Christmas Movies’ Most Iconic Classic Cars

Cars are integral to our everyday lives, and the makes and models we choose to drive say a great deal about who we are and what we do. Likewise, the choice of cars in movies is usually carefully considered, mirroring characters’ personalities and often starring prominently alongside the actors.

Movie cars have personalities, just like real-life cars. They have quirks, offer sanctuary from the outside world, and sometimes act up at crucial moments. This is reflected in Christmas movies as much as in any other genre, if not more so, since Christmas is a time when families travel together. Car & Classic presents Christmas Movies’ Most Iconic Classic Cars.

Ford Taurus GL Wagon 1989″ by RL GNZLZ. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

1989 Ford Taurus Wagon: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

No mention of Christmas movies’ most iconic classic cars is complete without a nod to the vehicular mayhem of the Griswold family. Clark Griswold’s pursuit of the perfect family Christmas often involved his trusty, or not-so-trusty, vehicles.

The 1989 Ford Taurus Wagon is the quintessential ‘80s family station wagon and practically a character in its own right. It endures a perilous journey to find the “perfect” Christmas tree, and a terrifying encounter with a truck, which remains one of the movie’s most recognisable scenes.

Image by IFCAR, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

1986 Dodge Ram Van: Home Alone (1990)

Every self-respecting crim needs a getaway van, and for the ‘Wet Bandits’, Harry and Marv, it was a 1986 Dodge Ram adorned with the deceptively innocent “OH-KAY Plumbing & Heating” logo.

This white panel van’s arrival signals another of the burglars’ hapless attempts to rob the McCallister home. Its presence lurking outside the house is a constant reminder that something is amiss.

1937 Oldsmobile Six F-37 Touring Sedan: A Christmas Story (1983)

“Some men are Baptists; others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man.” So sets the stage the older voice of Ralphie, acting as narrator.

Ralphie Parker’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun is legendary, but his father is more bothered about his often unreliable car throughout the film.

The Oldsmobile is featured prominently in the memorable scene where the family gets a flat tyre while out getting a Christmas tree. It also repeatedly freezes up in cold winter weather, a constant source of consternation for ‘the Old Man’.

“Dodge Brothers 30 Touring Phaeton” by Travelarz. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

1919 Dodge Brothers Phaeton: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

George Bailey’s life is anything but smooth, and his car reflects his struggles and resilience.

Phaetons were known for their advanced features, including four-wheel hydraulic brakes, an all-steel body, and strong six-cylinder engines.

This old, open-top Dodge is a faithful companion to George throughout his adult life in Bedford Falls. It’s seen in moments of joy, despair, and finally, during his climactic, dark night when he crashes it into a tree, believing his life has no meaning.

1967 Volkswagen Beetle: Gremlins (1984)

Driven by the protagonist, Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle is the most prominent car in the cult classic 1984 film Gremlins.

VW enthusiasts know this as the ‘one year only Beetle’, featuring myriad parts unique to that model year. It was also the last Beetle to come with sloping headlamps, and the first with 12V electrics.

The Beetle was old, even back in 1984, and often had trouble starting, especially in the cold winter weather of Kingston Falls. This provided a running gag in the film. Peltzer’s neighbour, Murray Futterman, who disliked foreign cars, often commented on its unreliability. Billy attempted to use the car to rescue his girlfriend, Kate, during the gremlin attack on the town. He was eventually forced to abandon it when it failed to proceed yet again. Forty years on, Billy’s Beetle remains one of Christmas movies’ most iconic classic cars.

“1948 Plymouth Special DeLuxe station wagon” by Mr.choppers, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

1950 Plymouth Special De Luxe Station Wagon: Krampus (2015)

For those who find the traditional Christmas movie a trifle too twee, Krampus adds a dash of horror to the festive season. The film revives a horned, anthropomorphic half-goat, half-humanoid figure from Alpine folklore who punishes badly behaved children. In this case, Krampus terrorises a whole family.

In a bid to add a nostalgic tone and emphasise the Engel family’s old-fashioned approach to Christmas, a 1950 Plymouth Special De Luxe Station Wagon is chosen as their car despite the film being set in the 21st century.

When the family decides to flee the house amid escalating attacks, they intend to use the station wagon to follow Tom and Howard’s path to a snowplough. The ageing Plymouth proves unable to navigate the extreme, unnatural blizzard conditions, trapping them in the deep snow. This failure forces the family to continue on foot, exposing them to further horrors.

“Batmobile from 1989’s Batman” by Ank Kumar, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Batmobile: Batman Returns (1992)

Yes, Batman Returns is a Christmas film. No arguments, please.

The film is set entirely during the Christmas season and uses the holiday’s themes and iconography to create a dark, gothic, and melancholic atmosphere that defines director Tim Burton’s vision.

The Batmobile needs no introduction. Batman’s car first appeared in comic form in 1941 as a dark-coloured open sports car with a bat bonnet ornament. The first on-screen Batmobiles were just regular cars, but arguably the most famous Batmobile came along in 1966 in the form of a heavily customised 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car designed by George Barris. From the 1980s, Frank Miller’s influential 1986 graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns reimagined the Batmobile as a large, armoured, tank-like riot control vehicle.

For the 1992 film, Batman Returns, director Tim Burton created a custom-built vehicle over eighteen feet long. It boasted sleek, Art Deco design, jet turbine engine, and integrated weaponry. It was built on a modified Chevrolet Impala chassis and powered by a V8 engine.

Ford Crown Victoria Taxi: Elf (2003)

New York City taxis are an urban icon, and they play key roles in festive comedies.

In Elf, Buddy’s naive encounter with a speeding yellow cab highlights his alien perspective on the human world (“It doesn’t stop!”). As is the case in so many movies, these Crown Vic cabs are essential to the city’s gritty, bustling Christmas backdrop.

2003 Jaguar XJ (X350): Love Actually (2003)

While this list is largely American-dominated, our first British entry, Love Actually, features something typically English.

The sleek, modern Jaguar XJ saloon serves as the official transport for the British Prime Minister (Hugh Grant). It was chosen as an accurate reflection of what British PMs used, as Margaret Thatcher switched from Rover models during the early 1980s.

2006 MINI Cooper S (R53): The Holiday (2006)

When Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) swaps her LA mansion for a quaint English cottage, the first obstacle she encounters is driving a small, unfamiliar MINI Cooper S on the narrow, winding country roads and, critically, on the left side of the road. The quintessentially British MINI, with its manual “stick shift” gearbox, embodies the culture clash she experiences.