Fighting crime, winning races, and combating suburban malaise are all examples of the heroic tasks cars are called upon to perform with great frequency in animation. With your help, we've identified ten of the most awesome cartoon cars.
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10.) Cruella's Car
Suggested by: Piloter
What It's Modeled After: Duesenberg Touring Car
Why It's Cool: She may be called De Vil, but Cruella's ride of choice in 101 Dalmatians had the mean classic look of a Duesenberg. As Piloter says, "Cruella DeVille's flaming satanic hot rod, converted from her regular touring car via sheer pursuit hoonery, really made an impression on me at a young age. That car was simultaneously one of the most awesome things I'd seen and one of the most terrifying."
9.) The Mach Five
Suggested by: d3v
What It's Modeled After: Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Why It's Cool:Shouldn't every steering wheel come complete with buttons other than just the ones controlling the radio? In the years since Speed Racer debuted, there have been numerous features first proposed on the Mach Five we've seen in modern cars: surface specific traction control, auto jacks, automatic roll bars, and night vision. It's a sexy race car and it would be the perfect vehicle if it weren't for the monkey and little kid always hiding in the trunk.
8.) Initial D AE86
Suggested by: M2m
What It's Modeled After: Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno GT-Apex
Why It's Cool: In addition to being the greatest tofu delivery vehicle ever, it's a fun and affordable RWD hatch. What more do you need to know? Oh, it's possesed.
7.) Wheels & Roadie From Pole Position
Suggested by: KinoEscalante
What It's Modeled After: One's clearly a first-gen Mustang, while the other one is classic 80s wedge with a BMW M1ish nose.
Why It's Cool: Inspired by the video game of the same name, Pole Position featured two stunt drivers in a pair of high-tech crime-fighting vehicles. Think KITT, but an old 'Stang instead of a Malaise Trans Am. They could over, they could ski, and they even would talk.
6.) Homer Simpson's Car
Suggested by: Gregasperstein
What It's Modeled After: K-Car
Why It's Cool: Only Homer Simpson could make a perpetually dented pink family sedan seem somehow noble. It's a working man's car that often didn't work, but it was faithful to is owner. Or, at least as faithful as a car built from disgarded South American farm equipment can be.
5.) Mater
Suggested by: P161911
What It's Modeled After: 1951 International Harvester/1956 Chevy Truck
Why It's Cool: He's rusty and outdated and voices by Larry the Cable Guy, yet the old tow truck's got soul and a sense of humor. If you have to get towed, you could do worse than the old redneck tow truck.
4.) Heavy Metal 'Vette
Suggested by: Mr. Woolery
What It's Modeled After: 1960 Corvette
Why It's Cool: Part of the opening sequence to the film Heavy Metal, the 1960 Corvette launches from the belly of the Space Shuttle before touching down in a canyon with an Astronaut behind the wheel. That's the dream, isn't it?
3.) Canyonero
Suggested by: AlexL
What It's Modeled After: Part Range Rover, part Jeep Grand Wagoneer, altogether obnoxious and awesome.
Why It's Cool: "12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!
Canyonero! Canyonero!"
2.) Original Optimus Prime
Suggested by: JohnnyIchiban
What It's Modeled After: Freightliner Cab-Over
Why It's Cool: The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime's already frighteningly badass in normal truck form. When he transforms into a Decepticon-shredding robot. Sure, he's sometimes cranky and a little old-fashioned, but he's so tough he gets away with it.
1.) The Gadgetmobile
Suggested by: Everyone
What It's Modeled After: Mark II Supra/DeLorean
Why It's Cool: Forget The Batmobile, the Gadgetmobile has everything. It shoots oil out the back, flies, and has a battering ram. It's also the only vehicle I can think of that turns from a Mark II Toyota Surpa into a Hiace minivan. Go Go Gadget transforming vehicle!