The 50 Coolest Fictional Cars

A dream car and the car of your dreams are not the same thing. The car of your dreams could be a '69 Chevy Camaro or a Lamborghini Aventador or an exotic Pagani. It's a car that is produced in higher quantities that can be found and purchased. A dream car, however, is something that you shape and create purely in your daytime dose-offs and deep-sleep thinking. It's something that combines creative juices with your ideas of what makes a car cool.

When it comes to dream cars, there are few people that can actually play out these fantasies and bring them to life. Filmmakers, video game designers, and artists are those people. These creatives have come up with vehicles like Lightning McQueen from Cars, KITT from Knight Rider, the Reptar Wagon from Rugrats, and Black Beauty from The Green Hornet. All of these cars have played amazing roles in some form, grabbing their audience's attention with likable details that make them unlikely for recreation in real life. We wanted to celebrate this notion by compiling a list of some of our favorite made-up cars. See what we turned up with in The 50 Coolest Fictional Cars.

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As Seen In: The Love Bug

We miss the old Volkswagen beetles as it is, so it was no surprise that Herbie planted a place in our hearts. The car that has a mind of its own turned an has-been racer into a star and burned plenty of supercars on the way. This was the first true self-driving car.

As Seen In: Transformers

When the new Transformers movies were first coming out, we have to admit that we were probably more excited to see the new Camaro. It was the first time that it was getting major screen time, and we were drooling in anticipation for its production release. Obviously, Bumblebee isn't your average Chevy, though. Sam Witwicky's Decepticon-battling transformer helps save planet earth. If that ain't cool, we don't know what is.

As Seen In: Cars

Ka-Pow, Ka-Chow! Sorry, my 17-, I mean, seven-year-old Hot Wheels-wielding self got out for a second. Lightning McQueen is one of the coolest cartoon cars to ever hit fake pavement. An imitation NASCAR racer based loosely on a Viper and a Corvette, Lightning quickly became the good guy hero after starting things off as a pompous asshole. Named after the ultimate on-screen "King of Cool," Lightning is a speedy, attractive car with a good engine under his hood.

As Seen In: Thundercats

Shaped like a cat about to pounce, and able to withstand the oncoming fire of almost any kind, the Thundertank helped the ThunderCats be even more badass. Yeah, we sometimes look back and shake our heads because the cartoon wasn't as good as we once thought it to be, but one thing can not be abated: the Thundertank still ain't nothing to fuck with.

As Seen In: Sonic

Although Dr. Robotnik's Drill Tank was relatively simple to beat in Sonic, it still warrants a spot on the list based on pure creativity. One of the mad doctor's many crazy toys, the spiraling drill on four wheels was actually a platform into which Robotnik would fly and land into with another one of his module's.

As Seen In: The Simpsons

The perfect representation of American excess and waste, the Canyonero was one of those episodes that was funny 'cause, well, it was true. It was the truck no one needed, but was forced onto to the public through seemingly savvy marketing and advertising. Can you name a truck with four-wheel drive, smells like steak and seats 35? The Ford Excursion the Canyonero.

As Seen In: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Sitting on Manhole cover rims, this awkward oven-like machine was too cool when we were kids. Although it was a shame to see pizza wasted by using it as a weapon (well, the thought of it), those giant pies sure took care of business when it came to taking down the bad guys. Powered by a miniature motor, this one-seater machine held plenty of pizzas to match any saucy situation.

As Seen In: Toy Story

Any toy car that's helping out Woody is dope in our book. The loyal radio controlled little green buggy has a heart of gold and is nearly as fast as the moving truck. Slap that giant rocket on the back and you've got one hell of a toy supercar.

As Seen In: Dawn of the Dead

This name "Killdozer" has taken on a different name since a guy in an enormous armored bulldozer went berserk in Colorado, but one of the most updated killer dozers was in 2004's Dawn of the Dead and was used to fight off evil, not cause it. A 2002 Ford E-350 Super Duty XLT under all the fixings, this behemoth had makeshift armor, a gigantic plow to mow down zombies, and barbed wire at the top. It's a pretty good escape vehicle when the dead rise from the dead.

As Seen In: Nice Dreams

Don't mistake this as a diss to ice cream. We flag down real ice cream trucks all the time. In the movie Nice Dreams, Cheech and Chong aren't selling a refreshing dairy treat out of this truck, though. We're sure plenty of people would be supporting this mobile "herbs" business, if it were real.

As Seen In: Power Rangers

As the heart of the collective Megazord, the Eagle Racer was no slouch. Captained by the Red Ranger (clearly the leader of the group), Speedor, as it was known in Japan, also had a nifty flight mode to attack enemies from the sky.

As Seen In: The Nude Bomb

The Deskmobile is a rare breed of vehicle that only runs on ink. And ink strictly from Saudi Arabia, at that. Would you believe it? Don Adams, aka Agent 86, shows no alarm driving this odd contraption around, and we loved watching him do it.

As Seen In: Saturday Night Live

The Adobe was featured in a hilarious SNL skit that ripped on tiny, cheap cars. The car, which only costs a ground-breaking $179 (not a single payment, total!), is a Mexican import made out of clay. The seats fit to your butt, the cup holders grip your drinks tight, and the forgiving and moldable exterior means you'll never have to pay for a repair ever again.

As Seen In: Osmosis Jones

In Osmosis Jones, Chris Rock plays a white blood cell that is fighting off an evil virus that is hell bent on murdering Bill Murray. As "the toughest hero you can get without a prescription," he drives a pretty dope HemoTrooper floating car with a booming system. The microscopic hot rod was the coolest transportation in the blood stream.

As Seen In: Rugrats

It's the Reptar Wagon! "The ultimate in toddler transportation, and the perfect children's toy!" At least that's what Stu Pickles likes to think. It might not be a real car, but it's Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil and Dil's choice method of transportation. With extendable arms, a Busta Rhymes Reptar voice, and fire-spitting nostrils (on the original model), this is one badass baby ride.

As Seen In: The Ambiguously Gay Duo

First, pause. Second, we give props to the Duo for having the, er, balls to rock out in such a hard-to-park ride.

As Seen In: Space Balls

In the hilarious Star Wars parody Space Balls, the Eagle 5, which is simply a mobile home with wings, takes the place of the Millenium Falcon. Han Solo and the Falcon might have some pretty major advantages over the Eagle, but there is one thing the Star Wars ship doesn't have: wheels. We don't think it could make that graceful of a landing in the desert either.

As Seen In: Wacky Races

Pat Pending has his own version of the planecarboat in the show Wacky Races way before Mac Miller and Schoolboy Q ever hopped on the mic, and it's one hell of a vehicle. The multi-purpose concoction was perfect for getting out of sticky situations in the treacherous Wacky Arena.

As Seen In: Dumb and Dumber

It's a sheep! Wait, no, it's a dog. Oh, but it has wheels, too. So, it's a sheepdog car? Of course only Lloyd and Harry would be driving something as idiotic as a sheepdog car.

As Seen In: Blade Runner

The spinners from Blade Runner are one of the original vertically propelled hovercars. Used largely by police in the 1982 film, the spinners used jet-propulsion to fly around, showing off a technology that was replicated in later films like The 5th Element and the prequel Star Wars Trilogy.

As Seen In: Spy Hunter 2

Now that we look at the Interceptor from Spy Hunter 2, we're wondering if the designer of the American-made Falcon F7 supercar found inspiration from this exact model. The resemblance is pretty damn close. That's a good thing, though. The new F7 is one of the meanest supercars on the scene right now, and has the specs to be a serious competitor.

As Seen In: M.A.S.K.

Sigh, another cartoon used to pedal plastic automotive toys? Yep. Sadly, the '80s were full of them. M.A.S.K., Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, was one of the better ones. Well, not really, but the cars were cool. Especially the Back To the Future-looking coupe that could open its gull-wing doors, hit the thrusters, and take flight.

As Seen In: Minority Report

Lexus was assigned a special task by Steven Spielberg himself for Minority Report. He asked the luxury company to plan a car that would be appropriate in the year 2054. Instead of some crazy hovercar or teleporting invention, Lexus designed this super bubbly concept. We're not sure it's futuristic enough to fit in in 2054, but it's certainly cool enough to make the list.

As Seen In: The Flintstones

Who needs horsepower when you can have manpower? Powered by nothing by Fred's feet, the Flintstones' car was practical yet sophisticated. Think about it: in a world where dinosaurs still walked amongst humans, the Flintstones had a nice sedan with room for the whole fam. The car also inspired many a feet joke in the years to come. If only cavemen were really this cool.

As Seen In: Despicable Me

Gru had one main goal in life: to conquer the world as the greatest supervillain alive. On his quest to achieve this unlikely hope, the likable supervillain drove a vehicle that wasn't so liked by anybody he parked near. It's a gigantic shiny, steel, rocket-powered beast that dominates everything and forgives nothing.

As Seen In: The Jetsons

Thanks to Hanna-Barbera, we thought the future would have food machines, moving sidewalks, and flying cars like the ones George Jetson whipped around in. None of that has happened, but the Jetson's family car still holds a spot in our hearts as the ultimate dream car. One that could take us places where we wouldn't need roads. Word to Dr. Emmett Brown.

As Seen In: Halo

The Warthog is a staple throughout one of gaming's most recent iconic first-person shooters: Halo. The free-roaming Warthog is a more badass version of a four-wheeler that comes with unmatchable off-roading capabilities and a massive Gatling gun posted in the rear. It's perfect for the battlefield.

As Seen In: Twisted Metal

When you only think about an old, rusted ice cream truck owned by a really freaky clown that's out to destroy people, the image isn't something we'd enjoy. Except when we're the ones controlling it in a video game and are blowing up our best friends' cars with giant fireballs of fury.

As Seen In: Mario Kart 64

Other fictional cars might have machine guns, rockets, and other vicious ballistics, but the Mario Kart has honing turtle shells, slippery bananas, mushroom-powered speed boosts, a ground-shaking thunderbolt, and the ability to go invisible. Odds are, those tricky power ups could outdo the real cars.

As Seen In: Automan

A Lamborghini Countach? Real. A Lamborghini Countach that could materialize out of thin air and make pure 90 degree turns? Fiction. We see regular production Countachs less often than some of these fictional cars, so the movie version of this rare automotive specialty is clearly something special.

As Seen In: Green Hornet

No, the 1965 Chrysler Imperial is not a fictional car. The Black Beauty, outfitted with flamethrowers, spiked rims, ballistic-proof doors, stinger missles, and machine guns is, however. If we're out there fighting crime, This would definitely be one of our top choices.

As Seen In: Star Wars

A speedy hovercar, the Land Racer in Star Wars was a thing of beauty. It was sleek, it could cover areas of land at super speeds, and the hero Luke Skywalker was behind the wheel. Powered by three giant turbines, this would be our floating car of choice over all others.

As Seen In: Ghostbusters

Whether it was the cartoon, the video game, or the live action movie, this Cadillac hearse-turned police car for dead criminals was one of the main components of the Ghostbusters' crime-fighting lifestyle. This car has the classic styling and the gadgets to climb its way up this list.

As Seen In: Knight Rider

Michael Knight's artificially intelligent Pontiac Trans-Am (and now Ford Mustang) was just about the coolest thing on wheels in the '80s. KITT could talk and drive itself, leaving Michael free to play video games and holler at honeys. Real-world so-called "intelligent" driving systems are seriously slacking.

As Seen In: Inspector Gadget

Able to transform from a car into a minivan, Inspector Gadget's ride was as versatile as he was. It's a shame he couldn't make it turn into a super car. That would have made it No. 1.

As Seen In: The Dark Knight

The Tumbler separated itself from the rest of Bruce Wayne's vehicles in a big I-can-run-over-or-through-anything-and-have-a-secret-motorcycle-hidden-in-me kind of way. Just as powerful and domineering as it looks, the Tumbler is not the nicest Batmobile ever, but it's one of the coolest.

As Seen In: Transformers

Sadly, our image of Optimus Prime has been forever tarnished by Michael Bay. Yet and still, we like to remember the leader of the Autobots as one of the reasons—albeit a small one—we fell in love with cars in the first place. Every gearhead that grew up in the '80s had at least four or five Transformers toys. Looking back, it makes us want to shed a tear, and then dry that tear using the warmth from burning down Michael Bay's crib.

As Seen In: Batman

Batman isn't the only one with a sweet ride in Gotham. The Freezemobile was pretty adequately armed, as it had many weapons built into its chassis. It had icicle spike missles on the front, a gigantic rocket on the back, and of course, the awesome Freeze Gun that could turn anything into a rock solid block of ice.

As Seen In: Death Race

There were a plethora of crazy car monstrosities in Death Race, but the 911 was by far the coolest. Who needs a hood when you've got missles to load onto the front of your ride, right? This 1980 Porsche only had a stock 2.7-liter V6, but it made up for it with its reinforced battle-ready exterior.

As Seen In: The Simpsons

The idea of Homer designing something as technical as a car was hilarious in of itself, but the outcome, the Homermobile, was even better. A combination of many different eras of transportation history, and haphazardly equipped with features only Homer could love, it oddly appealed to our inner motorhead. What would we create if we were given free reign to make a car? It probably won't be as nearly as dope as what Homer came up with. Well, maybe, but only slightly.

As Seen In: Scooby Doo

The Mach 5 might be the ultimate sports car, but the ride we all wanted when we were younger was Shaggy and the crew's van. Comfortable and roomy enough for the whole fam (and room for, in the words of WIll Ferrell, a bunch of activities), it was the most relatable cartoon car out there. It made us wish we lived in the '70s, so we could skip out to the woods and hot box with friends. And, you know what? As soon as we got our licenses, we did! Thanks, Scooby Doo!

As Seen In: The Avengers

As the most expensive car on this list, the 2012 Stark Industries Supercar fit with the tactical package is also the most technologically advanced. Sitting at a price of $9,198,000, the 2015 Acura NSX concept-based supercar has a palladium-powered V32 coupled with a nine-speed hypershifter. It also has low-density plasma amitters, radar-deflecting capabilities, ballistics-proof everything, and a night-vision HUD windshield, to name a few. It's be a little difficult to choose between this and the Ironman suit every day.

As Seen In: Die Another Day

An Aston Martin Vanquish with an invisibility feature could really come in handy. It also had a 50 cal. cannon, a mounted shotgun, and infra-red tracking. Clearly you've got some serious enemies if this is your ride.

As Seen In: The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only

Originally featured in The Spy Who Loved Me (and blown apart as a part of the car's own security system), featuring surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, depth charges, and the ability to turn into a submarine at the flick of a switch, the Lotus Esprit was one extremely slippery ride. The Esprit Turbo (which Lotus claimed could reach a top speed of 152 mph, making it the company's first supercar) made a second appearance in For Your Eyes Only, this time in a copper color and featuring a ski rack.

As Seen In: The Magic Schoobus

Imagine how much more attention you would have paid in school if your classroom was a bus that could magically transport you and your class to or inside of whatever you were learning about. We would have been on the honor roll every semester. Instead, we magically drifted away with the help of a little herbal remedies. Hey, whatever's clever, right?

As Seen In: Mad Max

Based on the Aussie 1973 XB GT351 Ford Falcon Coupe, the Mad Max design team added a fiberglass nosecone (by Peter Arcadipane), a fakey supercharger, twin spoilers, long-range fuel tanks and quad zoomie pipes that exited the side of the car. One of the most notable movie cars of all time, this bold car actually inspired future production of the Concorde front end.

As Seen In: Batman

If you’re like us, you’ve probably lamented the fact that most concept cars never actually get made. George Barris’ design for the 1966 iteration of the Batmobile for TV breathed new life into Lincoln’s Futura concept. That car was already halfway to becoming Barris’ vision of the Batmobile; just look at it. Of course, Barris’ tight three-week schedule to come up with a car for the show may also have had something to do with it. Either way, it’s an enduring design icon that will probably last as long as people are interested in cars, Batman, or both.

As Seen In: Speed Racer

We've been in love with Speed's Mach 5 since the days when we used to wake up early on Saturday mornings to watch Speed Racer cartoons in our pajamas while eating Cap'n Crunch. It represented everything we wanted in a car: good looks, speed, weapons, and an awesome decal on the side.

As Seen In: Back to the Future

Made in Ireland to be sold in America, the De Lorean DMC-12 looked ahead of its time with its Giorgetto Giugiaro designed body and gull-wing doors. It was a perfect ride to use as a time machine from the future. Of course, you saw of few of these on the road every now and then, but none of them left two streaks of fiery time-traveling excitement before disappearing into the lands of yet to come.

As Seen In: Goldfinger, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale

The most famous of all Bond cars, Aston Martin's DB5 has had agent 007 behind its wheel more than any other car in Bond movie history. The car has seen modifications like pop-out machine guns, bulletproof glass, switchable license plates, radar, tire-slashing hubcaps, and--most famously--an ejector seat for unwanted passengers. As much a staple of James Bond lore as his "shaken, not stirred" martini, the DB5 is Bond's most iconic ride.