​Iconic Cars in Movies and Center Line Wheels

Weeding through a list of iconic cars in movies is a lot like arranging a list of the best-looking Playboy models. The work is agonizingly slow and the research is painful on the eyes. It’s a job we really hate doing.

But, we are willing to do what it takes to carve out a nice list of the coolest cars you have seen in all of your favorite movies. Since we are at work, you will have to do the research on the best looking Playboy models yourself. But grab a snack and something to drink first, this is a project that will take the better part of a day.

Car guys are a pretty picky lot, especially when it comes to what constitutes a cool car and one that is not. Of course, it’s all subjective as what one person thinks is a cool car somebody else thinks it as just plain ugly.

Take, for example, the Ford Gran Torino, there are many out there who would die to drive the streets in one of these beasts. But not everybody is a fan. Some may even refer to Gran Torinos as “boats.” But be careful what you say and to who, because those can be fightin’ words.

In fact, let’s start this list off with the iconic Gran Torino in the movie with the same title.

Gran Torino

We don’t care how iconic or cool a car is, it isn't going to make this list if it appears in a lame movie. The Gran Torino barely moves for the majority of this film, rather, it symbolizes the engineering brilliance our automakers once embraced.

Any Gran Torino would shine in a set of Center Line wheels.

Cobra

OK, so all of the movies in which these iconic cars appear aren’t necessarily good, some are just barely watchable. The matte gray 1950 Mercury Monterey Custom with a chopped top and nitrous equipped actually belonged to Sylvester Stallone himself.

This is a beast of a car and would look great in a set of Raceline wheels.

Better Off Dead

Better Off Dead is your classic 1980s boy loses girl, boy gets girl back saga and includes a vindictive paperboy (you might want to Google that), a weird family and a ski race. But the real magic of this movie is in the 1967 Chevy Camaro powered by a 350 V8, an excellent choice for any teen who wants to get his girlfriend back.

American Racing wheels and the Chevy Camaro are even more American that Independence Day and apple pie.

Mad Max

One of the most iconic cars in film history began as a stock 1973 GT Ford Falcon Coupe. But since the movie was based in a post-apocalyptic world and the car was a police cruiser, modification had to be made.

The main modification was the addition of a Concorde front end and the supercharger protruding through the hood.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Ferris Bueller, the epitome of 1980s suburban entitlement, is someone we relate to as teenagers, but as parents, we would never let our kids play with his type. If Ferris was really a good friend, he never would have pressured Cameron in taking his dad’s prized Ferrari on a joy ride.

We doubt such a scene could ever be played out in real life again as by now everybody knows that driving a car in reverse doesn't spin back the odometer.

The Big Lebowski

There is nothing special about the Dude’s Gran Torino. In all honesty, it is a piece of junk, but an iconic piece of junk mind you.

Actually, we included this on our list because we love the movie, adore the character and need an excuse to write: The dude abides. And if you don’t like the movie, well, that is just, like, your opinion, man.

Christine

We think the 1957 Plymouth Fury was an excellent choice as a demonic, murderous vehicle. Do you have any objections?

Blues Brothers

The 1974 Dodge Monaco with the police package carrying around Elwood and Jake came with a cop motor, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks and ran good on regular gas. All we need to add to that is, “hit it.”

National Lampoon’s Vacation

The Ford LTD Country Squire needed a metallic pea paint job and faux wood paneling to make it completely disgusting, but other than that it was a typical 1980s car. Even a set of Fuel wheels wouldn't make this car look any better.

Deathproof

Thanks to Tarantino and the iconic 1971 Chevy Nova SS, no sane girl will ever date somebody who owns one. The matte black finish and white skull with crossed lightning bolts make this one devilish car. We are just waiting for a sequel in which the car returns.

Did we miss any iconic movie cars that you can think of?