24 July 2020
From Batman to Fred Flintstone, and from James Bond to Thelma and Louise, so many of our iconic onscreen heroes come with an equally-as-iconic vehicle in tow.
Whilst getting behind the wheel of such exceptional vehicles is merely a dream for the majority of us, being the proud owner of a piece of popular culture is entirely possible – but it certainly comes at a price.
To find out exactly how much it would cost, we did some research into the final auction price for several vehicles featured in popular film and TV shows across the years.
The cost of being a superhero
Take the 1966 Batmobile, for example, the converted 1955 Lincoln Futura driven by Adam West in the original series was sold at auction in 2011 for a cool £3,774,277 ($4,600,000). Whilst the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven by none other than Sean Connery in both the James Bond films, Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965), was snapped up at auction for £3,370,232 ($4,107, 560) in 2010.
The table below shows features 16 cars and the prices they went under the hammer for, and whilst some might be firmly out of reach for many, others are slightly more modestly priced.
| Film & Year | Vehicle Make and Model | Auction Price and Date |
|---|---|---|
| Batman, 1966 | Converted 1955 Lincoln Futura | $4,600,000 / £3,774,277 (2011) |
| James Bond (Goldfinger & Thunderball) 1964, 1965 | 1964 Aston Martin DB5 | $4,107,560 / £3,370,232 (2010) |
| Bullitt, 1968 | 1968 Ford Mustang GT390 | $3,710,000 / £3,044,036 (2020) |
| Le Mans, 1971 | 1970 Porsche 911S | $1,375,000 / £1,128,180 (2011) |
| Gone In 60 Seconds, 1974 | 1965 Shelby Mustang GT500 | $1,000,000 / £820,495 (2013) |
| James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977 | 1976 Lotus Espirit S1 | $997,000 / £819,399 (2013) |
| Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968 | Custom-built using parts from Edwardian cars, boats and a WWI fighter plane | $805,000 / £660,498 (2011) |
| Back to the Future (trilogy), 1985, 1989, 1990 | DeLorean DMC 12 | $541,200 / £444,051 (2011) |
| Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, 1986 | Ferrari 250 GT Spyder | $396,000 / £324,916 (2020) |
| Miami Vice, 1984 | 1986 Ferrari Testarossa | $151,800 / £124,759 (2017) |
| Knight Rider, 1982 | Customised 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am | $150,000 / £123,279 (2007) |
| The Dukes of Hazzard, 1979 | 1961 Dodge Charger | $121,000 / £99,279 (2012) |
| Ghostbusters,1984 | 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ECTO-1 | $88,000 / £72,203 (2010) |
| Thelma & Louise, 1991 | 1966 Ford Thunderbird | $71,500 / £58,665 (2006) |
| Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, 1977 | 1963 VW Beetle | $66,000 / £54,152 (2012) |
| Sopranos, 1999 | 1972 Oldsmobile 442 | $61,600 / £50,542 (2017) |
With so many of us spending an increasing amount of time at home in recent weeks, film and TV streaming services are boasting soaring subscription numbers, with UK residents turning to service providers such as Netflix and Disney+ for their entertainment.
While we were researching the auction sale price(s) of some of our favourite onscreen autos we were also inspired to create a little knowledge-based brainteaser, set to test the nation’s ability to spot automobiles from the silver screen.
We’ve hidden five iconic vehicles which are not included in the above list in the below image, and all you have to do is to find and name all five AND tell us in which popular film or TV show we can find each one in under a minute.
Don’t worry, we’re not that mean, we have a few clues to help make the task a little easier…
Share your results with us via our Twitter or Facebook channels.
Not all superheroes drive the Batmobile
Whilst we may have to accept that owning the Batmobile may have to stay a dream for the foreseeable future, that doesn’t mean we have to give up our dream of being an everyday hero.
Whether you’re a busy parent juggling the school run with your day job, a busy delivery driver working overtime throughout Covid-19, a dog walker navigating an excitable pack of pooches, or even just doing the weekly supermarket run for your nan, you’re all superheroes in our eyes.
That said, every hero needs a trusty steed, and whether its powered by petrol,Diesel, electric or a hybrid; new or used; Peugeot, Citroen, DS or Vauxhall - we’ve got you covered.
The answers…
We thought we better put you out of your misery and show you were those pesky cars were hidden, and which film or TV series they were from. You can find the answers below.
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