Iconic TV Cars We’d Love to Take for a Spin
Some TV cars stick in the memory longer than the shows they appeared in. Maybe it’s because they could talk, fly, or time travel, or maybe they just looked better than anything else on the road. Regardless of the reason, these rides all have one thing in common: we’d still jump at the chance to take them for a spin.
Let’s revisit our favorite sets of wheels!
Pizza Planet Truck from Pixar Movies

Credit: Youtube
It’s practically part of the studio’s opening credits at this point. The faded yellow Toyota, rocket strapped on top, somehow makes it into nearly every Pixar film. It is modeled after a real-life delivery hauler, which isn’t fast, and definitely not glamorous, but it might be the most famous delivery truck in animation.
Mr. Bean’s Mini

Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The pea-green Mini might look like a joke, with no gadgetry, horsepower, or interest in aerodynamics. Yet, it’s unforgettable nonetheless. It does, however, come with a padlock for security and a recliner strapped to the roof. But what it really had was Mr. Bean behind the wheel. We’ve all watched it lurch through absurd situations like no big deal.
The A-Team’s GMC Van

Credit: Youtube
This GMC van was more than a getaway vehicle that was aggressively square and painted like a tactical warning sign. It was a visual cue that trouble had just arrived. With its red stripe, blacked-out wheels, and all-business attitude, it made sure you noticed before any action even started.
Starsky & Hutch’s Gran Torino

Credit: IMDb
If the 1970s had a national car, this might be it. Red body, white racing stripe, roaring V8—the Grand Torino was a co-star in every chase. It didn’t even try to be classy or subtle. It just aimed for fast, loud, and slightly dangerous, which usually worked out just fine.
The Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee

Credit: IMDb
The General Lee did more flying than driving, always landing just barely intact. This bright orange Dodge Charger made jumping creeks feel routine. While its paint job gets a more complicated reception today, there’s no denying its place in TV’s wildest car stunts playbook.
Thelma and Louise’s Ford Thunderbird

Credit: IMDb
Some cars get remembered for looks, others for where they ended up. The pale blue 1966 Thunderbird took two women across state lines and into movie history. This Ford Thunderbird was bold, exposed, and impossible to ignore, even before it was launched into cinema history with the most famous cliff scene in film.
Speed Racer’s Mach Five

Credit: IMDb
This car was built for chaos with button-triggered jump springs, rotary saws, and underwater mode. On paper, it sounds like a cartoon fever dream. But on screen, the Mach Five looked clean and fast enough to hold its own against any live-action muscle car. It made racecar driving look like science fiction.
Bumblebee from Transformers

Credit: IMDb
Camaro by day, alien warrior by night, Bumblebee’s transformation helped give this muscle car new life beyond dealership lots. As both protector and sidekick, his appeal was beyond firepower. Bumblebee brought heart to metal and made Camaros cool again.
Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters

Credit: IMDb
Ecto-1 started out as a bulky Cadillac ambulance and ended up hauling ghost traps across Manhattan. With its clunky siren, rooftop gadgets, and tail fins, the car always looked one pothole away from falling apart. But in every chase and emergency call, Ecto-1 was impossible to ignore—equal parts spectacle and scrappy, never quite blending in with traffic.
The Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo

Credit: Youtube
A clunky Volkswagen LT van with psychedelic paint and flower wheels somehow became an unlikely pop culture icon. It was slow, loud, and probably smelled like snacks, but it got the job done. As a mobile base for solving mysteries, it became as recognizable as Scooby himself.
The DeVille from Back to the Future

Credit: IMDb
Before Doc Brown added a flux capacitor, the DeLorean was a stainless-steel oddity that never quite caught on. But give it time travel and gull-wing doors, and suddenly you’ve got one of the most unforgettable silhouettes on TV and film. It’s hard to watch those doors lift and not hear, “1.21 gigawatts!”
KITT from Knight Rider

Credit: IMDb
Long before smart tech took over dashboards, there was KITT, a car that could self-drive, hack electronics, and make jokes. With that red scanning light and a no-nonsense tone, KITT was Michael Knight’s partner, bodyguard, and occasionally the smartest thing in the room on four wheels.
Herbie the Love Bug

Credit: IMDb
This old VW Beetle had no business being competitive, but Herbie didn’t follow the rules. It raced, sulked, celebrated, and once drove up a wall, all without a driver. Herbie made underdog victories feel completely normal with the number 53 on the hood and a mind of its own.
Flintmobile from The Flintstones

Credit: IMDb
Fred Flintstone’s car was pure stone-age engineering: wood frame, stone wheels, and a fabric top. No engine, just bare feet churning the road. Brakes? A big rock or whatever was handy. It might be the only cartoon car that’s a workout just to drive, but for all its simplicity, it’s still instantly recognizable decades later.
Batmobile

Credit: IMDb
Every version has attitude, but none feel boring. Whether it’s Tim Burton’s jet-black glide or a modern-day tactical bruiser, the Batmobile has a unique personality that’s hard to ignore. With onboard gadgets, weaponry, and just enough menace, this car became an urban legend.