Classic Cartoon Cars & Their Real World Counterparts
If you were a child during the 70′s, 80′s or 90′s then you were lucky enough to be raised by television. And thank Christ, because we had some damn fine cartoons to watch. Between Ghostbusters, Transformers and TMNT – you have to admit, viewers had some pretty sweet shows to check out after school and on Saturday mornings. Everyone has their favorite cartoon vehicle, just like their most beloved characters, and we just wanted to share our picks for Automopedia’s Classic Cartoon Cars. As a bonus, we included some real world counterparts of animated rides, along with memorable theme songs!
Mystery Machine – Scooby Doo
Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine took the pot-smoke-filled VW hippie van and turned it into a childhood memory. Didn’t it kind of look like the car wasn’t touching the ground, ever? It sort of hovered and bounced – maybe that was just the effects of Scooby Snacks. There have been a number of Mystery Machine Tribute vehicles produced, including one that picked up Jay and Silent Bob on their way to Hollywood to catch a chimp.
Ecto-1 – Ghostbusters
Who Ya Gonna Call? The Real Ghostbusters – who added “Real” to ward off any lawsuits by Bill Murray. The cartoon’s Ecto-1 had to be the coolest toy car based off a cartoon (based off a movie) of the 1980′s. Much like Scooby-Doo, Ghostbuster’s Ecto-1 has been honored in many forms both real and animated – though nothing beats an original.
Batmobile – Batman The Animated Series
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BATMAN! Wait, wrong theme song. Batman: The Animated Series was a dark, film noir approach to the Caped Crusader, taking place in an art deco Gotham City. This Dark Knight’s Batmobile has come in various forms, but the animated attack car is one of our all time favs. Someone in the UK made a real life version, but honestly it looks like s***.
Mach 5 – Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer GO! Speed’s Mach-5 was a tricked out racer with the ability to jump, fly and hide a child and his monkey life partner in the trunk. Last year, Matrix directors The Wachowski Brothers created a CGI film based off the classic animation. The vehicles featured were stunningly beautiful, the plot…we’ll leave that for you to pick on.
Gadgetmobile – Inspector Gadget
The “Gadgetmobile” is a fully loaded crime fighting vehicle that includes a smoke screen, a siren, hilarious gas, the ability to drop a trail of tacks to blow out a pursuing vehicle’s tires, ejector seat, glue rockets, and a claw on the front. Inspector Gadget’s hooptie also has the ability to extend its wheels, and completely transform into the Gadgetvan. While the Gadgetmobile did not have a voice in the series, all 3 film versions of the Lincoln Continental Gadgetmobile is voiced by DL Hugley, Jaleel White & Bernie mac, respectively. This answers the age old question – what ethnic background is the Gadgetmobile?
Optimus Prime – Transformers
Optimus Prime is the commander of the Autobots, also known as Transformers, from the planet Cybertron who wage a war against the evil forces of the Decepticons for control of their home world. The original Optimus Prime transforms into a cab over semi truck. The truck’s cab transforms into the robot mode of Prime himself, with vast strength and armed with a laser rifle. Contained within his chest is the mystic talisman known as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. In the films, Prime is a full semi tractor trailer – who appears in both real and CG-form. The image below is one of many fan created Optimus Primes popping up at auto shows worldwide.
Turtle Van – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Ninja Turtle’s Van (or Party Wagon, as it is sometimes referred to) is what the A-Team van would look like if it made sweet love to a tortoise. Fully equipped with a wide range of weapons and defense mechanisms, this transformed News Ch 6 mobile is piloted by TMNT-human counterpart/reporter April. Some hardcore fans have constructed their own Turtle vans, and it’s safe to guess they are about as geeky as this guy:
Honorable Mention – Biker Mice from Mars
Ok, so they’re not cars but motorcycles. And the series itself may be forgettable, but take some classic anime themes and mix it with a group of crime fighting, trashing talking, crotch rocket riding mice (from Mars, obviously) and you have the makings of a great half hour of not-so-educational television. Unfortunately, it looks like no fan has taken it amongst themselves to create a Biker Mice Chopper, the closest relation we could find is a classic children’s novel:
That’s right Ralph, go get em!
That was a very fun story. I’ve seen several people do the Ghost Buster car for Halloween in this area. The Optimus Prime truck was very cool! I’d like to see some other Transformer look-a-likes. You should send me some name suggestions for our Fiesta! Take a look at the picture of it at our website.
The only car that I can say that resembles a lot like their cartoon counterpart is the Ninja Turtle’s Van. It is kinda geeky, but I’m impressed at how detailed he recreated that van.
It’s just so nice to see those cars come to life. They amuse us on tv and films but they are more amusing in real life.
It is great to see others take the time to relive the fun of the 70′s, and even the 80′s which is when I was growing up. These were some of the best memories for me, especially watching shows like the Original Transformers and TMNT and yes even Biker Mice from Mars on a Saturday Morning.
Now as a Mother of three Elementary Kids it is fun to relive those days when we see some of the shows revived and even Movie-fied.
Everyone who did the designs and execution of their ideas deserve a huge cheer for having the Chrome Lugnuts to try things like this.
I would also love to see more of the Transformers look alikes and see if anyone could find a few wierder cartoon cars and their real life counterparts.
You simply can’t beat the Mystery Machine, still cool as ever!
Lots more fun 80′s and 70′s vehicles at star car central!
Check it out, all the cars you remember!
Check out the Batmobile, back to the future delorian, starsky torino, and General lee and more!!!
they had to call it THE REAL ghostbusters because another studio had already put out a tv show called ghostbusters and they held the rights to the name. it had nothing to do with bill murray.
That mystery machine isn’t even the right car. Mystery Machine is a 1968 Chevy van, not a Volkswagen.
Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:14 am
[...] post: Classic Cartoon Cars & Their Real World Counterparts damn-fine, demands, ghostbusters, industry-empire, saturday, sweet-shows, their-most, [...]
Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:33 am
[...] Read more: Classic Cartoon Cars & Their Real World Counterparts [...]
Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:42 am
[...] More: Classic Cartoon Cars & Their Real World Counterparts [...]
Jan 5th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
[...] enough of that serious business about car mergers and what not. Let’s have some fun with cartoon cars, and of course their real life counterparts. Whether it’s the Ecto-1 or Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine, favorite childhood animated [...]
Apr 29th, 2011 at 10:35 am
[...] The Ninja Turtles Van (or Party Wagon, as it is sometimes referred to) is what the A-Team van would look like if it made sweet love to a tortoise. Fully equipped with a wide range of weapons and defense mechanisms, this is a transformed News Ch 6 mobile. Some hardcore fans have constructed their own Turtle vans, like the man of the picture above. (Link) [...]
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 3:34 am
[...] bmw mach5 automopedia.org [...]