Question of the Night: What on-screen vehicles didn't/don't seem to belong?

"boxrocket" (boxrocket) 10/11/2015 at 00:35 • Filed to: question of the night, qotn, television, movies, silver screen, tv cars, movie cars

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There are some on-screen cars that were seemingly perfect in their roles. Gone in 60 Seconds’ Mustang GT500; Miami Vice ’s and Magnum P.I. ’s Ferraris; the Dukes of Hazzard ’s Charger; Get Smart ’s Sunbeam Tiger; That 70’s Show ’s Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, etc.

However, some weren’t so perfect, which is the topic of tonight’s question. Which one didn’t seem to fit with the show and/or character, and what should have been its substitute? Yes, we’re all aware of corporate sponsorships, which go back decades (the subtle prominence of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles in The Andy Griffith Show , for instance, and the ever-changing lineup of Galaxie sedans for Andy and Barney to use as police vehicles despite Mayberry’s modest size), and keep certain shows going and help alleviate production costs, sometimes to the detriment of the show.

Why a cop - in Miami no less - needed a Hummer, or rather, a Tahoe with added pretentiousness is anyone’s guess

My vote, other than the Hummer mentioned above, comes from another crime investigation show, Bones , wherein Toyota apparently gives a lot of money as there are blatant advertising spots given in a more than a few episodes. To that end, the lead characters typically drive Toyotas, including the character Dr. Temperance Brennan - a wealthy forensic anthropologist author (the namesake of the show) - driving a Prius hatchback, and Seeley Booth - the FBI agent she works with - commonly driving a government-issue Sequoia Limited (at least, as it has chrome mirror caps, and it’s roughly a $60K vehicle before added equipment for law enforcement) in the Show’s middle years, but in the last couple seasons (my wife is a fan) he’s been driving a 2000-2006-era Suburban, which are now two generations behind and likely phased out or transferred to lower-cost tasks.

How about it, Oppo? What vehicles seem out-of-place on their TV shows?

sebdel > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:04

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aquila121 > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:06

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You nailed it with the Hummer in CSI: Miami—I’d say that David Caruso chose that SUV so he could stay alive, because “You know what they say... speed kills.”

YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

The other related element of automotive product-placement that bugs me in TV shows is when characters discuss features of the sponsored car in dialogue: (phone rings) “Hey, how are you?” “I’m great—just wanted to call and say I’ll be late coming home. I’m using this hands-free bluetooth feature on my new [whatever the hell SUV/car].” Subtle. It ruined any scene in “Burn Notice” where they had a chase with the Genesis Coupe and talked about the Brembo brakes, and it didn’t fit any better in “Leverage” or “The Glades” when Hyundai was pushing their other cars.

Urambo Tauro > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:07

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It’s been said before, but.. Aston Martins for a certain British spy.

Sure if you’re going to a posh casino in Montenegro, it might blend in. Anywhere else, and you’ll have a camera phone pointed at you from every street corner. Way to blend in, Bond.

And it’s not just because 007 needs a screaming V12. With all the modifications MI6 has made to their deployed cars, they could easily have built a kick-ass sleeper.

tromoly > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:13

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Gone in 60 Seconds’ Mustang GT500

The remake was pretty bad to be honest, while a GT500 looks “sexy” it just doesn’t quite have the same feel as the ‘71 Mach 1 used in the original movie.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:16

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The yaris ad in bones was atrocious. Any time a show gives a stupid pan out of actor with the car I cringe. Or some BS chase scene. There is one exception.

The mentalist

Damn that Citroen is nice.

GhostZ > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 01:40

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The badass spy car used by S.H.E.I.L.D. and the Aveners?

...an Acura RDX.

GhostZ > sebdel 10/11/2015 at 01:41

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I always wondered how much Ford must have paid for that.

Svend > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 02:03

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TV series called A Touch Of Cloth (a parody series on how police TV series are made and aired).

Rolls Royce Phantom.

Generally the U.K. is on the mark when it comes to cars driven on police shows like

Inspector Morse Jaguar Mk2 (set in the modern day with John Thaw playing an inspector with refined tastes and old school detective)

Midsomer Murders Rover 75 (set in the modern day)

Inspector Lynley 1969 Bristol 410 (set in the then modern day with a police inspector from distinguished stock)

Foyles War 1936 Wolseley 14/56 (set during WWII)

Bergerac 1947 Triumph Roadster (1980s tv series set on the island of Jersey (British Territory off the French coast)).

boxrocket > GhostZ 10/11/2015 at 02:33

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I’d nominate all the Acura vehicles used by S.H.I.E.L.D., especially as an American-based agency (though maybe HYDRA is in charge of acquisitions and some German holdout has a loyalty to a former Axis ally?). Yes, Honda/Acura paid handsomely for their placement, but they definitely don't belong.

boxrocket > Urambo Tauro 10/11/2015 at 02:36

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That makes the Ford Mustang and Citroën 2CV better spy cars, I agree. The Lotus, Aston Martins, BMWs, and other fancy vehicles - while they capture the imagination and make the character more of the unreachable/unattainable in the same manner as his apparent sexual prowess with women and lethal capabilities with weapons - are not good tradecraft. Still, I'd rather the brands get some exposure in such an over-the-top way than be neglected and have folks lust after such underwhelming (despite technological capabilities and achievements) vehicles like the Veyron or corvette.

boxrocket > sebdel 10/11/2015 at 02:40

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I like Knight Rider (and the first episode of the remake wasn’t bad, but jumped the shark shortly after), and I like Mustangs, but I’ll be the first to admit that the GT500KR (despite sharing initials with the show name) isn't a great choice. A V6-bodied Mustang with a GT500KR power plant (cleverly disguised), perhaps, but not one that folks would take a picture of for being relatively rare, loud, and doing highly questionable and attention-grabbing maneuvers. Heck, having it be a Raptor (as it was in one episode) or a Taurus (ditto) made better sense, especially as there are more Tauruses and Raptors for the car to potentially blend in with.

BenLikesCars > Urambo Tauro 10/11/2015 at 02:47

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All Bond needs is a silver-gray E92 BMW 335i sedan with reinforced stuff and breathed-on motor etc.

BenLikesCars > Svend 10/11/2015 at 02:49

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That Triumph is very nice-looking.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 02:50

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This little Hyundai ad in The Walking Dead, a show which otherwise had some great “car casting”. I know that in a Zombie Apocalypse You pretty much have to take what you can get, but this middle aged mom’s soft roader wouldn’t be my go t0 car.

Svend > BenLikesCars 10/11/2015 at 03:19

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Ye’. With British police shows namely detective shows the car reflects the style of the lead character.

Some say it’s a 1947 some say it’s a 1949 Triumph Roadster, I don’t know which for sure.

BenLikesCars > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 03:53

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In Thailand, apparently, cops drive tuk-tuks, pickup trucks, and a very random array of compact to large sedans, http://www.police-car-photos.com/countries.asp?…

In the Thailand portion of The Man With The Golden Gun, the cops are driving AMC Matadors.

The bad guy is driving an AMC Matador coupe.

James Bond is driving an AMC Hornet, freshly ganked from an AMC showroom.

BenLikesCars > Svend 10/11/2015 at 03:55

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And then James Garner is hooning around with a Pontiac Firebird and elsewhere with a Thunderbird...

How on earth did Simon Templar end up with that neat little Volvo, I can barely ponder. Of course I could look it up but I will instead take advil and go to bed.

BenLikesCars > Svend 10/11/2015 at 03:56

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But yes, an almost ridiculously good-looking car.

Atomic Buffalo > aquila121 10/11/2015 at 04:19

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The Genesis Coupe pimping in Burn Notice was so bad it was good. On the surface, it was great product integration, because it was perfectly suited to the show’s recurring narrative device of our expert spy taking time in voiceover to explain some useful bit of spycraft. Of course, it still stuck out like a sore thumb because nothing they said was a particularly unique feature of the Hyundai, so they just felt awkward.

However, hearing that immediately changed my perception of every spycraft-voiceover done in the show since then: I thought of them ALL as product placement, like our burned spy was making ends meet by promoting and endorsing an endless variety of products. Just when the affectation was getting old, this crass commercial aspect revitalized them. :)

Atomic Buffalo > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 04:23

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Come on — they were the only cars with a SHIELD right there on the nose!

I thought their angular future-ugly look fit the secret spy organization to a tee, especially considering how common Acura crossovers were on the road.

When they switched to macho-fied Lexuses, ugh.

Svend > BenLikesCars 10/11/2015 at 04:25

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The car Simon Templar drove was a Volvo P1800 which was made in the U.K. from 1961 and 62. In 1963 production was moved to Sweden with the P1800 continuing to be made up until 1973.

Atomic Buffalo > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 04:37

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Movie not television but worth mentioning. (Hey, it’s on screen.)

Transformers: Jazz, a Pontiac Solstice. Ugh. I like the Solstice, but it looked ridiculous dressed up and those headlights scream CUTE.

PS9 > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 05:25

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In Avengers 2, everybody on earth everywhere had an Audi. Except for iron man, because he’s the only one that can afford an R8, I guess.

So...is the median income in that universe $70k/year globally or something?

Ryan A. > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 07:38

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In The Andy Griffith Show, there was always a thank you to Ford after the credits for providing the cars.

Does any one else say “Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury”. To me, “Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln” is like saying pepper and salt.

Ryan A. > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 07:39

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In Modern Family the cars change out every couple episodes. Except the gay couple’s Prius. They always have a Prius.

Ryan A. > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 07:42

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In Breaking Bad, Skyler’s Grand Wagoneer should have been a Dodge Caravan.

crowmolly > Urambo Tauro 10/11/2015 at 09:32

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Same with Miami Vice.

Undercover cop? Give him a Testarossa/Daytona to drive around. They are so common he will just blend in great.

FromCanadaWithLove > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 10:55

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James Bond briefly driving a Volvo S40 R-Design in Quantum of Solace.

Birddog > boxrocket 10/11/2015 at 11:18

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Every car on this hour long Chevy commercial.

Honestly, I haven’t tried watching it since the second season. It may be better now. It’s still on the air so it must have gotten better.

Frenchlicker > sebdel 10/11/2015 at 12:09

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I'm not going to lie, I loved this car and this version of the show. It was weird with a GT500KR as one of the two main characters but I loved it.

boxrocket > Birddog 10/11/2015 at 12:22

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GM should spend more on R&D and product development and less on tie-ins like this, Transformers , the last two Matrix movies, and others. It makes them unmatchable.

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro 10/11/2015 at 13:12

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I certainly agree that an Aston is a terrible spy car. However Bond is a terrible spy. He doesn’t blend in, everever. That’s what makes him so ridiculously awesome. And so the Aston is perfect for Bond.

BenLikesCars > Svend 10/11/2015 at 13:15

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That is so damn cool.

British P1800 cars are probably ridiculously rare, unless I'm presuming incorrectly.

PS9 > sebdel 10/11/2015 at 14:04

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The transforming mods they added in season 2 were fucking terrible.

PS9 > Birddog 10/11/2015 at 14:06

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I just want to know why they’re all standing there in the surf while their normal person clothes get wet. Like...at least put them in appropriate beachwear.

j250ex > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/11/2015 at 16:19

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I thought Ricks Dodge Ram at the prison was much more indicative of what someone in the zombie apocalypse would have driven.

Although ill give it to the governor for having the best taste in cars.

Nick > boxrocket 10/12/2015 at 12:26

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A Freaking Hyundai?

Your boy, BJR > crowmolly 03/28/2016 at 08:45

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Well he WAS undercover as a drug runner.