Hooniverse Asks- What's the Greatest Celebrity-Related Car, Truck or Bike?

By Robert Emslie Mar 16, 2010

James Dean called his Porsche 550 Spider Lil’ Bastard, and That concevably could have been the last words to escape his lips as his silver sportscar plowed into Donald Turnupseed’s Ford Tudor on a lonely stretch of desert highway. That accident cut short Dean’s career, and sealed the fate of the little Porsche in the annals of celebrity lore. Many years later, a more minor celebrity –  going by the name of Vanilla Ice – liked to be rollin’ in my five point oh, with my rag-top down so my hair can blow. . . forever placing the fox-platform Mustang in the pantheon of cult of personality cars. Elvis loved him some Cadillac Broughams, Burt Reynolds – through the character of the Bandit – will inexorably be forever linked with a T-topped and screaming chicken-emblazoned black Pontiac Trans-Am. Pee-Wee Herman has his bike, and his police record.
So many celebrities, so many vehicles, but which is the best? Do you jones for McQueen’s green Mustang from Bullitt? How about Larry David’s Prius? That’s a pair of contrasts. Maybe you dream of rocking the cigar, trench coat and Peugeot 403 of TV’s Columbo?
So, which celebrity rocked the best wheels? Was it something fast and furious, or just something quirky and wicked cool? And which one would you like to have starring in your garage?
Image sources: [AMS-105, TVLand]

42 thoughts on “Hooniverse Asks- What's the Greatest Celebrity-Related Car, Truck or Bike?”
  1. How about Steve McQueen's Brown Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. Proving that a Ferrari doesn't have to be Red to be cool, at least if you're Steve McQueen.

      1. You know, that is exactly the car I thought of when I read the question. I looove Lussos and this is McQueen's so, that's like100 hp more, just for that. Better than hood scoops. His XKSS was also oh so very cool. But I think I'd still keep the GTL.

  2. There are many that come to mind:
    Nick Mason and "The Wall" Lola-Cosworth he co-drove at the Silverstone 6 Hours.
    <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3695410827_718f84f351.jpg"&gt;
    Eric Bana and his Ford Falcon.
    <img src="http://www.lovethebeast.com.au/site/wp-content/themes/beast/images/gr_about1.jpg"&gt;
    Steve McQueen and a green Mustang
    <img src="http://www.americancarimports.com/bullitt_mustang.jpg"&gt;
    Or a 917K from "Le Mans"
    <img src="http://www.khulsey.com/stockphotography/porsche_917k_le-mans.jpeg"&gt;
    Jeremy Clarkson and the Ford GT
    [youtube 0UAnlMNvK8Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UAnlMNvK8Y youtube]
    Actually, I think I like that last one the best.

  3. In sticking to the terms of the post, which is, a car associated with a specific person, I don't see how you can get much better than James Dean and the Porsche. But broadening the scope to include cars that are celebrities in their own right, cars that are more famous than some of the actors that rode in them, then I think there's only one choice:
    <img src=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2262/2419574293_5d609d034d.jpg>
    That's right, the Ecto-mobiles from the Ghostbuster movies. The movie may be over 20 years old now, but drive a clone down the street and you're guaranteed to have people shouting "Who you gonna call??" Mine doesn't even remotely look like the real thing but people are convinced that it's a perfect replica. (I guess because it's an old, white, ambulance with Ghostbuster's logos on the door?)

    1. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing this morning, but had to run to go to work. Once again, I'll proudly state that i have the Corgi version of this car. That's about as close as I'll ever get to being as cool as Sean Connery, but there you have it.

  4. My top five vehicles along with the celebs associated with them:
    -John Schneider and Tom Wopat's 69 Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard
    -Lee Majors' GMC from The Fall Guy
    -H.B. Halicki's Mustang from the original Gone in 60 Seconds
    -Burt Reynolds' Trans Am from the first Smokey and The Bandit
    -The blue Chevy stepside from the original Red Dawn that Patrick Swayze drove.

    1. Yea, the reference ruins the car. There's a guy here in KC that has a pretty cool custom Isetta (with a Honda ATV engine) he takes to all the car shows. He sticks an Urkel mannequin through the sunroof. PU-LEASE!

      1. That could be another question. Either: "What is the worst celebrity-related car?" or "What celebrity relation ruins a good car?"

      2. Here in Brasil I read a test that 4Rodas (our equivalent to Car and Driver or Motor Trend I suppose,though more sedated these days) where they tested a custom Isetta with a Fireblade 900 cc engine in the back. Wider rear track (not by much,though) and everything. Very yellow and very cool.

  5. How about Jim Rockford (James Garner, for you children) and his Trans Am that he was always wrecking in chases, it was in the shop all the time, and his Dad's shortbed Chevy four wheel drive that he had to borrow during most episodes?

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