Whether they became household names from the big screen or reached fame from your beloved TV shows, on screen cars have a way of connecting with people that not many things can match. Sometimes movie cars even trump the lead actor and become the star of the show! Is it the joy of pretending you are Steve Mcqueen in Bullitt racing around the streets of San Francisco or sliding over the hood of The General Lee like the Duke boys? These are all cars that you can actually finance, not just prototypes or props.

Scooby Doo – The Mystery Machine- Various Models

360_mysteryMachineA personal favourite of mine! The mystery machine has no gadgets or special effects unless you count its super groovy paint job! In the cartoons it is generally considered to be a 1963 Ford Ecoline Van however interestingly when the first live action film was made they used a mid 1970s Holden Van. Hopefully Scooby, Shaggy and the gang got a little taste of Australian motoring!

We found one for sale in America that looks fantastic and is made from a 1966 Chevy G10 for a staggering $69,999! Break that down over 5 years at a fixed rate of 4.49% and you could secure car finance on this little beauty from only $301/week*.

The Love Bug – Herbie – 1962 VW Beetle Loans

360_herbieWe all know this little beauty! However did you know that before the film went into production Disney set up a casting call for a dozen cars to come and audition? Word is that Toyotas, Volvos and even an MG were brought along but it was the little VW Bug who would go on to become one of the most iconic cars in television history. Volkswagen did not permit Disney to use the Volkswagen name so the badging was stripped from the car and the brand never mentioned in the original film. Herbie has the amazing ability to drive himself which I am sure some of us would love on those long commutes to and from work of a morning!

In April this year a screen accurate Herbie the Love Bug set a new record for VW Beetles when it sold at Auction for $126,500.

With car loans from a mere $542/week*, who wouldn’t bid at auction on a genuine Love Bug?

The Green Hornet – Black Beauty – 1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown

Another super hero seems to get all the vehicular love… but not this time! We love Black Beauty! The Black Beauty is elegant yet dangerous with its large array of hidden weapons including stinger missiles and retractable anti-riot spikes. The actual Black Beauty used in the TV series went through $50,000 worth of customization before it was deemed screen ready, the biggest of which was the 30 coats of metal flake! When the Seth Rogen led reboot was made in 2011 they used a 1965 model of the same car.

You can buy a screen accurate version from the 2011 film for just $49,998 or you could break down that asking price into manageable car loan payments from $215/week*… fairly reasonable for this list!

360_blackBeauty

Starsky and Hutch – Striped Tomato – 1975 Ford Gran Torino Finance

360_starskyHutchThis red machine is a symbol of mid 70s American muscle. Originally the show creator William Blinn wanted Starsky to be driving a convertible Chevrolet Camaro however Ford was the studio’s car lease provider and the Torino was the closest thing in stock. Another fun fact with this car is that actor Paul Michael Glaser who played Starsky has frequently stated his immediate and long lasting dislike of the car. Going so far as to tell David Soul who played Hutch that he was “going to destroy that car… burn it down every chance I get”.

You can get yourself into your very own Striped Tomato for around $35,000 or spread it out with car finance over 5 years at a rate of 4.49% and be paying from $150/week*.

Miami Vice – 1986 Ferrari Testarossa

360_miamiViceFirst of all I know what you are all thinking, yes in the first two seasons Don Johnson as “Sonny” drove a black 1972 Ferrari Daytona until some legal issues resulted in Ferrari offering them two Testarossas. The white Testarossa became the symbol not just for this show but for mid 80s cool. With its bright white paint, cream leather interior and pronounced side streaks the Testarossa ushered in a new era of glitzy excess.

The actual “hero car” from the TV show was recently listed for sale at 1.75 million dollars! For that kind of purchase, I definitely recommend contacting the car finance experts..

Smokey and the Bandit – 1977 Pontiac Trans Am

360_smokeyBanditWho among us hasn’t dreamed of driving the highways in a T roof Trans Am with a cowboy hat on? Just me? This vehicle is known for its black paint job with the golden bird on the hood. After the film got released, Pontiac saw a massive jump in sales however the iconic scene where Bandit jumps over the bridge has a little secret you may not know. The Trans Am’s original engine wasn’t powerful enough to get the car over the jump so an engine from Chevrolet was substituted in.

You can get a 77 Trans Am for around $37,000 however recently Burt Reynold’s own screen accurate version sold for $450,000 at auction. The auctioneers were only expecting between $60,000 and $80,000!

Dukes of Hazzard – The General Lee – 1969 Dodge Charger

360_dukesHazardThe General Lee is known for its signature horn and having its doors welded shut resulting in the Duke boys having to slide in through the windows. Due to the level of stunts and jumps in the show, of the 320 General Lees used during filming only around 17 still exist in various shapes of repair today.

You can get your own General Lee for around $50,000, or you could test your budget on our car finance calculator and see if you can afford to be a Duke yourself.

Bullitt – 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390

360_bullittThis film contains what is arguably the greatest car chase scene in cinematic history, rumours have it that the production crew told San Francisco authorities that the cars would not exceed 35 mph and would then be sped up in editing. However when actually filmed the vehicles were clocked at going around 110 mph causing many local residents to call the police. The film makers removed the driving lights, Mustang lettering, GT badges and even the iconic running pony grille emblem to give the car a stealthier look.

Getting one of the cars from the movie is near impossible as only two were used. One was destroyed and the other was purchased by an anonymous buyer and the whereabouts are to this day unknown. However you can get a 1968 replica for around $65,000. This is definitely an affordable option if you track one down and apply for a car loan with 360 Finance.

Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000 edition) – Eleanor – 1967 Ford Shelby GT500

360_goneInSixtyPotentially the greatest movie car never driven by an English spy or a billionaire in a bat costume, “Eleanor” is the only Mustang to ever receive a starring role credit in a film. The car’s exterior design included a unique hood and trunk custom built for the film. Under the hood Eleanor has a 351 Ford V8 crate engine rated at 400 horsepower. Eleanor is movie motoring perfection.

A car used during filming recently sold for a cool 1 million dollars. However if you don’t have that kind of money you can pick one up for around $120,000 – $150,000.

Whether it has raced through the streets of San Francisco or can fit a gang of mystery solving teenagers, 360 Finance will find you the best car finance deal on the market. Contact us today or fill in the quick quote form to get yourself a screen ready automotive star.

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