8 Popular Cars Around the World After Appearing in Movies
James Bond and the Aston Martin DB5 car (Forbes.com)
Automoto651 - 8 Popular Cars Around the World After Appearing in Movies.
Not a few films make a car brand become iconic. As a result, the popularity of the brand skyrocketed, and of course, much sought after by automotive lovers.
Here are eight famous cars in a film, reported by Popular Mechanics, Tuesday (15/6/2021).
1964 Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger
James Bond's legacy of famous cars and gadgets can be traced back to one of his most popular vehicles, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven 007 in Goldfinger and Thunderball.
Without Bond's spy modifications, the Aston Martin DB5 is a work of art. But it's the special effects that make this car quite possibly the most beloved movie car of all time.
Lotus Esprit Series I 1976, The Spy Who Loved Me
Another popular car from the James Bond film because of its classicism. In the 1970s, the ravishing forms of sports cars from the 1950s and 1960s gave way to distinctive and futuristic designs.
Spiky cars like the Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Countach changed the automotive landscape. But neither of them was ever pushed by James Bond.
In The Spy Who Loved Me, the secret agent drives a white 1976 Lotus Esprit Series I.
Pontiac Trans Am 1977, Smokey and the Bandit
When Smokey and Bandit director Hal Needham chose the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am to star in their film alongside Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, he did not predict the impact of the car's popularity in the United States.
Trans Am actually looked more or less the same for more than half a decade before the film debuted. But it doesn't matter.
When audiences see Trans Am sliding around corners, jumping over broken bridges, and dodging Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) for hundreds of miles, they want black and gold T/A in their garage.
Ford Coupe 1932, American Graffiti
A few years before Star Wars, George Lucas released the film American Graffiti, a reflection of his memories of car culture in 1960s California.
In addition to a cast that includes future megastars like Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, and Richard Dreyfus, the film has some great hot rods. But only one of the most recognized in the world, namely the Deuce Coupe.
DeLorean DMC-12 1981, Back to the Future
Visually, the DMC-12 John DeLorean is beautiful stainless steel designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro.
Under the hood, however, the DeLorean isn't a supercar that promises flashy bodywork, as it packs a 130-hp 2.9-liter V-6.
Despite the popularity of the film, DeLorean failed to hit the market in the 1980s. But the car's unique retro-futurist design has made it a cult today.
1973 XB GT Ford Falcon, Mad Max
In its third generation, the Falcon XB GT gets its power from a 351-CID V-8. But for Mad Max, the filmmakers turned the already cool Falcon into a "Pursuit Special" or "Interceptor."
The crew fixed a new nose on the front end, adorned the body with a large flare, and tucked a very flat tire underneath.
Dodge Charger 1970, The Fast and the Furious
The classic 1968-70 Dodge Charger was a superstar in TV and movies. The most famous of them all is the '69 Charger "General Lee" from the TV show The Dukes of Hazard.
Another Charger became a star in the 1970s with Dirty Mary Crazy Larry. But in 2000, the Charger reappeared on screens, this time made as a black street racing machine that threatened Vin Diesel.
With evil horses, giant rear tires, and a huge engine and supercharger sticking out of the hood, this Charger is pretty cool.
1969 Mustang, John Wick
Keanu Reeve's most memorable on-screen vehicle may well be the Los Angeles city bus in Speed. But the coolest thing is the Mustang in the film he made 20 years later, John Wick.
The Mustang is referred to in the film as "Boss 429," but that's not the case. This original Boss '9 is rare and highly collectible. At an auction in 2015, this car sold for USD 550,000.
Chances are the film crew used a '69 Mustang Mach 1 with a 390 V-8 or 428. Both are great for on-screen antics and look pretty cool.
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