film.

So next time you’re watching a movie, take a moment to appreciate the picture cars on screen. Next time you are listening to your favorite song on Spotify, take a look at the album cover to appreciate the creativity. They might not get top billing like the actors that drive them, but they play a crucial role in bringing the story to life. And just like a well-tied bow-tie or a perfectly folded pocket square, a picture car is a finishing touch that completes the look, adding depth and authenticity to the world on screen. 

Picture cars have been a staple in Hollywood since the early days of filmmaking, serving as iconic symbols of the automotive culture.