Iconic Cars in Popular Culture and the American Psyche
Every once in a while a moment in film, television, or popular culture is so impactful and memorable that it embeds itself in the collective consciousness. For car aficionados and casual drivers alike, there are a few iconic cars that have reached the category of “legendary.” As your El Paso auto body shop pro, Sergio Lewis loves talking about cars. So why not take a moment to celebrate the few lucky vehicles that have become household names and exist in the imagination of Americans everywhere? What makes a car legendary? After all, Americans love the road and the freedom that comes with getting in your car and driving away into the horizon.
How Auto Body Shop Restores the Beauty of Your Vehicle
Americans are proud of their cars. They say something about us and who we are. It’s why country-wide auto shows continue to attract car aficionados across every state and why as a professional auto body shop, we take the beauty of your car very seriously. Some of the nation’s most popular and longest-running car shows started in the early 20th century and continue attracting people today. Our history shows that cars are a big part of our entertainment, films, television shows, and collective imagination.
Historic Cars From Popular Culture
The Heroic Batmobiles
This is #1 because not only is the Batmobile a force for good, like a trusty sidekick of the great Batman superhero but it also spans generations beginning with early versions of the Batmobile as early as the 1950s. In fact, the earliest Batmobile was a 1939 Cadillac Series 79 convertible designed by Harley Earl of General Motors. The first Batmobile was a Lincoln Futura that was modified and painted for the early television series. Hundreds of modifications were done on the Futura including aluminum bat symbols bolted to hubs and a steering wheel in the style of an airplane yoke. This early batmobile, however, did not have air conditioning, which made it quite the sweaty adventure for early Batman actor Adam West and Burt Ward. After this version, of course, there continued to be several iterations of the beloved vehicle. The Batman and Batman Returns vehicle was crafted with an original design by Barbara Ling, following that was the Clooney Mobile, which was a Jaguar D Type. The 2008 Tumbler turned quite a few heads when it premiered in the Dark Knight.
The Back to the Future DeLoreans
As the film kicked off, the film crew had three legendary DeLoreans built. The DeLorean used the DMC-12 as the base, but it was significantly modified. The Powertrain motor was replaced with a Porsche engine that would allow the car to go faster. Some of the modifications made to the vehicle that might be missing for your vehicle include, of course, the iconic repulsor lift flying unit, which allows the wheels to swivel and take off! Then there was the special capacitor which was the key to time travel, as it was what generated the electricity from lighting or plutonium. The DeLorean had to reach a whopping 88 miles per hour in order to break the space-time continuum and launch itself into a different timescape. You don’t see that every day, even in 2021!
The James Bond cars
Just like the Batmobile, James Bond has had several versions of his elegant getaway vehicle. Arguably, they can all be traced to the original 1964 Aston Martin DV5 007 from Goldfinger and Thunderball. Its unique characteristics include the ram bumper, machine guns, ejector seats, smoke screen, and more. Also part of this list is the Lotus Espirit S1 featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was another upgrade to the original classic.
The Fast and Furious Charger
A classic film franchise for car aficionados is the action-packed Fast and Furious. The 1970 Dodge Charger catapulted the Charger model back into the spotlight when it was featured in the first film. This has become one of the more modern classic film cars.
The Mini Coopers in the Italian Job
This niche, classic car has a very European feel. The Italian Job premiered in the 1969 film and proceeded to create a cult following for this flexible vehicle. This vehicle features a four cylinders 75-hp engine with a top speed of 97 mph.
Ready to Make Your Car Legendary? Call Sergio Lewis Body Shop
Your vehicle doesn’t have to star in a movie to be legendary. A beautiful body will raise eyebrows, turn heads, and inspire those looking for class and sophistication. Whether you have been in a fender bender or just looking for a restoration job, our body shop experts are here! Call us today.
For top-notch bodywork on your vehicle, call Sergio Lewis Bodyshop.
