It’s officially summertime—at least according to the calendar. In reality, many of us are still wrapped up in warm jumpers with the heating on. Welcome to the Irish summer.
Still, there’s no better way to spend a grey, damp afternoon than at the cinema. Whether you call it the flicks, the pictures, or just the movies, this time of year is traditionally reserved for blockbuster hits. It’s also a great time for a little hobby of many motoring enthusiasts—spotting iconic cars on the big screen.
Sure, scanning the edges of each shot for a beloved vehicle might distract from the plot, and it’s hardly what the director intended. But for car lovers, it’s second nature. After all, cinema and motoring have been intertwined for more than a century—and Hollywood has long embraced the car as more than just a prop. In many films, the car becomes the star.
The use of automobiles in film dates back to the early 1900s. In 1903, a broken-down jalopy helped drive the plot of a romantic escape in one of the first examples of a car as a central plot device. Remarkably, this was only a few years after cars had even begun to appear on roads.
Film and automotive technology developed hand in hand. Just a decade after the Benz Patent-Motorwagen rolled out, directors were already exploring ways to use cars dramatically on screen. The first recorded on-screen car chase occurred in 1913’s Suspense, which also holds the distinction of being directed by a woman—Lois Weber.
Not every early car appearance was action-packed. Comedy duos like Laurel and Hardy, and the slapstick antics of the Keystone Kops, made creative use of modified Ford Model Ts. Even in the silent film era, vehicles were adding personality and physical humour to scenes.
As films grew darker and more complex—particularly during the heyday of film noir—the car became a symbol of grit, danger, and status. Hardboiled detectives had trusty Ford Coupes, while mobsters sped through city streets in long, sinister Cadillacs. These weren’t just set pieces—they were extensions of character.
In the post-war era, glamour took centre stage. Take, for instance, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant racing along the French Riviera in a metallic blue Sunbeam Alpine convertible in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief. Or the emergence of racing films—notably the thrilling Checkpoint, which starred Stanley Baker alongside sleek Lotus and Aston Martin race cars. It was a far cry from the campy likes of Elvis Presley’s Spinout.
By the 1960s and 70s, the script had flipped. Cars were no longer supporting characters—they were the lead. Disney’s The Love Bug introduced the world to Herbie, a Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own. Few recall the actors Dean Jones or Michele Lee, but everyone remembers the charismatic Beetle that raced—and won—under its own steam. While some of the chase scenes were clearly sped up in post-production, the studio also built high-performance Herbies, using Porsche 356 engines to make the magic more believable. The Beetle would go on to headline several sequels, with Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo being a fan favourite, followed decades later by a modern reboot, Herbie: Fully Loaded.
By the time a certain charismatic Volkswagen Beetle was charming cinema audiences, James Bond’s Aston Martin had already claimed pole position in the hearts of filmgoers. The silver Aston Martin DB5, introduced in Goldfinger (1964), didn’t just support the action—it became a cinematic icon in its own right. So iconic, in fact, that it has reappeared throughout the Bond franchise well into the 2020s, often stealing the spotlight from even Sean Connery himself. Dubbed ‘The Most Famous Car In The World’, one of the original DB5s used during filming was brazenly stolen from a supposedly secure US storage facility. The car’s current whereabouts remain unknown, with a sizable reward still offered for information—hardly surprising, given its multi-million value in any currency.
While the DB5 is the Bond franchise’s best-known vehicle, it’s far from the only one worth mentioning. The white Lotus Esprit S1, driven by Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), left a lasting impression. Not only did it transform into a submarine after a dramatic plunge off a Sardinian pier, but during the memorable chase scene with a helicopter, the Esprit wasn’t driven by Moore himself. Instead, Lotus’s renowned development driver Roger Becker was behind the wheel, adding real credibility to the on-screen action.
Another standout Bond machine? The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe, driven by Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights (1987). This stylish brute came equipped with rockets and retractable skis, capturing both Cold War paranoia and pure driving fantasy. The car actually belonged to Victor Gauntlett, then-chairman of Aston Martin, whose passion and personal investment helped keep the brand afloat during leaner years.
Of course, no discussion of legendary film cars would be complete without tipping the cap to Steve McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback in Bullitt. The film’s car chase through the undulating streets of San Francisco is one of the most thrilling sequences ever captured on film. The jumps, the roaring engines, the duel between the Mustang and a black Dodge Charger—it’s pure cinema. It’s also famous for its continuity gaffes: keep an eye out for how many times the same green VW Beetle pops up, or how many hubcaps mysteriously vanish.
McQueen, a known petrolhead, insisted on driving as much of the sequence himself as possible. Director Peter Yates, along with stuntmen Carey Loftin, Bud Ekins, and Loren James, would sneak off at dawn to film the riskiest sections. The result is a car chase that still stands as the gold standard for on-screen automotive action. Ford has since honoured the legacy with special Bullitt editions of the modern Mustang, complete with Highland Green paint and that unmistakable attitude. The most recent iteration even made it to Irish showrooms in right-hand drive—an accessible slice of cinematic legend, albeit one with a thirsty 5.0-litre V8.
And then there are the cult favourites. Who could forget the modified Cadillac ambulance from Ghostbusters, or the malevolent Plymouth Fury from Christine? The gull-winged DeLorean from Back to the Future? Each became a pop culture artefact, thanks to a perfect blend of story, design, and screen presence.
In more recent years, two standout examples show that the tradition of epic movie cars is alive and well. In No Time To Die, Daniel Craig’s final outing as Bond, a high-octane chase scene through a hilltop Italian village features what appears to be another vintage DB5. However, the production wisely chose not to risk wrecking the real thing. Instead, Aston Martin created a set of stunt cars using early-2000s BMW M3s dressed in DB5 bodywork—blending retro style with modern stunt capabilities. While collectors have begged Aston to build similar road-legal models, the marque has (so far) resisted.
Finally, there’s Baby Driver. Directed by Edgar Wright, it’s arguably the best modern car-chase film. Lead character ‘Baby’, played by Ansel Elgort, navigates a series of high-speed getaways across downtown Atlanta with remarkable style and timing. The film’s most electrifying sequence, set to Bellbottoms by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, features a bright red Subaru Impreza Turbo carving through traffic and outwitting the police in a beautifully choreographed escape. With minimal CGI and maximum rubber-on-road authenticity, Baby Driver is a must-watch for anyone with fuel in their veins.
