Gearheads often remember the fast cars more than the movies or television shows where they appeared. In many scenes, cool cars outshine the actors, the television scripts, or the movie screen plays. The car chase scenes are often more compelling than anything else. Back in the days of Blockbuster Video, who doesn't remember renting the Bullitt video, sliding the tape into your VCR, and having the video cued up at the famous chase scene between the Charger and the Mustang fastback? Roaring engine sounds often eclipse a tv or movie score, if you want to get right down to it. And the sound effects of sirens blaring, cars crashing, sliding out, the General Lee jumping a stream, or burning rubber can even give a car guy or car gal goosebumps and an adrenalin rush right in front of a home or surround sound movie screen.
Iconic Cars from the Silver Screen and the Home TV
For this dive into Hollywood, let's go all the way back to the 1930s, for the vintage hot rods that were first more widely constructed after World War II, but were American muscle machines from the 1930s that were initially cobbled together with used parts that were massaged and modified to make more horsepower and torque. These customized Fords and Chevys were lightweight, handled better than you'd imagine, and went faster than they looked. They were used for making illegal moonshine and liquor distribution runs during Prohibition (1920-1933) and later for illegal street racing, drag racing, and then finally legal racing at drag strips and various salt flats in the West, like the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.
1930s: The Birth of Hot Rodding
Above: 1932 Ford roadster Bonneville Salt Flats record setting race car of 200.875 MPH (photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions)
The 1930s saw the rise of modified Fords and Chevrolets — lightweight bodies with souped-up V8 engines — used for dry-lake racing and later immortalized on screen.
- 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe – American Graffiti (1973)
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Perhaps the most famous hot rod ever, the yellow Deuce Coupe driven by John Milner represents the golden age of early hot rodding and American youth culture.
(Engine note: often built with a flathead V8; lightweight and highly customizable.) Milner's '32 five-window coupe actually had a Chevrolet 283 or 327 cubic inch small block V8 engine.
- 1934 Ford Three-Window Coupe – The California Kid (1974)
Martin Sheen’s chopped ’34 Ford with flames down the side is one of TV’s most iconic street rods, inspiring countless real-world builds.
- 1932 Ford Roadster – The Great Race (1965)
A stylized version appeared in this comedic adventure film; the car’s aesthetics reflected early 20th-century race styling.
- 1933 Willys Coupe – Hot Rod (1979)
A classic drag-strip favorite; Willys coupes from the ’30s became Gasser icons — lightweight and perfect for V8 swaps.
1940s: Post-War Custom Culture
After WWII, returning servicemen began modifying cheap pre-war cars with bigger engines - birthing the hot rod and custom scene that dominated ’50s car shows and films.
- 1949 Mercury Coupe – Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
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While slightly post-war, the chopped and lowered ’49 Merc became synonymous with James Dean and 1950s rebellion.
(Customizers like George Barris helped cement the Mercury’s status as the archetypal lead sled.)
- 1948 Ford DeLuxe Coupe – Grease (1978)
The movie’s “Hell’s Chariot,” the black hot rod raced against the T-Bird, was based on a custom ’48 Ford — a true icon of the early hot rod aesthetic.
- 1941 Willys Americar – Hot Rods to Hell (1967)
The Willys Americar became a drag-race favorite in countless ’60s films and B-movies, symbolizing American backyard performance engineering.
- 1948 Ford Super DeLuxe Convertible – Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Featured as a nostalgic callback to postwar Americana; the model was a staple of early cruising culture.
1950s: The Early Muscle Era Emerges
- 1955 Chevrolet 150 – Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)
The stripped-down street racer that defined minimalist drag-race cool.
- 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air – American Graffiti (1973)
The quintessential '50s icon, embodying small-town cruising and chrome.
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird - Vegas (TV, 1978-1981)
Actor Robert Urich portrayed private investigator Dan Tanna in the TV show.
- 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible - Nice Dreams (1981)
In the opening scene of this movie, two beautiful women race around in a pristine '55 Chevy Bel Air convertible and meet Cheech and Chong with Cheech driving an ice cream truck.
- 1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine (1983)
The demonic Fury introduced horror to hot rods and classic car nostalgia.
1960s: The Golden Age of Muscle
- 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 – Bullitt (1968)
The most famous car chase in movie history between a '68 Dodge Charger and a '68 Ford Mustang GT 390 fastback piloted by actor Steve McQueen portraying detective Frank Bullitt.
- 1974 Dodge Monaco patrol car - The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers movie - SNL actors Dan Akyroyd and John Belushi's getaway patrol car.
- 1966 Mustang fastback - Spenser for Hire (TV, 1985-1988)
Actor Robert Urich portrayed private investigator Spenser in the TV show.
- 1969 Dodge Charger R/T – The Dukes of Hazzard (TV)
The “General Lee” — a pop culture phenomenon.
- 1967 Chevrolet Impala – Supernatural (TV, 2005-2020)
A 4-door sleeper turned legend.
- 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang “Eleanor” – Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
Modern fame for a ’60s classic - Actor Nicholas Cage and actress Angelina Jolie, among others, heist several scores of American muscle machines and European super cars in this famous remake, including the star car, a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 replica named Eleanor, designed by automotive artist Steve Stanford, with Chip Foose building the actual cars. The lead photo of this article is the Hero Car, none other than the 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang 'Eleanor' movie car (photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions).
1970s: The End of the Original Muscle Era
- 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T – Vanishing Point (1971)
Symbol of freedom and existential speed.
- 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda – Nash Bridges (TV, 1996-2001)
Actor Don Johnson portrays Nash Bridges, a San Francisco, California police detective. He drives a 1971 'Cuda convertible. Actor Cheech Marin portrays detective Joe Dominguez (Nash's detective partner sidekick). Revival of ’70s Mopar style.
- 1971-1972 Plymouth Valiant Scamp - Duel (1971)
Actor Dennis Weaver portrays David Mann and is pursued by a maniacal diesel, 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck driver.
- Various cool cars, American muscle, hot rods, and super cars - The Cannonball Run (1981)
Various famous actors, including Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammie Davis, Jr., Roger Moore, and Burt Reynolds race across the country in a race originally created in real life and driven by famous automotive journalist Brock Yates.
- 1974-1978 Pontiac Firebird - Rockford Files (TV, 1974-1980)
Actor James Garner portrays private investigator Jim Rockford in the famous TV show.
- 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 SC and other cool cars, American and otherwise - Gumball Rally (1976)
An eclectic group of people takes part in a secret and illegal, cross country road race.
- 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Actor Burt Reynolds portrays Bo The Bandit Darville and drives a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Bo's love interest in the flick is actress Sally Field, who plays Carrie Frog. Burt's sidekick in the 18-wheeler tractor trailer is actor Jerry Reed, who portrays Cledus The Snowman Snow. Actor/comedian Jackie Gleason portrays Sheriff Buford T. Justice.
American Muscle Car Parts at Classic Industries
Classic Industries prides itself on having the most comprehensive selection of restoration products in the industry. You can shop by vehicle online. You can also get numerous immense printed parts and accessories catalogs mailed to your home for free. Classic Industries also offers digital parts and accessories catalogs for various GM and Mopar machines, as well as the vaunted Ford Mustang. If you're in need of getting your made famous in TV or movies American muscle machine the parts you need, you know where to find them. If you're in Southern California, you can also stop in the Classic Industries retail showroom in Surf City USA, also known as Huntington Beach!