TV's memorable motors

[J.T.B.]

As mentioned in the Mad Men/Bewitched thread, TV cars can leave quite an impression on a viewer, and sometimes they even become like a characters. What are some motor vehicles you remember from TV?

A few of mine:

The Rockford Files: Jim's copper-colored Firebird. Those cars took more punishment than Jim himself, which is saying a lot. They were blown up, sabotaged, vandalized and wrecked outright. James Garner did a lot of the stunt driving himself, including a lot of what is now know as a "Rockford turn." Thank god they never went with a Trans Am and the flaming chicken on the hood.

Hawaii Five-O: McGarrett's Mercury 4-door hardtop. McGarrett peeled out from in front of Iolani Palace, screeched around streets and blasted up and down island hills in this black beauty while rarely using cop lights or siren. Apparently McGarrett's sense of righteousness was authority enough! Sometimes old footage was used showing a 2-door. It was a shame when the shapely '68 was replaced with a big boat later on.

The Batmobile, '66 version of course. A real drivable custom built from a show car. It had a cool '60s muscle car look to it. It had so many gadgets, but was there a way to close the bubble canopies when it rained?

--Justin

 

[Warped9]

My father had a 1973 Mercury Meteor sedan that was very much like the cars driven on Hawaii Five-O. I really didn't care for the car (his previous black '66 Ford Galaxie 500 2-dr. fastback was a lot nicer), but learning to drive in it felt just like Hawaii Five-O.

The Ferrari 308GTS was a strong product placement on Magnum, P.I. There was also that little Sunbeam Alpine that Maxwell Smart drove on Get Smart.

The Batmobile, '66 version of course. A real drivable custom built from a show car. It had a cool '60s muscle car look to it. It had so many gadgets, but was there a way to close the bubble canopies when it rained?

--Justin

If I had a good chunk of disposable cash I'd love to have one of those available turn-key editions just to occasionally tool around town with. It would also be a riot to take it out onto the highway.

 

[spooky spice]

The Impala from Supernatural FTW!

Also liked Christine from the movie of the same name, but obv not one that's possessed!

Dare I mention Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Lady Penelope's pink Rolls Royce from Thunderbirds.

Most of the cars from Wacky Races.

Captain Scarlet's tank where he drove sat backwards, and looked at the oncoming traffic through a monitor.

Don't know why I remember this one, but for some reason it always made an impression on me - the car used in the title sequence of one of the Pink Panther shows. It had a dome I think.

I'm watching a lot of Dad's Army at the moment so Corporal Jones' van, and of course the van from Only Fools and Horses is iconic.

 

[auntiehill]

Magnum PI's Ferrari. The car was practically a character on the show. Although, I always found it funny that Tom was actually too tall for the car.

The A-Team Van. To this day, I still kind of want to own one.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

The most memorable for me:

- The Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I.

- KITT (a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am) from Knight Rider

- The 1983 GMC G-Series van from The A-Team

- The 1975 Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch

- The General Lee (a 1969 Dodge Charger) from The Dukes of Hazzard

- The Batmobile (a modified 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car) from Batman

With a few exceptions, like the 1967 Chevy Impala from Supernatural, there seem to be far fewer memorable TV cars from the last 20 years or so compared to the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

 

[Warped9]

On Route '66 they drove a Corvette Stingray didn't they? There is also the Green Hornet's Chrysler Imperial Crown also known as Black Beauty.

And what the hell was that cockroach of a car Columbo used to drive?

They had a Ford Woody on The Mod Squad. Later I think they had a Dodge Challenger.

 

[Warped9]

And what the hell was that cockroach of a car Columbo used to drive?

I just looked it up. Apparently it was a 1959 Peugeot convertible, Model 403.

And we mustn't forget Simon Templar's white Volvo P1800 on The Saint.

 

[Canadave]

Right. Let's fire up the Quattro.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ceykLZDKA&feature=related[/yt]

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

The Prisoner's Lotus 7.

Steed's Bentley.

Bodie's Capri.

Bessie and the Whomobile.

 

[ToddPence]

On Route '66 they drove a Corvette Stingray didn't they?

Chevrolet provided the series with a new car every season. In the first two seasons, this was the classic plain convertible. However, early in the third season (1962) the boys suddenly started driving the Stingray model. No on-screen explanation was ever given for the car's sudden change in model.

 

[J.T.B.]

The Ferrari 308GTS was a strong product placement on Magnum, P.I.

Yeah, they pretty much give it an intro along with the star in the opening credits, with a nice look at the make and model badges as Magnum peels out.

Chevrolet provided the series with a new car every season. In the first two seasons, this was the classic plain convertible. However, early in the third season (1962) the boys suddenly started driving the Stingray model. No on-screen explanation was ever given for the car's sudden change in model.

It wasn't a different model, that was just the new Corvette for that year. Tod had a the newest model every season, even though his father who left him the first 'Vette was supposedly broke when he died.

Similarly, Andy Griffith had a new-model Ford Galaxie patrol car every year. Didn't people wonder how a two-man sheriff's office could afford a new car every year?

--Justin

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

We have one of the 60's Batmobiles at a local auto museum.

 

[Scotty]

What? No one mentioned this....?

 

[Kirkman1987]

Right. Let's fire up the Quattro.

In addition, let's not forget Gene's Ford Granada from Life on Mars.

 

[Canadave]

Right. Let's fire up the Quattro.

In addition, let's not forget Gene's Ford Granada from Life on Mars.

It's a Ford Cortina, isn't it?

And while it's great, I honestly prefer the Quattro myself.

 

[J.T.B.]

It's a Ford Cortina, isn't it?

He's got a Ford Cortina that just won't run without fuel.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

The Stingray in Stingray

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1VcVuplaWg[/yt]

Beautiful car. The main character Ray had a special headlight attachment for the car. If he was tailing someone at night, he'd hook this thing on with a bunch of different headlights. The person he was following would see a Jeep behind him and then when he'd turn a corner, Ray would flip a switch and it would look like a motorcycle was following.

 

[captcalhoun]

Morse's Jaguar

Face's Corvette in the A-Team

Edi Pegdon's open top car from Last of the Summer Wine. shame she abused it so much.

 

[highlander]

I always liked Duncan's Thunderbird from the Highlander series.