# What was the hottest TV/film car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2000, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300 "2000-08-22T13:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/21 "2000-08-22T19:18:45Z")
Herman Munster’s hotrod hearse ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/22 "2000-08-22T19:42:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > \*\*The race car from Speed Racer. 15 buttons on the steering wheel, one of which would fit any situation. \*\* It was called the Mach 5. It had six buttons, going from “A” to “F.” “A” Automatic Jack - For jumping over things. (Formula One cars actually have these. In the Pits, a mechanic connects an air pressure hose and the jacks lift the car up so the tires can be changed.) “B” Climbing Treads - With these, Speed could climb any wall. (How the special treads were able to go out of the fenders and onto the tires, then go OFF the tires and BACK into the fenders, I have NO idea.) “C” Saw blades - Handy for going through woods. The blades could even cut through the bodies of other cars. “D” Watertight roof - For underwater travel (airtanks were included for the passengers. How the engine was able to function underwater, I have NO idea.) “E” Special headlights - Infrared _and_ ultraviolet! “F” Robot homing pigeon - Handy for when you need to send for help. I used to watch that show every afternoon with my two brothers. The very best _motorcycle_ was Arnold’s Harley in _Terminator 2_, with Peter Fonda’s chopper in _Easy Rider_ a close second. The very best motorcycle movies were the two _On Any Sunday_s. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/23 "2000-08-22T20:07:26Z")
I’m pretty sure the buttons on the steering wheel were A-G. I think “F” was the periscope (usually used in conjunction with the airtight roof), and “G” was the robot homing pigeon. And we robots have to stick together. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/24 "2000-08-22T23:41:00Z")
Sam Lowry’s Messerschmidt in _Brazil._ If you don’t know why it’s cool, it’s too complicated to explain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/25 "2000-08-22T23:53:27Z")
I nominate any and all Barris Kustom Kars which include all of the Batman series’ cars, the Hillbilly Jalopy, the Munsters’ Model T, and about 99% of all Mercuries that were used in movies(excepting the one in the Stallone movie). -Sam ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/26 "2000-08-23T00:57:55Z")
Hmmmm… movies it would have to be the Challenger in “Vanishing Point,” but the meanest car ever to appear in an artistic work would have to be the Trans Am SD-455 sung about in “455SD” by Radio Birdman, even if they DID get the specs wrong (“got a 71 trans am”??? “got a _Hurst_ engine in my hand”???). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/27 "2000-08-23T01:35:56Z")
The 'Vette from _Route 66_ Ray’s Stingray from _Stingray_ _The Love Bug_ The Black Beauty from _The Green Hornet_ The Stutz-Bearcat from _TheBearcats_ The police cruiser from _Car 54, Where Are You?_ The bus from _The Patridge Family_ The bus from _The Big Bus_ ---
**Author:** ![jcarbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d78d45/32.png) [@jcarbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcarbon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/28 "2000-08-23T01:51:53Z")
What about the Lord Humongous’ very custom (note the bumbers) vehicle from Road Warrior? semi-hijack I liked the chopper too. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/29 "2000-08-23T01:53:31Z")
The _Mystery Machine_. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/30 "2000-08-23T02:52:57Z")
When the Mystery Machine’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’. But seriously, folks, what about the Corvette Stingray from _Corvette Summer_? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/31 "2000-08-23T02:54:38Z")
Oh, wait! I know! The “Silver Hornet” from _The Revenge of the Pink Panther_! It looked gorgeous for the first 20 feet of travel, before it fell apart. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/32 "2000-08-23T03:34:03Z")
I always wanted Ray’s black 1965 Corvette Stingray, from _Stingray_. After that, probably the Coyote. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/33 "2000-08-23T03:57:51Z")
I have to cast my vote for the black 1968 Camaro in _Better Off Dead_. I have always wanted one of those cars! ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/34 "2000-08-23T08:02:54Z")
Mr. Bean’s mini. Stanley Windrush’s bubble car in I’M ALL RIGHT, JACK. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/35 "2000-08-23T08:06:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\*It was called the Mach 5. It had six buttons, going from “A” to “F.” > > “A” Automatic Jack - For jumping over things. (Formula One cars actually have these. In the Pits, a mechanic connects an air pressure hose and the jacks lift the car up so the tires can be changed.) > > “B” Climbing Treads - With these, Speed could climb any wall. (How the special treads were able to go out of the fenders and onto the tires, then go OFF the tires and BACK into the fenders, I have NO idea.) > > “C” Saw blades - Handy for going through woods. The blades could even cut through the bodies of other cars. > > “D” Watertight roof - For underwater travel (airtanks were included for the passengers. How the engine was able to function underwater, I have NO idea.) > > “E” Special headlights - Infrared _and_ ultraviolet! > > “F” Robot homing pigeon - Handy for when you need to send for help. > > I used to watch that show every afternoon with my two brothers.\*\* I’m glad someone else posted this, and saved me the trouble of doing so. (Though Robot Arm is right that the periscope was button “F” and the homing robot was button “G”) Other cool cars from the series were the “Melange”, the GRX, the specially designed car in the “car wrestling match”, Racer X’s car (the “Shooting Star”) and, especially, the Car Acrobatic Team’s cars (though I don’t believe for a moment that they’d explode if they were leaking oil.) Oh, and as far as Magnum P.I.'s car goes, I once read a book called “Be Your Own Detective”. The author had great fun pointing out how absurd it was for Magnum to tail someone in Hawaii using a _Red Ferrari_ and not get “made”. ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/36 "2000-08-23T10:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > **The very best _motorcycle_ was Arnold’s Harley in _Terminator 2_, with Peter Fonda’s chopper in _Easy Rider_ a close second.** OOh… now we’re gonna get personal on some of these choices. My choice? -The red Ducati 916s (either of the two) from “Fled” ## Worth mentioning: -the black Triumph Speed Triple from “Mission: Impossible 2” -the ivory BMW R1200C from “Tomorrow Never Dies” -Zed’s custom chopper from “Pulp Fiction” The fantasy: -The 2-wheel drive, ceramic-motored BMW Chopper from “Akira” ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/37 "2000-08-23T14:31:41Z")
I would pick the Duke’s Dodge Charger first and any of the Aston Martins from the Bond movies second. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/38 "2000-08-23T14:40:31Z")
Oh, people. The HOTTEST CAR in film history was J. Frank Parnell’s **Chevy Malibu** in _Repo Man._ If you don’t believe me, just have a look in the trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/39 "2000-08-23T14:59:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > \*\*Who you gonna run against Zebra 7? \*\* -nitpick ON- Just noticed this: It’s actually Zebra 3. -nitpick OFF- ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300/40 "2000-08-23T17:30:08Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DRY \* > Other cool cars from the series were the “Melange”, the GRX, the specially designed car in the “car wrestling match”, Racer X’s car (the “Shooting Star”) and, especially, the Car Acrobatic Team’s cars (though I don’t believe for a moment that they’d explode if they were leaking oil.)_\* Thanks for the quote. (Thanks to **Robot Arm** for the correction. I found a Speed Racer site that detailed the special controls, but I can’t remember the address just now.) As for special/weird cars in the SR series, how about the Mammoth Car? I think it was 500 feet long and articulated. It looked like ten Greyhound buses connected together. At the end, we find out it was made of… [dramatic music] _…stolen gold!!!_ [/dramatic music] Good point about _Magnum P. I._ There can’t be too many red Ferraris in Hawaii. Anyone else remember the cartoon _The Wacky Races_? I wanted Dick Dastardly’s car. That, or Professor Pat Pending’s Converti-Car; it could change into ANYTHING. My two brothers and I always hated to see Penelope Pitstop win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-hottest-tv-film-car/30300.md?page=3)