The most memorable movie car, in our ranking, is the Aston Martin DB5 from James Bond, with a Goldfinger-linked car reported at $6.4 million in 2019, ahead of the 1966 Batmobile at $4.62 million and Steve McQueen’s Bullitt Mustang at $3.74 million. We ranked ten movie and TV cars by cultural pull and by the best sale price we could trace. Screen cars are rarely sold, and many have replicas, so prices here are for specific cars and we flag which ones. A new Batmobile sale is also on the calendar: Julien’s has scheduled the hero car from Batman Returns for November 23, 2026, with an estimate of $5 million to $7 million.
Most memorable movie cars ranked
| Rank | Car | Film or show | Best traced price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aston Martin DB5 | Goldfinger and later Bond films | $6.4 million reported, 2019 |
| 2 | 1966 Batmobile | Batman (TV series) | $4.62 million, January 2013 |
| 3 | 1968 Ford Mustang GT | Bullitt | $3.74 million, January 2020 |
| 4 | Eleanor, Shelby GT500 | Gone in 60 Seconds | About $1 million reported, 2013 |
| 5 | The General Lee, 1969 Dodge Charger | The Dukes of Hazzard | $121,000 for one car, 2012 |
| 6 | KITT, Pontiac Trans Am | Knight Rider | $149,995 asking price, 2007 |
| 7 | Ecto-1 | Ghostbusters | $80,000 for a replica, 2010 |
| 8 | DeLorean DMC-12 | Back to the Future | No public sale traced |
| 9 | Herbie, Volkswagen Beetle | The Love Bug | No public sale traced |
| 10 | Bumblebee, Chevrolet Camaro | Transformers | No public sale traced |
1. Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger): reported $6.4 million
The DB5 is the most famous screen car of all time. Four Goldfinger DB5s existed, two used for filming and two for promotion, and the model returned in later Bond films, including Casino Royale and Skyfall.
A DB5 tied to Goldfinger was reported to have sold for $6.4 million in 2019, though with a caveat. Earlier, we reported a Goldfinger car sold for over $4 million in 2010. A separate DB5 Shooting Brake set a record of $1.765 million in 2019.
How we valued it: reported 2019 sale price, which we could not confirm on a primary result page.
2. 1966 Batmobile: $4.62 million
The TV Batmobile was built by George Barris from a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car. The first Barris-built car sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale in January 2013 for $4.62 million including fees. The hammer price was $4.2 million.
The Burton Batmobile, the hero car from Batman Returns, goes to Julien’s on November 23, 2026 with an estimate of $5 million to $7 million, and could take the record.
How we valued it: the January 2013 auction result including fees; the 2026 sale is only an estimate.
3. 1968 Ford Mustang GT (Bullitt): $3.74 million
The car chase in Bullitt pitted a 1968 Mustang GT 390 Fastback against a Dodge Charger R/T 440. Two Mustangs were used for the chase; one was scrapped, and the other surfaced decades later.
It sold at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2020 for $3.74 million with fees ($3.4 million hammer), the most ever spent on a Mustang at public auction.
How we valued it: the January 2020 auction result including fees.
4. Eleanor, Shelby GT500 (Gone in 60 Seconds): about $1 million
Eleanor is a Mustang fastback dressed as a Shelby GT500 with a GT500-inspired bodykit, driven by Nicolas Cage in the 2000 remake.
Our earlier article reported that the film car sold for $1 million in 2013. We could not re-verify it.
How we valued it: the earlier reported sale, labelled as unverified.
5. The General Lee (The Dukes of Hazzard): $121,000
The 1969 Dodge Charger was the star of the series, known for its horn and the welded-shut doors. One car, LEE 1, sold to golfer Bubba Watson at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $121,000 including buyer’s premium.
How we valued it: the 2012 auction result including premium; other cars sell at other prices.
6. KITT (Knight Rider): $149,995 asking
KITT is a customised 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, with the voice of William Daniels. It has appeared in many forms, with press releases regularly claiming screen-used cars for sale.
One of the four production KITT cars was offered at $149,995 in 2007. That was an asking price, not a sale.
How we valued it: a dealer asking price in 2007, not a sale.
7. Ecto-1 (Ghostbusters): $80,000 for a replica
Ecto-1 is a Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance-hearse from the first film. A Universal Studios Ecto-1 replica sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale on January 22, 2010 for $80,000.
How we valued it: a replica auction price; the screen cars have no public sale we traced.
8. DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future): no public sale traced
Universal built three main time machine DeLoreans, called the A, B and C cars. The A car is the hero car and is kept by the studio. The B car was damaged and its parts reused.
We found no public auction of a screen car, so the rank is cultural, not financial.
How we valued it: no transaction found, so ranked on cultural weight.
9. Herbie, the Love Bug: no public sale traced
Herbie is a sentient 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that debuted in Disney’s The Love Bug in 1968 and returned in several sequels. Its racing number is 53.
How we valued it: no transaction found.
10. Bumblebee (Transformers): no public sale traced
In the 2007 live-action Transformers film, Bumblebee’s car mode became a Chevrolet Camaro because Volkswagen did not allow a Beetle to be used.
How we valued it: no transaction found.
Which cars left the list?
The 1976 Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch dropped out, since we could not trace a sale we could confirm, and the Batmobile took its place.
FAQ
What is the most expensive movie car ever sold?
The Aston Martin DB5 tied to Goldfinger, reportedly $6.4 million in 2019. The Burton Batmobile could beat it in November 2026.
How much did the Bullitt Mustang sell for?
$3.74 million at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2020, including fees.
When is the Batmobile from Batman Returns being auctioned?
Julien’s has scheduled it for November 23, 2026, estimating $5 million to $7 million.
How much did the 1966 Batmobile sell for?
$4.62 million at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale in January 2013.
Did Bumblebee start as a Beetle?
In the original toy line yes, but in the 2007 film Volkswagen did not allow a Beetle, so he became a Camaro.
How did you rank them?
By cultural pull and the best sale price we could trace.
How we put this list together
We ranked by cultural pull first, then recorded the best sale price we could trace for a screen car, replica or asking price. Where no sale was found, we say so.
Last updated: October 2026.
