The Most Famous Cars in Movies and TV

Some cars become as famous as the actors who drive them. The most iconic include James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger, 1964), the DeLorean DMC-12 time machine (Back to the Future, 1985), the Ford Mustang GT from Bullitt (1968), the Ghostbusters Ecto-1, a 1959 Cadillac ambulance conversion (1984), the 1966 Batmobile built from the Lincoln Futura concept, the Mini Coopers of The Italian Job (1969), Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle, and KITT from Knight Rider.

The icons

Bond

No franchise has done more for a car brand than James Bond and Aston Martin. Read James Bond’s cars.

Bullitt

Steve McQueen’s green Mustang chase through San Francisco set the standard for car chases. One of the original cars later sold at auction for millions.

The Batmobile

Customizer George Barris transformed Ford’s 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car into the Batmobile for the 1966 TV series.

New York on screen

Countless films feature New York’s cabs, limousines and black cars — from yellow Checker cabs to stretch limos. Read Ghostbusters Ecto-1, the Checker Marathon and the Escalade in pop culture.

Why movie cars become icons

Great movie cars reflect a character’s personality: Bond’s elegant, gadget-filled Aston Martin; Steve McQueen’s understated, tough Mustang; the quirky DeLorean. Their appearances can transform a model’s reputation and value — some screen-used cars have sold for millions at auction. Read classic car auctions.

Seeing them in person

Screen-used cars and replicas appear at museums, auto shows and conventions. Read car museums near NYC and the New York Auto Show.