How many cars/trucks/etc. out there have achieved "icon" status?
There are some cars that are instantly recognizable. Show a picture of one of these cars, it's a pretty safe bet that 9 out of 10 people would know where it comes from.
1. Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. It's a car. Shaped like a hotdog. 'Nuff said? I would be very surprised if more than one person out of 100 couldn't identify the Wienermobile.
2. Batmobile. Nostalgia prompts me to show the 1960s campy Batmobile; however the Tim Burton version as well as the retro-, pre-quel "Batman Begins" version is acceptable as well.3. Delorean Time Machine. Yeah, it's already made a previous list. I think the time-traveling DeLorean is worth a second mention - see previous note about nostalgia. The "Back to the Future" franchise practically defined the 1980s, as did the DeLorean that co-starred.
4. Mach 5. Okay, while most of the cars on this list aren't street-legal Detroit (or Tokyo) offerings, this one's not even a real car. No list of famous cars would be complete without putting "Go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer, GO" in your collective subconscious.
5. Herbie. Yes, Disney's too-cute-for-words Volkswagen Beetle makes the cut. How on earth a 1963 VW with self-determination and a propensity for winning races (SRSLY? A Beetle?) became an icon is a testament to the power of the mouse... Plus it's a VW Beetle, which is pretty iconic in its own right.
6. Mystery Machine. Okay, a second cartoon vehicle makes the list. But how many kids who grew up in the 1970s couldn't pick this hippie-dippie van out of a line-up? Only in cartoons would two guys, two girls, and a Great Dane traveling around in a custom van with no apparent means of support and voracious appetites not arouse immediate suspicion...
7. Richard Petty's #43. The basis for Strip Weathers' The King in "Cars", Richard Petty's 1970 Superbird has got to be one of the most recognizable cars in existence; certainly in the top three for racing cars.
8. Aston Martin DB5. First appearing in Goldfinger, the tricked out DB5 was bullet-proof, heavily armed, and had a passenger ejection seat (and guys, no comments on how handy that would be when driving with the Mrs...). How could James Bond's signature vehicle not make a list of icons?
9. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. I can't think of a car that's been more parodied, deified, or otherwise featured in popular culture. From Greased Lightning in Grease to countless other TV show cars (Simon & Simon) and movies (there were a whole spate of cheesy '80s movies with retro-50s themes) to endless songs ("in a 57 Chevrolet")... I think the 1957 Chevy Bel Air qualifies as a distinctly unique piece of American automotive history.
10. UPS Delivery truck. I've got to throw this in for my fellow C&R holders. The "Brown Truck of Happiness" showing up at your house is a sure-fire guarantee for some gunnie goodness. Am I right, guys?
Thus ends another list of unique and interesting vehicles. This list is one of the more subjective lists (as opposed to the other highly subjective lists, I guess...), and I had fun putting it together. As always, any additions, quibbles, etc. are more than welcome in comments!
That is all.
8 comments:
What, no General Lee?
Or were you too busy watching Daisy? ;-)
I still like the Bel Air, but I preferred the black and white one. A friend of mine had one of those in the mid-seventies, and it was a nice little car.
Remember Life on Mars? I watched it when I was little.
Sure it has about the most far-fetched plot lines available even today but it was chock full of cool classic cars of the 1970’s and some great 70’s music.
Who cares about the weird story lines when you can watch a mint condition Chevy SS cruise through streets and almost run over hippies.
An drunk asswipe boyfriend of my big sister totaled a silver DB-5, the bastard wrapped it around a tree. I hated his guts ever after. That was my first real *hit-home* recognition that there was NO justice in the World - because he should not have lived after having done that.
Where's the Bandit's Trans Am?
No street-legal Mach 5, Jay? Are you SURE???
http://www.gothamgarage.net/mach5.html
IIRC, they go for somewhere north of $100K.
Alas, no "Vanishing Point" Challenger. Getting old sucks.
Men what happen with "General Lee"from Hazard Dukes, "Kid" from Knight Rider, "Condor" from The Condor, well yes maybe condor is a bike but was a nice vehicle or not? no matter you include one of my favorite car from my childhood the Mistery Machine just with them I feel happy.
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