It’s amazing the vehicles designers can come up with when they aren’t constrained by the forces of nature or regulatory restrictions. From sci-fi-inspired motorbikes to a space ship based on an old RV, when limited by nothing but the world of make believe, anything is possible.
With that in mind, we asked you what fictitious vehicle you’d like to see turned into a reality. Here are your answers.
“I’m sure everyone will cover the usual choices, so I’ll say Herkimer Battle Jitney. It’s practically indestructible!”
Released in 1999, the movie Mystery Men followed a group of amateur super heroes as they tried to fend off crime in their city.
One of the movie’s stars was this beast, the Herkimer Battle Jitney. It was created by engineering firm KPK Truck Body Manufacturing for the film and was built off a 1979 Ford C-900 cab-over truck.
Suggested by: Garland137
“When 14-year-old me got his PlayStation, he also got the game that would light the fire that would become my passion for all things automotive - Need For Speed: High Stakes.
“The game itself was mediocre, the car list was short but relatively sweet - Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren F1, Corvette, etc. - but you could unlock one ridiculous car that broke the game’s physics (as it were) - the Phantom. What an ugly thing, but it’s the car that made me feel like an absolute legend as I raced and rammed cops over polygonal cliff sides. Hell yeah.”
Found in Need For Speed: High Stakes, the Phantom was a fictitious supercar that racers were able to unlock through the game. Its looks were a bit of a mashup of the supercars of the day, with a definite nod to the McLaren F1.
Suggested by: Dbeach84
“I want a sports car, my wife wants a van, the Gadgetmobile is perfect!”
Both the Gadgetmobile from the 1983 animated series and the 1999 movie gained nods in today’s question. For the movie, Inspector Gadget drove a heavily modified 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible that packed all the crime-fighting tools he required.
Suggested by: Maymar
“Eagle 5. I mean, it’s more than just a filthy 1980’s Winnebago, it’s a filthy RV that’s been converted … to operate in space!”
A modified 1986 Winnebago Chieftain is the star of Star Wars spoof Spaceballs. In the movie, pilot-for-hire Lone Starr travels the galaxy in his trusty RV, which was said to be inspired by the Millennium Falcon.
Suggested by: @Liltoot62 (Twitter)
“If we’re talking concept cars I wish had made it into production, it’s gotta be the Audi Quattro concept from 2010.
“But if it’s fantasy movie cars, another Audi? Terrible movie, but such a cool car.”
Will Smith’s 2004 sci-fi flick I, Robot features the Audi RSQ, with its futuristic golf ball-style wheels. The car comes packed with self-driving tech and saves Smith’s life when he comes under attack from humanoid robots.
Suggested by: Gotlightsaber
“As a child of the mid- to late-1980s, I have only one answer: KITT.
“If I owned one, I’d also make sure that the top three buttons were removed from every shirt I owned.”
Another futuristic set of wheels, KITT was the star of Knight Rider. KITT, which stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand, is an artificially intelligent computer module strapped inside a modified Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
Suggested by: Aarondswink
“Not a CAR, but Bulma’s AF4029 Capsule 9 Bike from Chapter 1 of Dragon Ball. One of Toriyama’s best vehicle designs, being futuristic and 80s all at the same time.”
From the world of Dragon Ball comes this sci-fi bike, which is ridden by scientist Bulma. She drives three bikes through Dragon Ball, but the one pictured here is used to save her from a fighting pterodactyl.
Suggested by: Kbabz
“I feel like the Hummer EV is already partway there (albeit expensive and huge), but a civilian spec Warthog could be a fun competitor to the Wrangler/Bronco.”
In the world of video games, the Warthog from Halo was a popular answer. This ATV is heavily armored, and one reader thought would be a great alternative to the Ford Bronco, do you agree?
Suggested by: Maymar
“The Toyota FT-1, we missed out big time.”
Racing series Gran Turismo has churned up some stunning concepts through its Vision series, and one such example is the Toyota FT-1. It proved a popular answer, and one other commenter argued that it was “far better looking than the Supra.”
Suggested by: @IMANolex
“The Oppressor MKII from GTA V.
“I’m sure I’d abuse its power in real life just as much as I do in the game.”
Finally, it’s The Oppressor from Grand Theft Auto Five. While not technically a car or bike, this sleek, jet-powered machine is definitely a worthy contender for dream rides that are out of this world.
Suggested by: Autojunkie