Here is something for car lovers. The UK's Bristol Street Motors has recreated six of the most iconic car movie posters. They feature cars that could have been famous, but didn't quite make the cut. I hope you find it entertaining and informative, even if you are not an automobile enthusiast.
- Joanne
Alternative Pop Culture Cars
Bristol
Street Motors have uncovered that iconic movie cars of the past weren’t always
the original plan and have reimagined what the movie posters would have looked
like if their alternatives were used.
Goldfinger
(1964)
007 could have easily been driving a 1931 Blower Bentley instead of the now-iconic Aston Martin DB5 in the Goldfinger movie. Bristol Street Motors found that in the novels, Bond was something of a car nut and counted his treasured Blower Bentley as his own personal hobby.
As revealed by Top Gear’s 50 Years of Bond Cars special, author Ian Fleming received a letter from a fan one day encouraging the author to “have the decency to fix him up with a decent bit of machinery”, as the Blower Bentley was dated and over 20 years old.
Fleming gave Bond an
Aston Martin DB3 for the Goldfinger novel, which updated to the classic DB5
when the movie was released 5 years later.
It was by pure chance that The Lincoln Futura made it into the Bond film, looking extremely futuristic back in 1966.
Lincoln Futura v Cadillac Series 62
Batman
(1966)
It was originally planned that the Batmobile was to be a 1959 Cadillac, but 20th Century Fox announced they needed something faster for Batman to drive. Hollywood car designer George Barris was hired but with just three short weeks until filming started, he bought the Futura and dawned it with Batman-esque features and fail fins, and the rest is history.
Volkswagen Beetle v Volvo P1800
The Love
Bug (1968)
The Volkswagen Beetle, known as Herbie, found fame in The Love Bug but was close to never making it to the big screen at all.
During
the audition, the Volkswagen Beetle was the only car to elicit an emotional
reaction from the crew, with many of them reaching out to pet it. VW was
offered the chance to feature their Beetle in the film as a result of this.
Mini Cooper v Fiat 500
Italian Job (1969)
The Italian Job is known as one of the most iconic movies ever made. The movie was considered to be totally original upon its release. However, what people don’t know about is how close the Mini Coopers were to being replaced with Fiat 500s. The two cars have a close rivalry now due to their similar size and target audience, and back in 1969 it was similar.
According
to Michael Deeley, the British Motor Cooperation sold the production three Mini
Coopers at cost price but they had to buy an additional 30 for action scenes.
Alternatively, Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli offered an unlimited supply of
top-of-the-range Fait 500s for free. He also offered Deeley a Ferrari and
$50,000 towards the picture. Upon consideration, Deeley couldn’t make sense of
British Crooks driving Italian-produced cars in Italy, so decided to stick with
Mini Coopers.
Ferrari 308 GTS v Porsche 928
Magnum PI
(1978)
Originally, the 6 foot 4 actor Tom Selleck, who played the character of Thomas Sullivan Magnum lll, was supposed to be driving a Porsche 928. Unfortunately, Porsche refused to allow their car to be specially altered for the tall actor, and producers were forced to look for alternatives. Step forward Ferarri with their 308 GTS – they were happy to modify their car to house Selleck and the car became an icon.
Delorean DMC 12 v A Refrigerator
Back To
The Future (1985)
A firm favourite from our childhoods, fans will be surprised to know that the famous scene of Doc and Marty’s time-travelling Delorean disappearing in a line of smoke and fire almost never happened. Bristol Street discovered that in the first two drafts of the movie, a lead lined refrigerator took the role of the time machine. However, when mobility became an issue, co-author Bob Zemeckis dared to ask, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to build the time machine into a car?”
