RISMEDIA, July 11, 2007—Old and new automotive favorites from the big screen appear on Cars.com’s annual ranking of the Top 10 Movie Cars. While the DeLorean DMC-12 from “Back to the Future” holds steady at the coveted No. 1 slot, three cars debut on this year’s list and six others jockey for position.
“When we came up with our list of Top 10 Movie Cars last summer, we had no idea our readers would be so passionate about their favorite car films,” said Patrick Olsen, managing editor of Cars.com. “With ‘Transformers’ arriving on the big screen, we revisited our list — listening to last year’s reader feedback — and determined once again which cars deserved to make the top 10. Some cars were able to hold on to their spots, while others were shuffled to make room for more-worthy contenders. With ‘Speed
Racer’ hitting the big screen next year, expect another round of evaluation.”
No. 10: 2003 Mini Cooper S, “The Italian Job”
2006 rank: 10
Drivetrain: 163-horsepower, supercharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive
Notable Features: 200 pounds lighter than stock Cooper S; painted red, white or blue
The Mini Cooper holds the No. 10 spot on the list for the second year in a row likely due to its slender physique, which allows the vehicle to escape captors on congested streets, parks and subway tunnels.
Computer-rigged signals aid the getaway, stopping cross traffic at red lights. Larger cars could not have achieved the maneuverability demonstrated by the Mini as it weaves through traffic, drives down stairs and speeds along sidewalks.
No. 9: 1959 Cadillac Ambulance, “Ghostbusters”
2006 rank: 7
Drivetrain: 325-hp, 6.4-liter V-8 with two-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Tailfins, flashing lights, sirens, attached ladder
The Ghostbusters wouldn’t go far without a sizable vehicle to transport
the team and their ghost-capturing gear around New York City. Though it
plays a relatively small part in its film, the Ectomobile is the finest
medical movie car to date. From its distinctive siren wail to its red
tailfins, strobe lights and roof gear, this car is truly unique.
No. 8: 1974 Dodge Monaco, “The Blues Brothers”
2006 rank: 3
Drivetrain: 275-hp, 7.1-liter V-8 with three-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Cop motor, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks
You usually don’t come out ahead when swapping a Caddy for a Dodge —
unless the Dodge has a 440-cubic-inch V-8. The Bluesmobile would be our
pick if we had to outrun the better half of Illinois police, not to mention
a neo-Nazi outfit and a country-and-western band. The car may fall apart in
the end, but it performed well on this “mission from God.”
No. 7: 1932 Ford coupe, “American Graffiti”
2006 rank: New for 2007
Drivetrain: 60-hp, 3.6-liter V-8 with three-speed manual transmission
Notable Features: Bright yellow paint job bound to be noticed by bored teens in Modesto, Calif.
Nicknamed the Deuce, this five-window ’32 Ford coupe is the quintessential American hot rod. As built, it came with the engine mentioned above, but in the movie it’s clear the coupe has been souped up. It was the car’s impressive performance in the drag race at the end that lodged this hot rod into the hearts of American teens for a decade.
No. 6: 1976 AMC Pacer, “Wayne’s World”
2006 rank: New for 2007
Drivetrain: 100-hp inline-six with three-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Flame decal, licorice dispenser, “Bohemian Rhapsody” on continuous playback
Wayne and Garth’s baby blue Mirth Mobile may not have inspired fans to
purchase one of their own, but its special features made the car stand out from any other AMC Pacer on the road.
No. 5: 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390, “Bullitt”
2006 rank: 6
Drivetrain: 325-hp, 6.4-liter V-8 with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Fastback roof, higher engine note than the Charger
The seven-minute chase scene between Bullitt’s green Mustang GT 390 and a hit man’s 1968 Dodge Charger is among the best of its kind. Close-up shots of Steve MQueen (Bullitt) as he maneuvers his vehicle through the streets of San Francisco add realism to the scene and intensify the chase.
No. 4: 1964 Aston Martin DB5, “Goldfinger”
2006 rank: 4
Drivetrain: 282-hp, 4.0-liter six-cylinder with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Bulletproof glass, machine guns, incessantly beeping radar screen. Bond cars are known to be top-notch — the list includes Aston Martins, Bentleys and Lotuses — but voters agreed that the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in “Goldfinger” belonged at the top of the list. Not only is it appealing to the eye, it outruns and out-gadgets all of its competitors.
No. 3: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
2006 rank: 2
Drivetrain: 280-hp, 3.0-liter V-12 with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Cherry-red exterior, wire grille, Cameron-sized tonneau compartment. This red Ferrari convertible is probably responsible for thousands of teens cutting class to joyride in their father’s car. The kit car stands out with its sleek exterior and low mileage. Though borrowing this car was a source of controversy between Ferris and Cameron, they both enjoyed driving in style through the streets of Chicago.
No. 2: 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, “Smokey and the Bandit”
2006 rank: New for 2007
Drivetrain: 200-hp, 6.6-liter V-8 with three-speed automatic
Notable Features: T-top, CB radio, runaway bride in the passenger seat
The mission seemed simple enough: Get a truckload of bootleg beer from Texarkana, Texas, to Atlanta while Bo “Bandit” Darville runs interference in his Trans Am. The combination of comical car chases and Burt Reynolds’ mustache sold more than a few black and gold versions of Bandit’s car.
No. 1: 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, “Back to the Future”
2006 rank: 1
Drivetrain: 1.21-gigawatt nuclear/electric hybrid with five-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Gull-wing doors, 16-port twin exhaust boxes, flux capacitor
Doc Brown’s DeLorean holds the first-place spot on this list for the second year in a row. The car achieves time travel at 88 mph thanks to a plutonium-powered nuclear reactor and onboard flux capacitor. By the end of the first movie, it runs solely on trash — and it can fly. That’s still futuristic two decades after the movie debuted.
Honorable Mentions
— 1958 Plymouth Fury, “Christine”
— 1973 Ford Falcon, “The Road Warrior”
— 1975 Lotus Esprit, “The Spy Who Loved Me”
Off the List from 2006
— 1973 Ford Falcon, “The Road Warrior”
— 1958 Plymouth Fury, “Christine”
— Batmobile Tumbler, “Batman Begins”
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