Top Ten "Car Stars" of Film & TV

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 01:11 PM

Hey bro's... I just thought some of you would enjoy this...

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Top Ten "Car Stars" of Film and TV
By Perry Stern

A recent survey, led by a firm that specializes in collectible and classic car insurance, has picked the top ten cars to have literally starred in movies and television series.

What TV and movie stars steal the best scenes, take the best lines and never get any recognition at Emmy or Oscar time? These stars have names such as Eleanor, Herbie, the General Lee, and K.I.T.T., and are some of Hollywood's fastest movers and shakers.
Yes, automobiles have been featured performers on TV and the big screen practically since these forms of entertainment began. There have been numerous films and shows with cars as stars, including The Italian Job, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Batman and, most recently, a movie based on the popular TV show Starsky & Hutch.

So which of these starring cars are the most popular? Hagerty Insurance, leading US insurer of collectable cars, boats and motorcycles, decided to find out. In a recent online survey of car enthusiasts nationwide, respondents were asked to identify their favourite "car stars" of movie and TV history.

The top choice was the 1969 Dodge Charger from the 1970s sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard. Called the General Lee, this car was often flying through the air while pursuing bad guys-or running from inept law officers-along the highways and byways of the American South.

Finishing a close second was the 1968 Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt. One memorable scene in the film occurs when McQueen races after a Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco-arguably one of the best movie chase scenes of all time.

"We thought the top choice would be the Batmobile, or maybe Tom Selleck's Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum P.I.," said McKeel Hagerty, president of Hagerty Insurance. "We were surprised when the results were tallied and it turned out that General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard was the overall winner."

The top ten TV and movie cars, according to the survey, are:

General Lee, 1969 Dodge Charger—from the 1970's TV show The Dukes of Hazzard
1968 Ford Mustang—Driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt
Eleanor, 1967 Shelby GT500—from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds
1983 DeLorean Time Machine—from the movie Back to the Future
Batmobile—from the TV series and movie Batman starring Adam West
James Bond's Aston Martin DB5—from the movie Goldfinger
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am—driven by Burt Reynolds in the movie Smokey and the Bandit
Herbie, 1963 Volkswagen Beetle—from the movie The Love Bug
1974 Ford Torino—from the TV show and now movie Starsky & Hutch
Black Beauty—from the 1966 TV show The Green Hornet

"Each of these vehicles not only played an integral part in a movie or TV show storyline, but each possessed a unique character, an on-screen personality all of its own," said Hagerty. "This allowed the vehicles to become, in viewers' minds, more than just machines, but stars themselves. They became another character with which people could relate. These cars also added visual interest and appeal and we can expect to see more of these 'characters' in upcoming films."

kc · 07-14-2004, 01:13 PM

I like the GTO in XXX myself

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:13 PM

Where's KIT?

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by kc

I like the GTO in XXX myself

Yeah... it's a 1967.. very cool looking car indeed.

Eleanor is my favourite though...

**ENraged** · 07-14-2004, 01:14 PM

Eleanor all the way.

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:15 PM

A-Team van?

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Money Boss Hustla

Where's KIT?

I dunno to be honest... I was kind of surprised myself....

Also, where's the Ferarri from Magnum P.I.?

But, then again, it's a top 10...

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Money Boss Hustla

A-Team van?

Refer to my last post lol..

I agree...

I pity the foo' who discounts the van...

**Juggernaut** · 07-14-2004, 01:19 PM

How about the Beverly Hillbilly's truck?! Sorry but without this, Kit and the A-Team van I'd have to say this is BS. hahahaha

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:19 PM

KIT is more known that the Green Hornet's whip.

F'ing liars!!

**Maraxus** · 07-14-2004, 01:20 PM

Mystery Machine hands down

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Maraxus

Mystery Machine hands down

Speedracer!

**mass junkie** · 07-14-2004, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Maraxus

Mystery Machine hands down

you want a scooby snack

**dirtdawg** · 07-14-2004, 01:26 PM

marty mcfly's delorean, with the hovercraft conversion and flex capacitor

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by dirtdawg

marty mcfly's delorean, with the hovercraft conversion and flex capacitor

1983 DeLorean Time Machine—from the movie Back to the Future

**dirtdawg** · 07-14-2004, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Money Boss Hustla

1983 DeLorean Time Machine—from the movie Back to the Future

thats the one

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by dirtdawg

thats the one

It's all ready listed in the article!

**dirtdawg** · 07-14-2004, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Money Boss Hustla

It's all ready listed in the article!

oh, i didnt read the whole thing

**Maraxus** · 07-14-2004, 01:42 PM

Dont know if anyone remembers the movie "The Wraith"

Bad ass ride in that flick

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 01:52 PM

I like this as well:
From the movie Mad Max.....
1974 Aussie Ford XB Falcon...

kc · 07-14-2004, 01:56 PM

What about the old car in FastNFurious...I'm not really a fan of the "streetracers" but that old 1/4 mile car was sweet

**trailrider38** · 07-14-2004, 02:01 PM

Does your make-believe girlfriend ride in the mystery machine

Originally Posted by Maraxus

Mystery Machine hands down

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by kc

What about the old car in FastNFurious...I'm not really a fan of the "streetracers" but that old 1/4 mile car was sweet

Yes...nice car....70 Dodge Charger....

**Butch** · 07-14-2004, 02:17 PM

I liked the Shelby in Gone in 60 seconds....one badass car!

kc · 07-14-2004, 02:19 PM

wasn't that elenor?

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by kc

wasn't that elenor?

Yes Ma'am....

**Red Ketchup** · 07-14-2004, 02:41 PM

Aww man nothing, and I mean NOTHING comes close to McQueen's 68 Stang in Bullit!

It's quite simply the definition of COOL!

Red

kc · 07-14-2004, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Red Ketchup

Aww man nothing, and I mean NOTHING comes close to McQueen's 68 Stang in Bullit!

It's quite simply the definition of COOL!

Red

apparently, since you had to say it twice

didn't see that one but LOVE the 68 mustang

**Maraxus** · 07-14-2004, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by trailrider38

Does your make-believe girlfriend ride in the mystery machine

Naw I got it for your Moms fat ass wide load.

**trailrider38** · 07-14-2004, 03:00 PM

Are you sure you are old enough to be here??

Originally Posted by Maraxus

Naw I got it for your Moms fat ass wide load.

**Maraxus** · 07-14-2004, 03:05 PM

Back off kid.

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Red Ketchup

Aww man nothing, and I mean NOTHING comes close to McQueen's 68 Stang in Bullit!

It's quite simply the definition of COOL!

Red

Agreed...very cool indeed...
The chase in that movie is one of, if not the, best ever made...

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Blown_SC

Agreed...very cool indeed...
The chase in that movie is one of, if not the, best ever made...

It is heralded as the greatest car chase in movie history. Hard to disagree.

I loved Eleanor...but the sound wasn't there like in Bullit. I get a hard on listening to the car chase in Bullit!!

kc · 07-14-2004, 03:52 PM

guess I need to see this...old or new?

**Money Boss Hustla** · 07-14-2004, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by kc

guess I need to see this...old or new?

Very old.

**medic23** · 07-14-2004, 05:06 PM

What about the yellow corvette from miami vice?

**trailrider38** · 07-14-2004, 05:22 PM

knight rider

**Blown_SC** · 07-14-2004, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by kc

guess I need to see this...old or new?

I def. recommend it...

It came out in 1968, and starred Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Duvall...

**Red Ketchup** · 07-14-2004, 07:31 PM

Dâmmit!!!

Now I got to go out and get the "Bullit" DVD just for the Stang vs. Charger chase!

Got to count the hubcaps flying off and the number of times we see that little VW Bug

Heres a really good writeup on Bullit and it's famous cars

http://www.hottr6.com/triumph/BULLITT.html

Red