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Best car movies voted... Ever!

Films that have featured motoring clips from the 1960’s have once again topped the tables in a recent UK Classic Film Festival poll, reports Newspress, with the 1969 hit 'The Italian Job’ taking the top spot – along with the 1968 favourite 'Bullitt' in hot pursuit.

In celebration of the best classic motoring films of all time, more than 1700 fans voted for their favourites in six categories: Favourite classic motoring movie; Favourite classic car in the movies, Favourite classic bike in the movies, Favourite classic car chase, Favourite classic on TV and the classic they would most like to see on the big screen.

CLASSIC FAVOURITES

Getting back to the Classic Film Festival, 'The Italian Job' and 'Bullitt' took first and second place in the favourite classic motoring movie category. The Aston Martin in 'Goldfinger' and the Minis in 'The Italian Job' (Mk.II in 1969) were voted favourite classic cars in the movies with the Triumph motorcycle in 'The Great Escape' and the Harley-Davidson in 'Easy Rider' were voted favourite classic bikes in the movies.

The Mini chase in 'The Italian Job' (Mk.II) and the Dodge Charger in ‘Bullitt’ were voted first and second in the favourite car or bike chase category. The Jaguar MK2 in ‘Inspector Morse’ and the Audi Quattro in ‘Ashes to Ashes’ (Brit TV series) were the favourite classic vehicles on TV, while the E-type Jaguar and Mini Cooper were the most popular requests for classics to star on screen.

A selection of the top films in each category was shown at a Classic Film Festival series at Birmingham’s Electric Cinema, the oldest working cinema in the UK.

Results (in descending order)

Favourite classic motoring movie: 'The Italian Job', 'Bullitt', 'Le Mans', 'Genevieve', 'Ronin', 'Herbie', 'Ghostbusters', 'Gone in 60 Seconds', 'Back to the Future' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

Favourite classic car in a movie: Aston Martin, James Bond 'Goldfinger'; Mini, 'Italian Job'; Mustang, 'Bullitt'; De lorean, 'Back to the Future'; Beetle, 'Herbie'; Dodge Challenger, 'Vanishing Point'; 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'; Porsche, 'Le Mans'; Ectol, 'Ghostbusters' and 'Batmobile'.

Favourite classic motorbike in a movie: Triumph, 'Great Escape', Harley Davidson, 'Easy Rider', Indian, 'World’s Fastest Indian', 1950 6T Triumph TB, 'Wild One', Harley Davidson, 'Electra Glide in Blue', 'Captain America', Easy Rider, Vespa, Quadrophenia, Lambretta, Quadrophenia, Chopper, Easy Rider and Ducati, 'Mission Impossible 2'.

Favourite classic car or bike chase: Mini chase in 'The Italian Jo'b; Dodge Charger, 'Bullitt'; Ford Mustang, 'Bullitt'; 'Ronin'; Mini, 'French Connection'; Dodge Challenger, 'Vanishing Point'; 'The Great Escape'; Aston Martin DB5, 'Goldfinger'; 'The Blues Brothers', Mount Prospect Police Car; Cannonball Run, Lamborghini; BMW, Mesrine and Lotus chase, 'Spy who loved me'.

Favourite classic car or bike on TV: Jaguar Mk 2, 'Inspector Morse'; Audi Quattro, 'Ashes to Ashes'; Dodge Charger, 'Dukes of Hazzard'; Ford Cortina, 'The Sweeney'; Mini, 'Mr Bean'; Batmobile; A-Team van; Reliant Van, 'Only Fools and Horses'; Bentley, 'The Avengers'; Volvo P1800, 'The Saint' and Capri, 'The Professionals'.

Which classic vehicle would you like to see on TV:
E-Type Jaguar, Mini Cooper, Ferrari 250 GTO, Opel Manta, MGB GT, Fiat 500, Ferrari F40, Datsun 240Z, VW Beetle and a Sunbeam Tiger.

Wheels24 columnist and film buff Dave Fall reckons 'The World’s Fastest Indian' (motorcycles), and 'The Blues Brothers' (cars) float his boat – but why don’t we let Wheels24 readers have their say? Be sure to tell us your greatest movie motoring clips – car, bike or whatever!

Do YOU have any special favourites? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
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