02. Ford Capri – The Professionals
Running from 1977 to 1983, The Professionals was an action series with plenty of car chases, and while many celebrity cars were used from Escorts to Ghias, the Capri was the one that seemed to catch the public’s imagination (and that of Dinky Toys). The Capri MkIII 3.0 S was often used by CI5 agents Bodie and Doyle, and if you ever get the urge to shout “Go! Go! Go!” while sliding across the bonnet of a car, this is the one you’ll want. A TV-used example in silver with hideous Fishnet Rocaro upholstery sold in 2016 for £55,000.
01. Batmobile (Lincoln Futura custom) – Batman
Though there have been many movie incarnations of the Batmobile, the one that lodges in most people’s memories as the best TV car ever is the open-top version from the original 1960s TV series. The black body and red trim have a classic simplicity, while the plethora of gadgets such as a cable cutter and rocket projector don’t detract from its elegant lines. Based on a one-off concept car, the Lincoln Futura, the original vehicle of the caped crusader Batman was created in three weeks by customiser George Barris. He retained the original car until it was sold in 2013 for $4.6m.
So which of our Top Ten TV celebrity cars do you fancy for your weekly drive to the shops? Most of us will never get to drive James Bond’s movie Aston Martin, but we might aspire to Inspector Morse’s Jag or The Professionals’ Capri. Which classic would you add to the top ten celebrity TV cars list?
