Jan 19, 2021, 11:20 AM by Mike Blake

Do you go to movies for the action? The special effects? The acting? The plot and characters? Certain actors and actresses? Those are all good reasons, but some of also go for the real scene-stealers … the cars that star in the films.

Since the 1920s, cars have played roles in “action films.” From silent movie days to current tire-smoking, gorge-jumping thrillers. Doc Brown’s time-machine 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 and James Bond’s weapon-loaded 1964 Aston Martin DB5 may top some lists, but for this treatment of the subject, let’s only consider GM’s four-wheeled movie stars … and there are plenty that don’t finish second to any other film cars. 

Now, my Top 10 list is arbitrary and you may have your own iconic cars of the stars, so let us know your choices, if we didn’t include them here. The list below is filled with action stars, sometimes style over substance, but vehicles that in many cases overshadowed the plots and the acting. Let’s start with a river-jumping, bet-winning icon of the movie ’70s.

1. Smokey and The Bandit's 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
This T-Top 6.6-liter big block only delivered 185hp, but this was style over substance. Appearing in “Smokey and the Bandit” I and II, with a “Screaming Chicken” decal on the hood, Burt Reynolds’ car was supposed to be a ’77, but since that model-year ‘Bird wasn’t out during filming, General Motors provided 1976 cars with front clips from the 1977 update. The differences between the two include the ’77’s rectangular quad headlamps instead of only two round lights, a unique slanted and V-shaped nose, and a center-mounted hood scoop. Including stunt cars, some dozen were used in the movie, but only four were ’76-’77s supplied by Pontiac. It sure SEEMED to have more than 200 horses. Burt drove a red “rocket-powered” 1978 Pontiac Trans Am in his ’78 film, “Hooper,” and “jumped a gorge” in it, but Smokey wins on style points.

2. Transformers 1977 and 2007 Bumblebee Camaro 
In the first “Transformers” movie, Bumblebee, which had been an autobot based on a VW Beetle, is a junkyard 1977 second-generation Camaro, and during the adventure it becomes a 2007 Camaro. Yellow, with black racing stripes, the ’77 was a Z/28 with only 185 hp. The 2007 delivered over 300 and in later films, the 2010 version was up to 400 ponies.  Hey, it was a robot, “more than meets the eye.”

3. Tim Burton's Batmobile Corvette/Impala
This GM Batmobile made for the 1989 “Batman” movie and for “Batman Returns” in 1992, was a modified 1970 Corvette body on a 6th-Gen 1985 Impala chassis with a Chevy V8 engine. It was rated at 400hp, though in Batmobile lore, the Dark Knight’s car can go 329 mph on 10,000 horses. And it had shields, remote control and a turbine.

4. Knight Rider 1982-1984 Pontiac Trans Am
OK, this was a TV show and not a movie, but I mean, “Knight Rider” … it was a talking car. “K.I.T.T.” Knight Industries Two Thousand, was a customized 1982 Trans Am (upgraded to a 1984 during its run). A supercomputer on wheels with artificial intelligence, and a red front-mounted scanner bar. Turbo Boost was used to allow KITT to accelerate in excess of 200 mph forward or backward.

5. Two-Lane Blacktop 1955 Chevrolet 210 
An homage to Route 66, with singer James Taylor doing the driving, racing for pink slips. He’s got a 1955 Chevy 210 in primer gray and a 454-cu.in. V8, fitted with dual four-barrel carburetors on a vintage Weiand manifold. Rated at 390hp, Taylor defeats Warren Oates and his 1970 Pontiac Judge. Side note: the same ’55 Chevy was used in “American Graffiti”, painted black as Bob Falfa’s (Harrison Ford’s) ride.
 
6. Route 66 1961-1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Back on Route 66, and back on TV, Tod and Buzz -- Martin Milner and George Maharis (later, Glenn Corbett as Linc) -- solved others’ problems each week, touring Route 66 in their Corvette from 1960-1964. The first episode used a 1960 model, followed by a 1961 for the rest of the season. The show upgraded its models each season in a series of colors and finished up with a 1963 Corvette Stingray and a ’64 during the last year of the run.


7. Ghostbusters Ecto-1 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor
Who ya gonna call? The Ecto-1 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance, with its siren wailing and sliding proton cannon storage “wasn’t afraid of no ghosts.” The Futura Duplex limo-style endloader combination car (ambulance conversion) weighed 3 tons and was more than 20 feet long. 

8. Days of Thunder 1989 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
 “Days of Thunder” is a NASCAR fan’s movie that stars a 650-hp Lumina Z34. Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) drives into Victory Lane with a trick move and pilots the No. 46 City Chevrolet, the SuperFlo Chevrolet and later the No. 51 Mello Yellow Chevrolet.

9. American Graffiti 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Bob Falfa’s 1955 Chevy 210 was also used in “Two Lane Blacktop” (above), but it gets beat by Steve's 1958 Chevy Impala, white with red pin striping, driven by Terry the Toad. According to Toad, the Impala has a 327 Chevy V-8 and for the film, it was built with no specification to open doors from the outside. 

10.  Hollywood Knights 1957 Chevrolet 210
The Yellow, 1957 supercharged "Project X" is driven by Tony Danza in this 1980 film. The true star of this film, the ’57, featured a blown 383ci stroked small-block Chevrolet engine with a Dyers 6-71 supercharger, mated to a Turbo 350 automatic transmission with 3200 stall converter. It was tweaked with a number-1 pool ball shifter knob, a 9-inch rear-end with ladder bars and leaf springs, Cragar s/s wheels, and no hood. 

Honorable mention: “Breaking Bad” 2004 Pontiac Aztec, “Rockford Files” 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit, “Corvette Summer” 1973 Corvette, “Stripes” EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle, “Better Off Dead” 1967 Camaro, “48 Hours” 1964 Cadillac DeVille Convertible, “Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke” Customized Chevrolet Step Van, “The Car” Customized and possessed 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III, “Rain Man” 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, “The Monkees” 1966 Pontiac GTO, “Cannonball” 1970 Pontiac Trans Am and “McQ” 1973 Pontiac Trans Am SD455 (John Wayne’s car). 

Since cars can be the star of a movie or show and HAVE ALWAYS been recognized as the stars at the Carlisle GM Nationals, 2021 brings the stars together with Carlisle Comic-Car-Con.  At Carlisle in June you can see your favorite Comic, TV, and Movie cars pop off the pages or out of the screen and into one of the special displays in Building T.  Event planners are still gathering cars for the showcase, but if you have one that fits the theme, be sure to visit the event page direct at CarlisleEvents.com to learn more, apply for consideration, purchase tickets and more! 

Great movie cars, all. Which GM actors are your favorites?

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.