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Automotive

Gallery: Sci-fi futuristic vehicles from the movies at the Petersen Auto Museum

By Loz Blain
May 06, 2019
Gallery: Sci-fi futuristic vehicles from the movies at the Petersen Auto Museum
Movie cars don't get much more memorable than the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future
Movie cars don't get much more memorable than the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future
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Starting out life as a Tatra T813 Czech military truck, this machine was rebuilt into the hulking 'RT01 Transport' moon exploration vehicle for the 2012 film Prometheus
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Starting out life as a Tatra T813 Czech military truck, this machine was rebuilt into the hulking 'RT01 Transport' moon exploration vehicle for the 2012 film Prometheus
An exploded-view Audi R8 sculpture built to celebrate the relationship between Audi and Marvel Studios
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An exploded-view Audi R8 sculpture built to celebrate the relationship between Audi and Marvel Studios
This vision of a 2054 Lexus Roadster was built for one of the personalized advertisements Tom Cruise's character is shown in 2002's Minority Report
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This vision of a 2054 Lexus Roadster was built for one of the personalized advertisements Tom Cruise's character is shown in 2002's Minority Report
Video game studio Bungie commissioned this model of the 2714 Sparrow S-10V speeder from its hit game Destiny.
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Video game studio Bungie commissioned this model of the 2714 Sparrow S-10V speeder from its hit game Destiny.
Straked with claw marks, this 2018 Lexus LC500 Inspiration Series was used for the South Korean chase scenes in 2018's Black Panther.
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Straked with claw marks, this 2018 Lexus LC500 Inspiration Series was used for the South Korean chase scenes in 2018's Black Panther.
You can replicate this one at home with a good enough knife!
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You can replicate this one at home with a good enough knife!
The 2017 remake of Blade Runner showed a choked and crowded Los Angeles of 2049 in which Asian-style tuk tuks are a popular way to get around. This one was built on a 1990 Piaggio Ape.
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The 2017 remake of Blade Runner showed a choked and crowded Los Angeles of 2049 in which Asian-style tuk tuks are a popular way to get around. This one was built on a 1990 Piaggio Ape.
This wise-cracking ice cream van was not one, but two Transformers robots in 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Constantly squabbling Autobot 'twins' Skids and Mudflap took this on as a joint form before splitting out into a pair of Chevy concept cars.
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This wise-cracking ice cream van was not one, but two Transformers robots in 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Constantly squabbling Autobot 'twins' Skids and Mudflap took this on as a joint form before splitting out into a pair of Chevy concept cars.
A set of Rob Downey Jr.'s Mark IV Armor from 2010's Iron Man 2 and 2013's Iron Man 3. Because why not? After all, he did ask Jarvis to "throw a little hot rod red in there..."
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A set of Rob Downey Jr.'s Mark IV Armor from 2010's Iron Man 2 and 2013's Iron Man 3. Because why not? After all, he did ask Jarvis to "throw a little hot rod red in there..."
The hot rod Tony Stark was looking at when he ordered Jarvis to "throw a little hot rod red in there."
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The hot rod Tony Stark was looking at when he ordered Jarvis to "throw a little hot rod red in there."
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens with Peter Quil's parents taking a free-spirited road trip in this 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra.
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens with Peter Quil's parents taking a free-spirited road trip in this 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra. 
The opening panel discussion featured Michael Scheffe (Spiderman, Back to the Future trilogy, Avatar), Josh Hancock (Casino, Austin Powers), Dennis McCarthy (Fast and the Furious 3 onwards), Harald Belker (Batman and Robin, Minority Report), George Hull (Blade Runner 2049, Mission Impossible, Elysium, Jurassic Park 2, Cloud Atlas, Wall-E and multiple Star Wars and Matrix movies), and Bob Gale (co-writer of the Back to the Future trilogy).
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The opening panel discussion featured Michael Scheffe (Spiderman, Back to the Future trilogy, Avatar), Josh Hancock (Casino, Austin Powers), Dennis McCarthy (Fast and the Furious 3 onwards), Harald Belker (Batman and Robin, Minority Report), George Hull (Blade Runner 2049, Mission Impossible, Elysium, Jurassic Park 2, Cloud Atlas, Wall-E and multiple Star Wars and Matrix movies), and Bob Gale (co-writer of the Back to the Future trilogy).
Ill-fated Japanese Bond girl Aki saves 007's skin in this rorty 1967 Toyota 2000GT Roadster in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice.
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Ill-fated Japanese Bond girl Aki saves 007's skin in this rorty 1967 Toyota 2000GT Roadster in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice.
The Wachowski sisters re-booted a late 1960s animated TV series in 2008 with a new Speed Racer movie. This 1999 Mach 5 prototype, built on a custom Corvette chassis, was going to be the first of 100 road-ready replicas for serious fans of the movie. Few were ever built.
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The Wachowski sisters re-booted a late 1960s animated TV series in 2008 with a new Speed Racer movie. This 1999 Mach 5 prototype, built on a custom Corvette chassis, was going to be the first of 100 road-ready replicas for serious fans of the movie. Few were ever built.
Freaky albino Chinese Bond villain Tang Lin Zao has a set of gadgets fit to challenge 007 himself built into this 2002 Jaguar XKR from 2002's Die Another Day. Why he keeps a convertible at his ice palace is a question for another day ...
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Freaky albino Chinese Bond villain Tang Lin Zao has a set of gadgets fit to challenge 007 himself built into this 2002 Jaguar XKR from 2002's Die Another Day. Why he keeps a convertible at his ice palace is a question for another day ...
Detroid PD cop cars from 2014's remake of Robocop. Based on a 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor.
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Detroid PD cop cars from 2014's remake of Robocop. Based on a 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor.
Scarlett Johansson's Mira Killian gets her cybernetically-enhanced butt around town on this manga-customized 2017 Honda NM4 Vultus in 2017's live-action Ghost in the Shell remake
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Scarlett Johansson's Mira Killian gets her cybernetically-enhanced butt around town on this manga-customized 2017 Honda NM4 Vultus in 2017's live-action Ghost in the Shell remake
A selection of iconic movie cars from the Hollywood Dream Machines exhibition
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A selection of iconic movie cars from the Hollywood Dream Machines exhibition
According to 1989's Back to the Future II, this is what police cars were supposed to look like by 2015. Sorry to disappoint.
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According to 1989's Back to the Future II, this is what police cars were supposed to look like by 2015. Sorry to disappoint. 
Future cop cars were designed to lay down some serious rubber in Back to the Future II.
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Future cop cars were designed to lay down some serious rubber in Back to the Future II.
The Omni Consumer Products 6000 SUX, from Paul Verhoeven's original 1987 Robocop movie, represented everything excessive, corporate and foul. It was built on the chassis of a 1977 Cutlass Supreme.
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The Omni Consumer Products 6000 SUX, from Paul Verhoeven's original 1987 Robocop movie, represented everything excessive, corporate and foul. It was built on the chassis of a 1977 Cutlass Supreme.
Yep, it's KITT, the Knight Industries Two Thousand from 1982's Knight Rider series, one of the most famous talking cars in history. It's based, of course, on a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
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Yep, it's KITT, the Knight Industries Two Thousand from 1982's Knight Rider series, one of the most famous talking cars in history. It's based, of course, on a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
What an interior. All it needs is a touch more Hasselhoff.
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What an interior. All it needs is a touch more Hasselhoff.
A face only a Michael Knight could love
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A face only a Michael Knight could love
A masked David Carradine drove this 'Alligator' in 1975's cult hit Death Race 2000, which more or less introduced the concepts of 'points' for running over old ladies, toddlers and teenagers.
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A masked David Carradine drove this 'Alligator' in 1975's cult hit Death Race 2000, which more or less introduced the concepts of 'points' for running over old ladies, toddlers and teenagers.
Alligator was based on a 1972 Shala Vet, but what an interior!
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Alligator was based on a 1972 Shala Vet, but what an interior!
Ahhhh, the superhero shows of the 1960s. Based on a 1966 Chrysler Imperial, this is Black Beauty from Green Hornet. With a bunch of Batmanesque gadgets on board, it was driven by none other than Bruce Lee, who played Kato in the series.
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Ahhhh, the superhero shows of the 1960s. Based on a 1966 Chrysler Imperial, this is Black Beauty from Green Hornet. With a bunch of Batmanesque gadgets on board, it was driven by none other than Bruce Lee, who played Kato in the series.
There's a bit of a story behind this 'AMT Piranha,' which was used in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV series in the 60s. The car was originally built as a scaled-down model as a demonstration of plastic's manufacturing capabilities by Marbon Chemicals. The design was sold to AMT, who produced model kits, and later engaged customizer Gene Winfield to build a full-size version. It was Winfield who put the AMT Piranha forth as an option for NBC's new spy show.
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There's a bit of a story behind this 'AMT Piranha,' which was used in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV series in the 60s. The car was originally built as a scaled-down model as a demonstration of plastic's manufacturing capabilities by Marbon Chemicals. The design was sold to AMT, who produced model kits, and later engaged customizer Gene Winfield to build a full-size version. It was Winfield who put the AMT Piranha forth as an option for NBC's new spy show.
Gene Winfield was also responsible for the Catmobile from the 1966 Batman series. It was based on Winfield's 'Reactor' show car.
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Gene Winfield was also responsible for the Catmobile from the 1966 Batman series. It was based on Winfield's 'Reactor' show car.
Take one Yamaha Catalia 250 YDS-3, stick on a sidecar and some bat-bodywork and you get yourself the Batcycle from the cheesy 60s Batman series, complete with detachable go-kart sidecar for Robin.
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Take one Yamaha Catalia 250 YDS-3, stick on a sidecar and some bat-bodywork and you get yourself the Batcycle from the cheesy 60s Batman series, complete with detachable go-kart sidecar for Robin.
A replica Lightning McQueen from Cars.
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A replica Lightning McQueen from Cars.
This would be Suki's 2001 Honda S2000 street racer, from the opening scene of 2 Fast 2 Furious. You might recall it from the bridge jump in the first race - a stunt this car completed with only minor cosmetic damage.
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This would be Suki's 2001 Honda S2000 street racer, from the opening scene of 2 Fast 2 Furious. You might recall it from the bridge jump in the first race - a stunt this car completed with only minor cosmetic damage.
Who's that in the stairwell?
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Who's that in the stairwell?
Ah, of course, it's Bumblebee, from 2018's Bumblebee transformer movie.
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Ah, of course, it's Bumblebee, from 2018's Bumblebee transformer movie.
Here's the 1967 Volkswagen Beetle from the film.
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Here's the 1967 Volkswagen Beetle from the film.
One of the 2040s-era autonomous Chevy police cruisers from 1993's Demolition Man, based on a 1992 GM Ultralite. Wesley Snipes kicked in the windshield of one of these, as wimpy future police tried to work out how to deal with an actually violent criminal from our time period.
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One of the 2040s-era autonomous Chevy police cruisers from 1993's Demolition Man, based on a 1992 GM Ultralite. Wesley Snipes kicked in the windshield of one of these, as wimpy future police tried to work out how to deal with an actually violent criminal from our time period.
The 'Spinner' flying car is driven by Luv, the evil replicant in 2017's Blade Runner 2049.
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The 'Spinner' flying car is driven by Luv, the evil replicant in 2017's Blade Runner 2049.
Based on a 1927 Ford Model T Touring Car, this "Jokermobile" appeared in the 60s-era Batman TV series.
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Based on a 1927 Ford Model T Touring Car, this "Jokermobile" appeared in the 60s-era Batman TV series. 
A replica of the 60s-era Batmobile from both the TV series and 1966 Batman: the Movie.
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A replica of the 60s-era Batmobile from both the TV series and 1966 Batman: the Movie. 
Holy Toledo, Batman, that's quite a cabin you've got there in front of your slightly distended belly!
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Holy Toledo, Batman, that's quite a cabin you've got there in front of your slightly distended belly!
Even the back end had some serious style
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Even the back end had some serious style
Based on a '67 Chevy Impala, the Batmobile got quite a makeover for the 1989 Batman and Batman Returns movies starring Michael Keaton. I'm hearing Prince's soundtrack in my head just looking at this baby.
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Based on a '67 Chevy Impala, the Batmobile got quite a makeover for the 1989 Batman and Batman Returns movies starring Michael Keaton. I'm hearing Prince's soundtrack in my head just looking at this baby.
Bits of Rolls Royce jet engines and Harrier fighter jet turbine blades were used for that huge front air intake. Jack Nicholson's Joker never had a chance.
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Bits of Rolls Royce jet engines and Harrier fighter jet turbine blades were used for that huge front air intake. Jack Nicholson's Joker never had a chance.
The wings on the back are a touch camp, but then it was the late 1980s.
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The wings on the back are a touch camp, but then it was the late 1980s.
When the Nolan-era Batman's giant armored Tumbler vehicle gets pinned down in The Dark Knight, an eject sequence initiates that splits out this super-cool Batpod motorcycle for Christian Bale to blast around town on.
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When the Nolan-era Batman's giant armored Tumbler vehicle gets pinned down in The Dark Knight, an eject sequence initiates that splits out this super-cool Batpod motorcycle for Christian Bale to blast around town on.
The Batpod: not exactly built for comfort.
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The Batpod: not exactly built for comfort.
These giant Hoosier tires are an iconic part of the Batpod's look.
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These giant Hoosier tires are an iconic part of the Batpod's look.
A tale of many Batmobiles
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A tale of many Batmobiles
Yep, it's the Warthog from Halo 4. One of video gaming's most iconic vehicles, the Warthog depicted here was built on the chassis and powertrain of a 1996 Hummer H1 to match the vehicle's iconic shape.
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Yep, it's the Warthog from Halo 4. One of video gaming's most iconic vehicles, the Warthog depicted here was built on the chassis and powertrain of a 1996 Hummer H1 to match the vehicle's iconic shape.
Ryan Gosling's C.2049 Peugeot LAPD Police Spinner from Blade Runner 2049.
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Ryan Gosling's C.2049 Peugeot LAPD Police Spinner from Blade Runner 2049.
Not quite as fancy as Luv's spinner, but it's still a pretty decent flying car. Who's that? Oh, just George Hull, conceptual designer for the movie. He's worked on a few other movies too: Forrest Gump, Mission Impossible, Elysium, Cloud Atlas, Wall-E, two Matrix movies, the second Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic Park 2 and several Star Wars movies dating back to The Empire Strikes Back. A reasonable career you'd have to say.
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Not quite as fancy as Luv's spinner, but it's still a pretty decent flying car. Who's that? Oh, just George Hull, conceptual designer for the movie. He's worked on a few other movies too: Forrest Gump, Mission Impossible, Elysium, Cloud Atlas, Wall-E, two Matrix movies, the second Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic Park 2 and several Star Wars movies dating back to The Empire Strikes Back. A reasonable career you'd have to say.
Based on a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is the 'people's car' of the future in the 1982 Blade Runner movie.
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Based on a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is the 'people's car' of the future in the 1982 Blade Runner movie. 
1982's Blade Runner also gave Harrison Ford a Spinner of sorts. Again based on a Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is Gene Winfield's vision of a decommissioned and grounded flying car
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1982's Blade Runner also gave Harrison Ford a Spinner of sorts. Again based on a Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is Gene Winfield's vision of a decommissioned and grounded  flying car
Those are some seriously 80s dash displays
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Those are some seriously 80s dash displays
One of the MagLev autonomous cars from Minority Report. These are the fellas that self-drive themselves up the sides of buildings to pick up passengers, and which Tom Cruise escapes by hopping out the window of one on the move and jumping between pods like a high-altitude game of Frogger.
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One of the MagLev autonomous cars from Minority Report. These are the fellas that self-drive themselves up the sides of buildings to pick up passengers, and which Tom Cruise escapes by hopping out the window of one on the move and jumping between pods like a high-altitude game of Frogger.
One of Skynet's motorcycle "attack dogs" from 2009's Terminator Salvation, based on a 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 S.
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One of Skynet's motorcycle "attack dogs" from 2009's Terminator Salvation, based on a 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 S.
That face still sends a chill down the spine.
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That face still sends a chill down the spine.
This sphere-tired beast was Will Smith's ride in 2004's I, Robot - built to be recognizable as an Audi despite being from 2035
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This sphere-tired beast was Will Smith's ride in 2004's I, Robot - built to be recognizable as an Audi despite being from 2035
If cars do end up looking like this in 2035, I think we could do worse
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If cars do end up looking like this in 2035, I think we could do worse
The 'Cricket' from 2001's A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a weird three-wheeler built by Trans FX
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The 'Cricket' from 2001's A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a weird three-wheeler built by Trans FX
It's the self-driving car that little Haley Joel Osment's mom uses to drive him out into the woods and heartlessly abandon him
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It's the self-driving car that little Haley Joel Osment's mom uses to drive him out into the woods and heartlessly abandon him
From the same movie, this is the cabin of the helicopter Osment's character uses to fly to Manhattan, and eventually becomes entombed in... I'm tearing up a little just thinking of it.
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From the same movie, this is the cabin of the helicopter Osment's character uses to fly to Manhattan, and eventually becomes entombed in... I'm tearing up a little just thinking of it.
This futuristic, 250mph mega-cruiser was ridden by the title character in 2011's Priest, which most agree was an extremely bad movie. Amusingly, it's actually based on a very friendly little Suzuki Gladius 650.
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This futuristic, 250mph mega-cruiser was ridden by the title character in 2011's Priest, which most agree was an extremely bad movie. Amusingly, it's actually based on a very friendly little Suzuki Gladius 650.
If you can't picture the scene in which this 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' goes hovering across the deserts of Tatooine, you need to go back and watch Star Wars again.
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If you can't picture the scene in which this 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' goes hovering across the deserts of Tatooine, you need to go back and watch Star Wars again.
The legendary 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' from Star Wars
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The legendary 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' from Star Wars
The 'Durango 95' from 1971's A Clockwork Orange - one wonders how the Droogs' bowler hats stay on during high-speed driving.
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The 'Durango 95' from 1971's A Clockwork Orange - one wonders how the Droogs' bowler hats stay on during high-speed driving.
One of a few wild Lexus designs from Minority Report - in this case, it's the one the gets built around Tom Cruise in the factory fight scene, and allows him to escape. Harald Belker tells us he was only given two weeks to design this thing.
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One of a few wild Lexus designs from Minority Report - in this case, it's the one the gets built around Tom Cruise in the factory fight scene, and allows him to escape. Harald Belker tells us he was only given two weeks to design this thing.
Good luck to you if you were a car in 2005's The Island - many were destroyed in some very visceral chase sequences. This one's a 2002 Cadillac Cien concept the Lincolns use to escape.
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Good luck to you if you were a car in 2005's The Island - many were destroyed in some very visceral chase sequences. This one's a 2002 Cadillac Cien concept the Lincolns use to escape.
The Island's Black Wasp jet bikes made for some spectacular aerial chase scenes too.
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The Island's Black Wasp jet bikes made for some spectacular aerial chase scenes too.
Mad Max: Fury Road had no shortage of high-octane machinery in it - this is "the Nux car," based on a 1934 Chevy 5-window Coupe.
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Mad Max: Fury Road  had no shortage of high-octane machinery in it - this is "the Nux car," based on a 1934 Chevy 5-window Coupe.
That gritty Mad Max aesthetic runs right through the cabin.
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That gritty Mad Max aesthetic runs right through the cabin.
Added to Mad Max: Fury Road as a nod to the iconic vehicles from the original Mad Max movies, this is a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe, done up like the Main Force Patrol V-8 Interceptor that Mel Gibson used to get around in.
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Added to Mad Max: Fury Road as a nod to the iconic vehicles from the original Mad Max movies, this is a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe, done up like the Main Force Patrol V-8 Interceptor that Mel Gibson used to get around in.
The LightCycle scene from 2010's Tron reboot was every bit as iconic as the one in the original movie, and these wild custom bikes had a look unlike anything else (Nolan's Batpod excluded)
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The LightCycle scene from 2010's Tron reboot was every bit as iconic as the one in the original movie, and these wild custom bikes had a look unlike anything else (Nolan's Batpod excluded)
The magnificent Back to the Future DeLorean
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The magnificent Back to the Future  DeLorean
Movie cars don't get much more memorable than the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future
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Movie cars don't get much more memorable than the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future
The producers of The Hunger Games took an innocent Ford L8000 and turned it into this militaristic SJ-7 Peacekeeper Transport
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The producers of The Hunger Games took an innocent Ford L8000 and turned it into this militaristic SJ-7 Peacekeeper Transport
Why, that's Bob Gale, co-writer of the BTTF movies with Rob Zemeckis, recreating the famous Michael J Fox pose. Gale said his original script had Doc Brown doing his time travelling through a refrigerator in the back of a pickup truck. The 88mph DeLorean was a more practical choice, and the 'getting in a fridge' idea was used in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull instead.
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Why, that's Bob Gale, co-writer of the BTTF movies with Rob Zemeckis, recreating the famous Michael J Fox pose. Gale said his original script had Doc Brown doing his time travelling through a refrigerator in the back of a pickup truck. The 88mph DeLorean was a more practical choice, and the 'getting in a fridge' idea was used in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull instead.
Where's the Mr Fusion future fuel generator?
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Where's the Mr Fusion future fuel generator?
Doc Brown did some fairly respectable external wiring on this baby. Gale says Ford offered US$75,000 to feature a Mustang in the movie instead, but Robert Zemeckis said "hey, Doc Brown doesn't drive a freakin' Mustang!"
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Doc Brown did some fairly respectable external wiring on this baby. Gale says Ford offered US$75,000 to feature a Mustang in the movie instead, but Robert Zemeckis said "hey, Doc Brown doesn't drive a freakin' Mustang!"
There it is, folks... The Flux Capacitor.
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There it is, folks... The Flux Capacitor.
View gallery - 80 images

The Petersen Automotive Museum has just opened up a new exhibition focusing on sci-fi vehicles from the big and small screen. From Robocop to both Blade Runners, three generations of Batman movies to Minority Report, Mad Max and Star Wars, there's a ton of cool stuff to enjoy in our photo gallery.

The big budgets and all-encompassing aesthetics of Hollywood movies make incredible things possible in all sorts of areas, from visual effects, fashion and stunts, to camerawork, acting performances, audio and dozens more. But the movies have also been an amazing place to speculate about the future of transport – and the results have often been absolutely captivating, a snapshot of our thoughts about where the future might lead us, frozen in time.

This is the focus of the Petersen Automotive Museum's new exhibition, titled "Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy," which opened over the weekend showcasing an impressive range of mostly original vehicles you'd recognize from the silver screen.

Who could forget the first time they saw Luke and Obi-Wan crossing the deserts of Tatooine in their Landspeeder?

If you can't picture the scene in which this 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' goes hovering across the deserts of Tatooine, you need to go back and watch Star Wars again.
If you can't picture the scene in which this 'Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder' goes hovering across the deserts of Tatooine, you need to go back and watch Star Wars again.

Or the first time David Hasselhoff met his talking car K.I.T.T., kicking off the playful relationship at the heart of the Knight Rider series?

Yep, it's KITT, the Knight Industries Two Thousand from 1982's Knight Rider series, one of the most famous talking cars in history. It's based, of course, on a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
Yep, it's KITT, the Knight Industries Two Thousand from 1982's Knight Rider series, one of the most famous talking cars in history. It's based, of course, on a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

Here's Deckard's partially-decommissioned Spinner from 1982's Blade Runner:

1982's Blade Runner also gave Harrison Ford a Spinner of sorts. Again based on a Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is Gene Winfield's vision of a decommissioned and grounded flying car
1982's Blade Runner also gave Harrison Ford a Spinner of sorts. Again based on a Volkswagen Super Beetle, this is Gene Winfield's vision of a decommissioned and grounded  flying car

Several generations of Batman getabouts are featured, including my personal favorite Batmobile from the 1989 movie with Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger:

Bits of Rolls Royce jet engines and Harrier fighter jet turbine blades were used for that huge front air intake. Jack Nicholson's Joker never had a chance.
Bits of Rolls Royce jet engines and Harrier fighter jet turbine blades were used for that huge front air intake. Jack Nicholson's Joker never had a chance.

And there's a Light Cycle from the recent Tron movie...

The LightCycle scene from 2010's Tron reboot was every bit as iconic as the one in the original movie, and these wild custom bikes had a look unlike anything else (Nolan's Batpod excluded)
The LightCycle scene from 2010's Tron reboot was every bit as iconic as the one in the original movie, and these wild custom bikes had a look unlike anything else (Nolan's Batpod excluded)

Jump into the photo gallery for a tour through the Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy exhibit, which runs through to March 2020 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Las Angeles.

Source: Petersen Automotive Museum

View gallery - 80 images

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4 comments
Loz Blain
Loz Blain
Loz leads the New Atlas team as Editorial Director, after nearly two decades as one of our most versatile writers. He's also proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer. A graduate in Psychology, former business analyst and touring musician, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music, motorcycles and automotive.

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4 comments
guzmanchinky
It's interesting how the newer generation doesn't care as much about driving. I wonder if part of it was all the hero vehicles from the 60's-90's in TV shows (Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, Back to the Future, Batman, Starsky and Hutch, Bullitt, Magnum PI). We don't seem to have the same kinds of shows anymore, and vehicles have been demonized as planet killers in the media.
ei3io
I firmly believe personal travel technology will ALWAYS grip humanity and the sci-fi versions are often the leaders in its inspiration. We will soon see on IndieGoGo the next wave of potentials. Just saw a due on one wheel between his feet and standing up doing ~30mph down town weaving between cars in traffic. Nice;-),, hope he doesn't hit the brakes or anything too hard,;-(
Smokey_Bear
Great pics, some awesome looking cars! Wish I could see it in person.
jhvance
Neat vehicles -- too bad they couldn't also manage to get the Landmaster from Damnation Alley as well.