Fabulous classic cars housed in film and television museums

Several of the cars that have been used as the central character in a movie or TV show have already found their way into museums across the country. Many of these gasoline-powered inventions have been so loved by visionary writers that they were even given names that identified them as special vehicles with extraordinary powers. The most famous fictional cars to appear in pop culture are Herbie, Kit, Gladys, Eleanor, and the Batmobile.

Herbie from “The Love Bug”

Herbie was one of the first racers to emerge from movie magic. As he raced to fame, Herbie could do wheelies, outrun the fastest sports cars, and help his driver find love. Awkwardly, the love he finds is the girlfriend of his racing partner. Herbie appeared in various film and television spin-offs from the late 1960s to the early 2000s.

Kitt from “Knight Rider”

Kitt was a marvelous machine equipped with the most advanced computing devices imagined by the television industry. It was a sleek black car driven by Michael Knight and destined for heroic deeds and prowess. Together, the duo saved women, thwarted bank robbers, and stopped a disaster that would no doubt have ended the world. Kitt’s onboard talking computer was famous for keeping Michael Knight in check. There was a very human quality about Kitt that rang true with her television audience.

Gladys from “My mother the car”

Kitt wasn’t the first talking car to visit homes on television. Many years ago, for a short period of time, Gladys was an older vehicle inhabited by the spirit of Jerry Van Dyke’s dead mother. Any one of the many car museums would have been much happier to have it adorning their showrooms than her son to have it parked in her garage. The car constantly argued with her son during the short duration of the television program.

Eleanor from “Gone in 60 Seconds”

From the jolly clunkers that ushered in an era of fast cars to the bold youngsters who drove them, the cars and their drivers have been the stuff of legend as they made their way to movie success. Eleanor ranks high in the muscle class category of the collector’s awards. She is a beauty with a sleek frame and a powerful engine. Before Nicholas Cage stole the iconic beauty in the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds,” HB Halicki stole a different model with the same name in the original 1974 movie.

the batmobile

This role has been played by numerous cars in movies and television. The original Batmobile has resurfaced from time to time in the news, and people have speculated on its whereabouts for decades. Many car enthusiasts have sought it out for their own collections, but for now it’s broken between multiple car museums. It’s not a particularly attractive car, and its speed is questionable, but it holds a nostalgic place in the hearts of viewers who first saw the caped crusader drive it in the 1960s.

Whether it’s muscle cars or luxury sedans that capture your interest, great cars are on display across the country at auto museums.