These cult cars from Hollywood made history

Loud engines, cool bodies and unforgettable performances: many of us had a dream car as a child, usually one that we had seen in a film or series. The five film cars that we present to you are more than just metal and paint. They have shaped popular culture and continue to make fans’ hearts beat faster.

Camaro becomes a bestseller 

Bright yellow, with black racing stripes and an unmistakable V8 sound, Bumblebee, in the form of the Chevrolet Camaro, races across the screen and thrills audiences. In the ‘Transformers’ films, this Camaro becomes the heroic protector of the main human characters. Bumblebee first appears as a rundown 1977 Camaro with a mighty V8, which later transforms into a prototype of the fifth model generation. The spectacular appearance on screen breathed new life into the real vehicle: After the film’s release, sales figures increased significantly. In the first year, over 80,000 units were sold – a huge success for Chevrolet.

Colourful Scooby-Doo van

But not every cult car is built for speed. Some are memorable for their style. Colourfully painted and full of hippy charm, the Mystery Machine van from Scooby-Doo is a child of the late 1960s. Behind the colourful façade is a Dodge A100 minibus with a simple chassis and robust six-cylinder engine. In the animated series, the car serves Scooby-Doo and his friends as mobile headquarters for their adventures. Although there was no official product placement, the van became an icon. Fans around the world have recreated it with flower patterns, turning a simple delivery van into a symbol of friendship and adventure.

Through the ages with the DeLorean DMC-12

A dazzling flash, burning tyre tracks and an iconic line: ‘When this car reaches 88 miles per hour…’ The DeLorean DMC-12 becomes the ultimate time machine. In Back to the Future, the silver sports car with gullwing doors and stainless steel body is a central element of the plot. Under the bonnet is a 2.8-litre V6 with around 130 hp, not a powerhouse, but the futuristic design was ahead of its time. The film immortalised the already discontinued DeLorean. The flop became a cult car and to this day fans dream of owning a DMC-12 and converting it into a film time machine. This car has long since become a legend of popular culture.

James Bond shapes Lotus’ brand image

James Bond escapes his pursuers in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977) by steering his snow-white Lotus Esprit S1 into the sea. The sports car transforms into a submarine before the audience’s eyes – a cinematic trick that made the Esprit one of the most famous Bond cars. The real Esprit S1 was a low-slung two-seater with a mid-mounted engine and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (around 160 hp). Not a performance prodigy, but the wedge-shaped body made it an eye-catcher. After the film’s release, Esprit sales skyrocketed, with many customers having to wait months for their ‘Bond Lotus’. This cinematic appearance catapulted Lotus into the limelight and continues to shape the brand image to this day.

Herbie, the hero on four wheels

A small VW Beetle with the starting number 53 mixes up the racing world in Disney’s ‘A Great Beetle’ (1968) and wins with heart and humour against seemingly superior opponents. Herbie, the idiosyncratic Beetle, may not be a horsepower monster with its air-cooled 1.2-litre boxer engine and around 34 hp, but that doesn’t stop it from becoming a hero on four wheels. The film helped the popular VW Beetle to newfound fame. The audience took the cuddly car to their hearts and Volkswagen benefited from the boost to its image. The simple Volkswagen became a superstar thanks to Herbie. To this day, many people immediately think of the lovable runabout when they see a white Beetle.

Whether it’s a thundering Camaro or a cuddly Beetle, these legendary film and TV cars have done more than just race across the screen. They have inspired generations, created dreams on wheels and even boosted the sales figures of real models. To this day, they evoke childhood memories, because sometimes all it takes is an iconic car to feel like the hero of your own adventure for a moment.