[ad_1]
The representation of a ‘bad guy’ car has been portrayed for as long as popular film has existed. Cars don’t just transport the central characters from A to B, they also portray the protagonists and antagonists dynamically and technically.
James Bond’s array of Aston Martins – the most famous being the DB5 – are perfect examples. They’re suave, classy, and British. Just like Bond himself and that partnership has lasted for nearly 60 years.
Villains, on the other hand, have to be seen driving cars that represent a near-opposite of the hero – Bond antagonists included. The cars in question have to be dominant on the road; they have to have a personality that reflects the threats and hierarchy of the feared personnel. These are the ten most villainous cars ever made.
10/10 Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is one of the most mafia-suitable cars in existence – particularly the 1961-68 model years. Available with ludicrous options at the time and powered by huge, demeaning engines, the Continental suits any villain in any sticky situation.
You can just imagine stern, Godfather-like figures slowly lurching out the back of one of these cars, steadily preparing themselves to intimidate a poor guy who missed a payment. What a chilling scene, and an even more chilling aura that the Continental embraces.
Ford brought back the Lincoln Continental for the modern era, and here’s why it’s a luxury car bargain.
9/10 Imperial Crown
Chrysler’s answer to the Lincoln Continental came in the form of the Imperial brand, to rival Ford’s Lincoln division and GM’s Cadillac. The enormous land yachts of the 1960s are synonymous with the gangster archetype and the Imperial is no exception.
Although, the Imperial’s villainous extent is quite limited since it is closely associated with The Green Hornet, being named the Black Beauty – which challenges the antagonizing aura slightly. Nevertheless, in a situation when character development becomes evil, the Imperial would wear the villain crown perfectly.
8/10 Cadillac Coupe Deville
Naturally, this list wouldn’t be complete without the appearance of a Caddy. Famously featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, the Coupe Deville from 1966 was used to transport a cop into one of the most chilling scenes in cinematic history.
Tarantino’s famous shot, in which the camera is positioned inside the trunk before opening, was filmed in the Coupe Deville – and being such a massive trunk within a large, threatening car suited the scene perfectly. Tarantino even brought it back for his recent masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!
A 1963 model made an appearance in Scarface, starring Al Pacino. So, it’s fair to say that in any popular gangster film, a big Caddy is always bound to be seen somewhere – and probably the iconic 1959 Eldorado in some.
7/10 Mercedes-Benz 600
The 600 was the most popular car to ever be used by dictators and political leaders around the world. Varying from the well-respected to the downright evil, the enormous Mercedes ferried them all.
Options included bulletproof glass and nearly everything was operated by hydraulics. Even the windows were hydraulically operated because an electric motor would simply be too noisy!
The 600 was chosen by many not only due to its sheer opulence, but because it was the most fantastically-engineered car you could get, and possibly ever.
6/10 ZIL 114
The Soviet answer to the 600 came in the form of the ZIL 114. ZIL was Soviet Russia’s most exclusive car manufacturer that as well as trucks and buses, produced cars for the ultra-wealthy.
This included the political hierarchy of the time and ZIL has manufactured cars for Soviet leaders since Stalin. But it was the 114 that stands out as being the most villainous of them all. Even more so than the Aurus Senat of today.
Inspired by the huge American land yachts of the time, the 114 was angular, boxy, and downright threatening to anything that stood in its way. And if you weren’t quite Leonid Brezhnev, you could have a short-wheelbase 117 instead.
5/10 GAZ 13 Chaika
If the ZIL didn’t quite take your fancy, then there was another option for the political hierarchy in the Soviet Union to get around. The upmarket car scene in Soviet Russia was a far cry from some of the offerings available at the time.
The Chaika had a 5.5 liter V8 and was widely used by the KGB. So threateningly, in fact, that onlookers feared the things each time they saw one driving along.
The styling of the Chaika was largely inspired by American designs of the 1950s like the Chevrolet Bel Air, and here is what made that particular car a gem.
4/10 Hongqi CA770
As a result of deteriorating Sino-Soviet relations, Mao Zedong was keen to get out of Soviet-produced cars and introduce a fleet of luxury limousines exclusively produced in China.
Hongqi, which translates to Red Flag, began work on the CA72 before eventually replacing it with the long-running CA770. It was powered by a big Chrysler V8 and produced in several different body styles – including an ultra-rare wagon. The brand is still in business today, producing some more sedate models like the H9.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hongqi_CA770_rear-right_2016_Shanghai_Auto_Museum.jpg
Chairman Mao used the Hongqi to be transported in and around Beijing and the brand eventually went on to become China’s most exclusive car manufacturer. It’s fair to say, the CA770 suited the evil personality that Mao carried throughout his time in power. A modern take was recently introduced called the L5, and here’s what you should know about that car.
3/10 Jaguar MK X/420 G
The British gangster genre starred several great cars – particularly in the Guy Ritchie films. From V8 Rovers to Jaguar XJs and even Range Rovers. But the 1990 film, The Krays, had the most villainous British gangster car of them all.
The curvaceous MK X Jag was used by the Kray brothers as they terrorized London with their no-nonsense, mafia attitude. The sleek design, mimicking a wildcat about to pounce suited the setting effortlessly. And the power from the 3.8 or 4.2-liter straight six, also found in the E-Type, helped the Krays thunder down the streets at a more than adequate pace.
The later 420G was replaced by the XJ in 1968, and here’s what you should know about the Jag with the brand’s longest production run.
2/10 Rolls Royce Phantom III
Famous for its use in the 1964 Bond film, Goldfinger. The third-generation Phantom disguised the gold that Auric Goldfinger transported to his lair in Switzerland, which was being tracked by 007 who pursued the beastly car in his Aston Martin DB5.
The Rolls displayed a dominant, antagonizing attitude that ruled the twisty Alpine roads like they were the car’s very own. With its huge grille and enormous body structure, a vintage Rolls suits the aura of a threatening villain rather easily.
1/10 Maserati Quattroporte
If you’re a ringleader of the Italian mafia, then a big Maser may just be the ideal vehicle to get from appointment to appointment in.
Produced from 1963 to the present day, the Quattroporte introduced a different option to Maserati’s sports cars. It was fast, practical, and reliable, proving popular with wealthy Italian families going from country to country.
The Quattroporte also became synonymous with mafia archetypes, with each generation making appearances in Italian gangster films throughout the ages. It comes as no surprise as there weren’t many other Italian cars that provided this much attitude. We’ll have to wait and see if the electric replacement will do the same.
Sources: Hongqi Global, Daimler Jaguar Heritage Trust, Mercedes-Benz Global Media
[ad_2]
Source link