Famous cars: the most iconic cars in cinema
The history of cinema is not only famous actors, directors and cinematographers. These are also action movies with cars and car models that car enthusiasts from all over the world dream of. Now these famous cars are available at your fingertips also for customers from Europe, thanks to the possibility of importing them, for example, from the USA. If you are wondering which famous cars are worth paying attention to, then we take you on a film journey that will make it easier to make the right decision.
Table of contents
- Dodge Challenger - Vanishing Point (1972)
- Dodge Charger - “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
- Chevrolet Camaro (Bumblebee) - “Transformers” (2007)
- Ford Mustang GT - “Bullitt” (1968)
- Toyota Supra - “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
- Audi R8 - “Iron Man” (2008)
- Porsche 928 - “Risky Business” (1983)
- BMW Z8 - “The World Is Not Enough” (1999)
Automotive and cinematography have gone hand in hand almost from the very beginning of existence, although the world began to surround cars with reverence only in the 60s of the XX century. It was then that the cult American films about cars began to be made. Often we do not associate the actors themselves who starred in them, but for this we know what kind of cars they drove. In many cases, cars in film versions are still available on the market. Especially for you, we have selected the most famous ones.
The plot of the film “The Vanishing Point” is the story of Kowalski, who is supposed to transport a car from Denver to San Francisco. The hero sets himself an ambitious goal that he will do it in 15 hours. Along the way, he makes many new friends and, of course, gets into chases with the police. His car is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, with a 440hp 440ci V8 engine running under the hood. The car accelerates to a hundred in less than 6 seconds. For the film, Chrysler lent the creators as many as 5 cars, one of which was a version with a 383ci engine. Challenger was chosen for its high engine power and very good handling characteristics. If you are interested Dodge from USA, then think about this unique model.
The Fast and the Furious saga is an automotive film packed with iconic cars. In addition to Supra Brian, the black Dodge Charger stands out the most. This one, in turn, belongs to Dominic Toretto, whose role was played by Vin Diesel. Toretto is a real American macho, so he needs a real American car. The car still appears in the next parts of the series, but these are already other generations and engine versions.
The film did not use the same model for all scenes. In quieter sequences, the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T appears, under the hood of which the V8 426ci engine runs. Although for the sake of the plot Dominic claims that the car has 900 hp, in reality the installed compressor is just a dummy. The stunt scenes used the 1968 version with the 383ci V8 engine, which was visually similar to the 1970 model, fitted with nitrous oxide, Catherine rims and a safety cage.
Probably all generations of the Chevrolet Camaro have passed through the screens of cinemas, but the case of Bumblebee and the movie “Transformers” is very interesting because of the story of the incarnation of the iconic Chevrolet that appears in it. The car went on sale only in 2010. How did it happen that it appeared in the film earlier?
At first, the main character moves the 1977 Camaro, but later it changes to the V-generation Camaro. To get to this, you need to trace the history of the return of the Camaro, which disappeared from the market for 8 long years. The first concept cars of the new generation appeared in 2006 and test cars were built together with the Holden brand. The start date of production was originally set for 2008, but eventually it was delayed by a year and in the spring of 2009, copies for the 2010 model year entered the salons.
The car shown in the first part of “Transformers” is precisely the concept version of 2006, which was chosen as the model for the production version. It was built on the basis of the Pontiac GTO. Only in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” does the Camaro appear available in dealerships. In “Transformers: Dark Moon”, on the other hand, used the production Camaro SS.
If you dream of sports Chevrolet from USA, this Camaro is cheaper to buy than the Corvette and also provides an unforgettable driving experience, especially in versions with V8 engines up to 7 liters in the Z/28 version.
Until now, it is difficult to say who is the bigger star of the movie “Bullit”, as it starred two legends - Steve McQueen and Ford Mustang in GT version. Only 2 copies of this model were used to shoot the photos, although some claim that there were as many as 3. In 2020, one of them sold at auction for more than 3.7 million dollars.
The film uses a car with a V8 390ci engine, so with a volume of 6.4 liters. The car has undergone a number of modifications, including the change of the exhaust system to a through-pass, tuning the head and the addition of an electric ignition system. In 2018, Ford introduced a special edition of the Mustang GT model, which referenced in detail the iconic 1968 Mustang GT. Engine power was increased to 475 hp.
Whether you choose a classic or modern edition, this unique Ford from USA will bring you a lot of joy and allow you to stand out on the road. It can also be a good investment of capital.
Famous cars in Hollywood are not just muscle cars. Toyota Supra has a total of 5 generations, but the most popular is the Supra MKIV, which was produced from 1993 to 2002. The car was famous for its durable and amenable to tuning engines. She became popular, among others, thanks to her appearance in the film “The Fast and the Furious”, so “Fast and the Furious”, where she served the main character as a pass to the world of street racing. Brian, played by the unrepentant Paul Walker, also got behind the wheel of this car in “2 Fast 2 Furious”.
She starred in the film Toyota from USA in the Targa version, so with a removable roof. It was painted orange from the Lamborghini palette. A total of 8 cars were used in the film, 5 of which were used for stunts. Although the appearance of the car indicated strong modifications, contrary to appearances, the engine remained serial. This is a 2JZ-GTE with a capacity of 320 hp, supercharged with two turbochargers. Changes appeared only in the exhaust system for a more racial sound.
Every self-respecting superhero must have a supercar. For the 2008 film about the adventures of Iron Man, the R8 model from Audi was chosen. The film was an excellent advertisement for the German producer. Stark's assistant, Virginia “Pepper” Pots, drove the Audi S5. In the 2008 film, the car has the registration number STARK4.
The 2006 version of the Audi R8 was offered with a 4.0 FSI V8 engine with 420 hp. In 2010, the power increased to 430 hp. In 2009, the V10 engine with a volume of 5.2 liters and a capacity of 525 hp appeared. Model R8 Spyder with this unit starred in the 2010 film “Iron Man 2" In both cases, these were episodic roles. The Audi R8 has also appeared in other Marvel productions such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Since 1998, the Audi brand has owned Lamborghini, which allowed German engineers to build on the Gallardo model. It was from the Italians that the V10 engine came from. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 was shown for the first time at the Detroit Motor Show. However, it differs in power, because in Lamborghini the driver has 560 hp at his disposal. For the R8 Audi from USA have been available since 2007, since they were then sold on the local market.
In the film “Risky Business,” Tom Cruise drove the Porsche 928, which was a four-seater Gran Turismo car produced from 1977 until 1995. In 2021, the copy used in this 1983 comedy sold for almost $2 million. The 928 was designed to compete with Mercedes and BMW, which ruled the American market. At the same time, it was feared that its performance would worsen sales of the flagship 911. Initially, it was offered with a 4.5-liter V8 engine with a capacity of 240 hp. However Porsche from USA are choked to 222 hp, because they had to have a catalyst. The 1979 version appeared in the film, then the place of installation of the battery was moved and the damping of the gearbox was dispensed with.
The BMW Z8 is a true gentleman's roadster. Although its lines are discreet and in vain to look for sporty vulgarity in them, at the same time they attract the attention of other road users. Produced between 1998 and 2003, the car was also appreciated by James Bond himself. It was the last BMW to appear in a series of films about the famous agent, since in 1999 the three-year contract of manufacturers with the German brand ended.
Under the hood of the car runs a 4.9-liter V8 engine with a capacity of 400 hp, which is paired with a 6-speed, manual transmission. Although production ended in 2002, in 2003 the Z8 appeared for a while as the Alpina Roadster V8 with power reduced to 381 hp. BMW from USA do not differ in specifications from European ones, so it's worth looking around for the Z8 in the American market. There are 2,543 Z8 models for the North American market. 450 were also shipped to the United States. Alpina Roadster V8.
Jeep cars are associated with adventure and the discovery of unspoiled terrain, and the Wrangler model has been permanently inscribed in the pages of automotive history. It was he who played the main car role in Steven Spielberg's 1993 film “Jurassic Park”. The production won as many as 3 Oscars, including one for best special effects.
Jeep Wrangler YJ Sahara cars were used in the film. The YJ generation was offered from 1986 to 1995. Until 1992, the car was produced in Canada, and later production was transferred to a factory in the United States. The car was supposed to be more friendly in everyday use than its previous incarnation. The suspension has been redesigned to make the car less... tipping. In the first years of production, the engines were on the carburetor, and in 1991 fuel injection appeared.
The 1992 Sahara variant was used in the film. It was then that Jeep gave it a facelift, adding seat belts for passengers traveling in the back, and analog clocks were replaced with digital ones. In 1993, a braking system with ABS was included in the list of optional equipment.
Despite the huge success of the film, Jeep never decided to release a special edition of the Wrangler model. However, it happens that replicas built by fans of this cult production appear on the market, so maybe you will find just such Jeep from USA.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is an interesting case. Although the brand is American, the production took place in Ireland. John DeLorean worked as vice president of General Motors and decided to resign to try his hand at car manufacturing. His first and only creation was precisely the DeLorean DMC-12, produced from 1981 to 1983. Giorgietto Giugiaro himself is responsible for the design, and the suspension was developed by Lotus engineers. However, the engine does not keep up with the dynamic appearance and generates only 130 hp. A total of 8,975 units were produced, and back in 1982 the company declared bankruptcy.
In the video, the car has to accelerate to 88 mph to move in time. The developers chose such a speed because... it was easy to remember. The manufacturer's declared top speed of the car was 130 mph, but in tests it rarely exceeded 110 mph. Cars sold in the US had a meter scaled to 85 mph and this car was equipped with one as well. “Back to the Future” required the filmmakers to design their own speedometer.
World cinema is full of cult films and iconic cars appearing in them. If you are interested in the aforementioned models or other famous cars, you can bring them to order from the USA, and we will help you with this. Jako Bricks from America We specialize in importing vehicles from the United States. Low purchase prices and affordable delivery costs make many people choose to fulfill their automotive dreams overseas. With us you can join them and feel like a movie star!
