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Everyone has a favorite movie car — one that you wish was real and within your budget — but most of us are resigned to the fact that vehicles in films are as unattainable as the superpowers and fanciful gadgets that often accompany them. Dream cars are usually just that: fantasy.
Yet, a small handful of innovative home mechanics have had the opposite reaction; instead of merely lusting after silver-screen vehicles’ unique design and memorable paint jobs, these tinkerers have been challenged to make their fantasies come to life. As a tribute to home mechanics with skill and vision — and as inspiration to all of you who want to transform your ride into an awesome movie machine — here are the five most impressive homemade replicas of famous film vehicles.
1. Jurassic Park Jeep
During the scenes in the original “Jurassic Park” when the park’s first guests weren’t being chased by carnivorous dinosaurs, audiences were able to truly appreciate the intricate beauty of the cars crafted specifically for this astounding attraction. The Jeep Wranglers in particular, painted in bright red and silver and emblazoned with the iconic Jurassic Park logo, stood out to Alan Douglas, who was inspired to replicate the vehicle using his own 1995 Jeep. To make the transformation, Douglas united his diverse interests — historical replication, Disney film, classic cars, and more — and you can watch him complete every stage in his multi-part documentary on the project.
2. Light Cycle
If we learned anything from “Tron” and it’s somewhat recent sequel, “Tron: Legacy,” it’s that being transported to a totally digital world would be terrifyingly cool. Inarguably the most exciting events of the computerized lifestyle are the gladiator games, and of these, the most memorable is the light cycle race, in which Sam Flynn nimbly navigated through a labyrinth of light walls to avoid exploding into digital oblivion.
One savvy motorcycle enthusiast developed his own light cycle — though, thankfully without the dangerous light trails that would wreak havoc on real-world city streets. Built basically from scratch with a high-powered Suzuki engine and electro-luminescent strips, the bike is stunning, but it doesn’t have the divine handling shown in the movie.
3. Ecto-1
The filmmakers are usually the first to admit that “Ghostbuster’s” 1959 Cadillac, dubbed the Ecto-1, was a clunker of a car. The car’s incessant backfiring and sputtering weren’t special effects added after the fact; the old Caddy was simply in terrible working condition, which made it an incredibly fussy prop. However, the vehicle’s poor performance did nothing to disenchant Loren Baldwin, who built and owns the world’s best Ecto-1 replica. After searching more than nine years for the perfect chassis, Baldwin eventually found the exact make of Miller-Meteor Cadillac used in the film; he then spent two years and about $20,000 perfecting every detail.
4. KITT
Many argue that it was KITT, the sentient computer system that drove an advanced robot car, not Michael Knight, who regularly saved the day in the 1980s television series “Knight Rider.” Admittedly, KITT was a hyper-intelligent computer with an unlimited capacity to learn and adapt, while Michael Knight was David Hasselhoff, so the competition was hardly fair. Still, many people wish for their own KITTs to convey them from here to there and solve all of their problems with efficient computer logic.
Perhaps that is why KITT is one of the most replicated vehicles on the road today. KITT is one of the least expensive and easiest replicas to complete, which is why it is ideal for tinkerers just starting out. Car enthusiasts of every level can find easy-to-follow instructions for transforming their own beat-up Pontiacs into a living, breathing (figuratively) KITT. You can even complete your own KITT replica on budget by searching through junkyards like this one for the part you need.
5. Batmobile
There have certainly been plenty of generations of Batmobile throughout the years, from the 1955 Lincoln Futura in the 1960s’ “Batman” television series to “The Dark Knight” trilogy’s Tumbler, but inarguably the most iconic depiction of Bruce Wayne’s mode of transport was the first Batmobile to hit the silver screen, in 1989’s “Batman” starring Michael Keaton. Designed by Tim Burton, this car is half brute force and half classic lines, with a healthy dash of dark whimsy thrown in for good measure.
Retiree and car enthusiast Jerry Patrick was tired of seeing souped-up old Camaros and Mustangs at car shows, and he wanted to impress crowds with an iconic and memorable movie machine. His street-legal Batmobile boasts all the gadgets and gizmos shown in the movie — including a pair of Browning machine guns. The Batmobile is composed entirely of custom-made parts, which means it was incredibly time- and cost-intensive to build, but the immeasurable joy of driving a superhero’s vehicle makes it all worth it.
Jurassic Park Jeep image by Joel/frikitiki from Flickr.com
Batmobile image by wwarby from Foter.com
