Sometimes it’s impossible to watch a film or TV series without feeling a hint of jealousy for those driving the car on screen.
They’re often just hastily modified props or replicas but, occasionally, they’re the real deal.
From one-of-a-kind custom special builds like the Batmobile, to what are now considered classics such as the Minis from The Italian Job, classic car insurer Carole Nash asked more than 1,000 drivers across the UK and Ireland which car from the world of film and television they’d most want to own.
So here, in ascending order of popularity, is the top ten:
10 – Ferrari 250 GT California from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
In this Eighties classic, high-school slacker Ferris persuades his friend Cameron to convince his father to let them borrow his prized 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California, with disastrous consequences. Since the car is one of the most valuable in the world, with only around 100 in existence, it’s perhaps not surprising that the car in the film was a replica.
The film might be a symbol of Eighties nostalgia, but driving the car would take you back to a world of Sixties glamour.
9 – Ford Gran Torino from Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood’s character’s 1972 Ford Gran Torino never actually moved much in the 2008 film – instead being lovingly protected by the man himself against the gangs in his neighbourhood. Since its 7-litre V8 would probably have rendered any dialogue incomprehensible, this is probably a good thing.
8 – Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I.
Tom Selleck cruised around Hawaii in a Ferrari 308 as private investigator Thomas Magnum. A scarlet open-top GTS like the one that appeared in the series is proof that true style never goes out of fashion. All you’d need is a set of oversized aviators, unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and a stick-on moustache, and you’d be back in that Eighties-tastic world.
7 – Ford Mustang GT 390 from Bullitt
The image of Steve McQueen’s heroic dark green 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback chasing a black Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco, jumping over the city’s steep hills with its massive 6.4-litre V8 roaring, is regularly voted as the greatest cinematic car chase. So it’s little surprise that it’s one of the most desired cars in film.
6 – “Lamborghini Tank” from The Dark Knight trilogy
The Tumbler, as it was called in the film, was never referred to as a Batmobile in any of Christopher Nolan’s installments. It was described by the film’s production designer as a cross between a Lamborghini and a tank, being designed from scratch. As well as the prone ‘attack mode’ driving position, the Batpod motorbike can also eject from the front. So that’s essentially two vehicles, if this is your favourite.
It might not be as car-like to drive as previous Batmobiles, but imagine beating the rush hour traffic on your morning commute in this.
5 – Austin Mini Cooper S Mk1 from The Italian Job
The red, white and blue Minis speeding through the streets, shopping centres and sewers of Turin in The Italian Job turned the already popular Mini into a bona fide superstar, one the ultimate symbols of the Swinging Sixties.
The original Mini Cooper S is arguably the most fun to drive of any of the cars in our top ten list, even when it does have a boot full of gold bullion.
4 – The Batmobile from Batman (1989)
The swooping Batmobile from Tim Burton’s 1989 film might have been built on a Chevrolet Impala chassis, but it could apparently manage 330 mph thanks to its jet turbine engine.
Certainly one of the most sinister-looking cars in the list, little extras included machine guns, grappling hooks for sharp turns and armoured shields.
As the second car from the superhero in our list, Batman’s transport clearly hits the mark for petrolheads.
3 – DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future
Walk past a DeLorean DMC-12, and you’re almost certain to hear someone say the words “back to the future”. The DeLorean might be a powerful symbol of business failure, but never before had a model of car been more synonymous with a film.
The film’s script originally called for Marty McFly and Doc Brown to travel through time in a fridge, but the filmmakers then switched to the gullwing-doored stainless steel DeLorean because it already looked a bit like a spaceship.
Now a genuine collector’s item, several DeLoreans have been customised to resemble the film car, while the original is on display at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
2 – KITT from Knight Rider
The Knight Industries Two Thousand driven by (and sometimes without) David Hasselhoff in the 1982 TV series Knight Rider was a highly modified black 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
Voted second in our list, KITT was a highly advanced computer system embedded in the car. Amongst its many abilities, KITT could talk to Hasselhoff’s character Michael Knight, drive itself, jump over obstacles and, most famously, ‘see’ via the red scanner on its nose.
1 – Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger
This Aston Martin, synonymous with James Bond, is a true icon of cinema.
First seen with its impressive host of on-board weapons in Goldfinger in 1964, the DB5 has since made appearances in several subsequent films including Thunderball, GoldenEye, Casino Royale, Skyfall and Spectre. It is arguably a star in its own right, so much so that aspects of it have been copied and referenced in subsequent films, such as Men in Black, for decades.
The DB5 was only made for two years between 1963 and 1965, but its powerful 4-litre straight six and sleek design assure its place in the motoring hall of fame, and as the most coveted car from film of all time.
Just don’t touch the red button.