You’ve had a look back at what our Automopedia staff feels were the 10 Best & Worst of 2009 Automotive Events. Now, we’ve put a lot of hard work into some all of these posts, so we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all for reading, and check out some of our favorite posts from 2009!

Cash For Clunkers

When you were searching out information on how to get Cash for your Clunker we had the scoop. It might have saved the automotive industry in America – well Cash for Clunkers, not our post. Though we’d like to believe Automopedia helps fight terrorism and saves Americans from the Red Menace. Now, whatever happened to the Cash for Fridges program?

Sexiest Scifi Ships

2009 was the year of Trek – Star Trek made it back on the big screen, with USS Enterprise warping to high box office numbers. Whether or not you’re into science fiction films we’ll all agree some of the Sexy Scifi Ships are worth discussing – and boy did you readers put on those geek hats and rip us a new one. We couldn’t even make it up to you by posting a bunch of Scifi Ship battle scenes! And yes, in 2010 we will bring you more scifi goodies mixed in with your weekly automotive news.

Movie & Television Rides

Of all the movie and television car posts we’ve done on Automopedia, one stands out in our hearts – for some reason the reboot is big in Hollywood, on screens big and small. We have to deal with remakes of classic car chase features, that almost always let down. Frankly, these car movies & shows Hollywood insists on remaking pretty much suck the big one.

The Big Three

Oh yeah, all this fun talk about movie and TV cars – we almost forgot about the Big Three and those automotive mergers in 2009. Where do the car makers stand now? Well, Italy owns ChryslerDodgeJeep, Pontiac is gone, Saturn is next, Saab is almost dead and Buick somehow survived all of this!

Cartoon Cars & Real-World Counterparts

Ok, 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 memories have almost all been made into live-action features. We’ve still got quite a car crush on that Cadillac Ambulance with Ray Stanz behind the wheel.

The Electric Car & Alternative Fuels

And finally, the car that would change America’s Auto Industry – at least it was supposed to. But lack of interest and financial downturn caused Tesla to close its doors and quit production of an all-electric Tesla S sedan. It was anarchy when Americans faced what could have been a second gasoline crisis. We demanded alternative fuels – and Tesla answered. But hybrids prevailed and the plug was pulled on electric vehicles once again. Maybe next year…

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!