Best classic car movie of all time?
Film lovers in the UK rate The Italian Job as the best, but there's no mention of Mad Max anywhere?!According to a recent survey of UK film fans, the best classic motoring movie of all time is the 1969 movie The Italian Job. More than 1700 people voted in Classic Film Festival's poll, with second place going to Bullitt.
The Classic Film Festival survey polled film and car lovers in six different categories, including 'favourite classic car in a movie' which went to the Aston Martin DB5 from the James Bond spy movie, Goldfinger.
Other category winners included the 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy motorcycle ridden by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape for 'favourite classic motorbike in a movie', and Inspector Morse's Jaguar MkII as 'favourite classic car or bike on TV'.
See below for the the top 10 in all six categories.
Resident classic car movie buff and motoring.com.au News Editor Ken Gratton agreed with the choice of the The Italian Job as best motoring movie, but became fired up when showed the full survey results.
"I love the 1969 version of The Italian Job, but surely the car chase genre movie has moved on since 1969? And each and every poll has been hijacked by the Rule Britannia crowd, it seems. Whether film, car or bike, it's always something from old Blighty in top spot. As for nominating the Ford Cortina in 'The Sweeney', surely everyone knows the Ford to lust after in that TV series was the (V6-engined) Granada that Jack used to ride around in. What's with that?"
There was also some concern that an iconic Australian movie was left out of the running, particularly when there are several American, French and Italian films in the list.
Indeed, Mad Max is to motoring films what Seven Samurai is to the wider film industry in general - an influential masterpiece that may never again be eclipsed. Nevertheless, Mad Max was not a big hit in the UK, so we'll forgive this poll for the time being.
A handful of the top films from each of the categories will be shown at Birmingham’s Electric Cinema in the UK, one of the oldest theatres in that country, ahead of the Classic Film Festival, November 16-18.
What's your favourite motoring movie or TV event of all time? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
2. Bullitt
3. Le Mans
4. Genevieve
5. Ronin
6. Herbie
7. =Ghostbusters
7. =Gone in 60 Seconds
9. =Back to the Future
9. =Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
2. Mini, Italian Job
3. Mustang, Bullitt
4. =Delorean, Back to the Future
4. =Beetle, Herbie
6. Dodge Challenger, Vanishing Point
7. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
8. =Porsche, Le Mans
8. =Ectol, Ghostbusters
10. Batmobile
2. Harley Davidson, Easy Rider
3. Indian, World’s Fastest Indian
4. 1950 6T Triumph TB, Wild One
5. = Harley Davidson, Electra Glide in Blue
5. = Captain America, Easy Rider
7. Vespa, Quadrophenia
8. = Lambretta, Quadrophenia
8. = Chopper, Easy Rider
8. = Ducati, Mission Impossible 2
2. Dodge Charger, Bullitt
3. Ford Mustang, Bullitt
4. Ronin
5. Mini, French Connection
6. Dodge Challenger, Vanishing Point
7. = The Great Escape
7. = Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger
9. = Blue Brothers, Mount Prospect Police Car
9. = Cannonball Run, Lamborghini
9. = BMW, Mesrine
9. = Lotus chase, Spy who loved me
2. Audi Quattro, Ashes to Ashes
3. Dodge Charger, Dukes of Hazzard
4. = Ford Cortina, The Sweeney
4. = Mini, Mr Bean
4. = Batmobile
4. = A-Team van
4. = Reliant Van, Only Fools and Horses
9. = Bentley, The Avengers
9. = Volvo P1800, The Saint
9. = Capri, The Professionals
2. Mini Cooper
3. Ferrari 250 GTO
4. = Opel Manta
4. = MGB GT
6. = Fiat 500
6. = Ferrari F40
6. = Datsun 240Z
6. = VW Beetle
6. = Sunbeam Tiger
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