Zooming to Stardom: 10 Expensive Cars Which Gained Iconic Status on the Silver Screen

When a movie comes together as a product on the silver screen, additional accessories such as cars and costumes play a crucial role in shaping the personalities of some of the most loved characters on celluloid. From James Bond to Batman, it's tough to imagine some characters without their iconic vehicles, which have matched up to their screen presence. Here's a look at the cars that got featured in films and went on to maintain their relevance despite the test of time.

1. 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf - Le Mans

The 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage gained the attention of audiences when it was driven by actor Steve McQueen in the movie "Le Mans" in 1971. While the car appeared for a few brief scenes in the movie, it went on to capture millions of hearts, and was forever etched in the memories of moviegoers and car enthusiasts. The car was an actual race car that had participated in the 1968 Le Mans Endurance Race and Daytona, and has a price tag of $11 million. 

2. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was a memorable coming-of-age film that went on to become an influential hit. The movie that followed the lives of Ferris Bueller played by Matthew Broderick, his best friend Cameron played by Alan Ruck, and his girlfriend Sloane played by Mia Sara, also featured a race car, the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT 1961 Ferrari 250 GT. This particular vehicle was later bought by radio personality Chris Evans who paid a whopping $10.9 million for the car in 2008.

3. 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona- Redline 7000

Another race car that was driven by actor Steve McQueen is the 1965 Shelby Cobra Dayton Couple that was featured in the movie,  "Redline 7000." This was the only car to ever beat a Ferrari in a race, which was a huge achievement at the time. The car was purposefully built for auto racing, and the American sports coupé was the first car to win a title on the international scene in the FIA International Championship for GT manufacturers in 1965. Like any other car from McQueen’s collection, this particular one was also placed in action and the 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona bagged a whopping $7.25 million. 

4. Batmobile- Batman 

This version of the Batmobile was featured in the classic TV series "Batman" that ran from the year 1966 to 1968. The car was a revamped version of the Ford Lincoln future owned by the customizer George Barris. The series made this version of the Batmobile so popular, that even 47 years after the show ended the car managed to bag a whopping $4.62 million at an auction in January 2013. When the series was canceled in the year 1968, the batmobile was replaced with a simpler and darker version of the batmobile. 

5. Aston Martin DB5- Goldfinger

This list would be incomplete without a car driven around by James Bond, and the Aston Martin DB5, featured in the iconic 1964 James Bond movie "Goldfinger," takes the cake. Only two of these models were ever made and that too specially made for the film. Sadly, one of these two models disappeared forever after it was stolen, while the second model is now on display at the Union Savings Bank's president Harry Yeaggy's private museum. The car is reportedly worth a cool $4.6 Million.

6.  Porsche 911S- Le Mans

The movie "Le Mans" also popularized the Porsche 911S driven by the legendary Steve McQueen, in addition to the 1968 Ford GT Gulf. The actor was a natural when it came to driving since he was also an amateur race car driver. The automobile has constantly evolved over the years but the basic concept of the design remains unchanged. Version S was released in the early '70s and was followed by version C. Steve McQueen's Porsche 911S bagged more than $1.37 million in an auction back in the year 2011.

7. 1929 Duesenberg Model J- Spinout

The vintage 1929 Duesenberg Model J appeared in the 1966 movie "Spinout," alongside rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. The car did not just feature but also got an immense amount of screen time and was later sold for $1.2 million at an auction in 2011. The luxury automobile which was made by Duesenberg was first introduced in the year 1928, and was sold until Duesenberg Motors Company went bankrupt in 1937.

8. 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500- Gone in 60 Seconds

The high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang was built was Shelby American from the year 1965 to 1967, and then by Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1970. Three vehicles of the same model, nicknamed "Eleanor" in the Nicolas Cage movie, were built specifically for the film, but only one survived. This particular one was sold in the year 2013 for a whopping $1 million. These cars were the smallest and lightest of the GT 350 model at the time.

9. Chitty Chitty Car- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

This car was essentially a prop but you could also drive it around if you want. The story follows the character Potts, his family, and the flying car called Chitty Chitty. The car was inspired by a series of aero-engined racing cars built by Count Louis Zborowski in the early 1920s. Six versions of the car were made for the film. The version that was built for the stage production holds the record for the most expensive stage prop ever used.

10. DeLorean DMC-12- Back To The Future

The car that carried Marty McFly back and forth in time became an instant hit among fans of the cult classic. Only seven of these cars were made for the film, out of which one sold at an auction in the year 2011 for $541,000. The proceeds from the transaction went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research which is a nonprofit organization. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the car had a limited production time but is widely popular because of its features as the time machine in the movie.