Top Ten Automobiles in Hollywood

2010-07-30T03:31:00.000-07:00

The entertainment industry does not limit fame. Actors do have competition with animals, places and things that leave as unforgettable a mark their human counterparts. There are iconic items found in the movies that remain in our hearts. And throughout history, as we watched those movies, automobiles have been some of the most noticed presences that made a lasting mark on us as viewers.

Somehow, people always have a fascination for cars, whether in the cinemas or in real life. Because of this, car enthusiasts all over the world have ranked the top ten most popular automobiles that became famous through the movie industry. The list may well be regarded as viewers' way of honoring the contributions made by these cars in making the entertainment industry more fascinating and exciting.

Let's take a look at what these cars were, their models, their roles and the movies they starred in:

1. First on the list is the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 fastback from the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds. This became the most popular car in Hollywood when it was tossed 30 feet up in the air, landed intact and remained running.

2. Back to the Future was a famous movie in the 80's where a 1981 DeLorean DMC 12 become the time machine that brought Michael J. Fox to the future and back.

3. Cute and adorable Herbie, a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, already starred in five Disney movies, the first of which was the 1968 feature film, The Love Bug.

4. Fourth on the list is the 1969 Dodge Charger from the phenomenal TV series turned motion flick, Duke of Hazzards, which aired on television from 1979 to 1985.

5. Who would forget the intelligent talking car, KITT, a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which starred in the hit TV series and movie, Knight Rider.

6. Sixth on the list is a 1962 Volvo P1800 which caught worldwide attention in a British espionage TV series, The Saint, which aired from 1962 to 1969.

7. A 1957 Chevrolet bus became the most famous visual identity of another 1970's popular TV series, The Partridge Family, which ran for four years.

8. The 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 was a pioneering Ferrari model that was popularized by the smashing police drama TV series, Miami Vice, which ran from 1984-89. Towards the latter years of the show, the car was replaced by a Ferrari Testarossas.

9. Also known as the muscle car, the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS is another captivating vehicle that was driven by Matthew McConaughey in the movie, Dazed and Confused, which was released in 1993.

10. Of course, the people can't miss the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance named "Ecto-1" in the 1984 smash flick, the Ghostbusters.

It probably doesn't matter if these automobiles ran fast of if their engines performed well. They've made it to the big screen and they're, without doubt. famous. What else could be more interesting than that?

The Latest Craze in Automobiles

2010-07-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Generally known as mag wheels, these are basically wheels made from an alloy of magnesium. Used mostly for racing cars, those wheels are also the current craze as they improve the cosmetic appearance of the vehicle.

Normally, automotive wheels are made from steel. Some are lighter for the same strength as steel wheels. In addition, wheels reduce the un-sprung weight or the weight of the suspension, wheels and components directly connected to them. This directly results in an improved grip and indirectly in lesser fuel consumption.

Depending upon size, a typical automotive mag wheel weighs anything between 5 and 9kgs. Those for cars are produced by hot forging a magnesium alloy while for motorcycles cast magnesium disks are used.

They are expensive than steel and normally not included as standard equipment. Initially it was something that the rich wanted to flaunt. However, since 2000 of them have become very popular and are being offered as optional add-ons as well as part of standard equipment in some economy and subcompact cars. Though technically they cannot be termed as mag wheels, alloy wheels are also made from an alloy of aluminium.

The biggest advantage of mag ones is corrosion resistance and cosmetic appearance. This allows bare metal finishes and eliminates the need for painting or wheel covers. They are also available in intricate designs.

However, some of them carry the risk of corrosion due to a galvanic reaction similar to the one used in batteries to generate voltage. Unless proper preventive measures are taken, this may lead to air leaking from tyres. Mag wheels are also difficult to repair