Richardson Collision Center

Top 5 Animated Cars of All Time

Regardless of when or where we were raised, we all watched cartoons growing up. There are countless fond memories of those Saturday morning cartoons where, as kids, we’d all stay in our pajamas and eat cereal until our parents told us to get dressed and go out to play.

In that nostalgic mindset, we at  Richardson Collision Center bring to you our list of the Top 5 Animated Cars of All Time, based on votes from cartoon enthusiasts of all ages. Yes—we work hard, but we also like to have a little fun now and again too!

1.  Flintstone Car, "The Flintstones"

Fred Flintstone’s “footmobile” would be popular in today’s automotive world, because it does not require fuel and runs 100% on leg power. The problem is it does not come with many of today’s amenities that would make it a desirable vehicle—power steering, air conditioning, and maybe most importantly, no floor. In a world where carmakers are trying to find new materials to make their vehicles lighter, the Flintstone Car wouldn’t get rave reviews for being made primarily of stone. The car would be lauded for being green and easy for Pebbles to learn how to drive with, but if they ever got bunions, for instance they wouldn’t be able to drive. 

2.  The Space Car, "The Jetsons"

When the Jetsons animated series hit our TV screens it was one of the first cartoons to ever appear in full color. George Jetson’s commuter vehicle was a car and a plane that fit neatly in his briefcase.  The series is set in the year 2062, precisely 100 years after the show debuted on ABC. In a futuristic world featuring two-way videophones, flat-screen TVs that cover most of a wall, robotic vacuum cleaners, moving sidewalks, and instant access to news simply by turning on an electronic device a flying car does not seem out of place. In the 1960s, the idea of a flying car seemed crazy, but with the Terrafugia and other flying car concept contraptions, they’re now a reality.

3. Mach 5, "Speed Racer"

One of the sleekest, coolest cars in cartoon history, the Mach 5 is like a racing car with a personality. It may have had an arsenal of functions like the ability to leap into the air, but it also had another wide range of amazing abilities, such as releasing four jacks to boost the car up so that it could be repaired; special tires for traction over any kind of terrain that popped up just by the push of a button and powerful rotary saws protruding from the front of the Mach Five to remove all obstacles in its way, such as Speed Racer’s lineup of sinister villains.

4. The Mystery Machine, "Scooby Doo"

This 1960's panel van is painted in blue with a distinctive horizontal green stripe around the van and adorned with two orange flowers and flowered wheels or hub caps. The Mystery Machine has the uncanny ability to adapt to any given situation and it often played an integral role in many episodes. As Shaggy and Scooby Doo chased ghosts, goblins, werewolves and other scary oddities, the Mystery Machine was there for all of the frightening fun!

5. Lightning McQueen, “Cars”

Every story (even a car story) needs a hero we can believe in. This Pixar protagonist (with the voice of Owen Wilson) is known for being stubborn, yet sweet. Typically referred to by his surname McQueen, this anthropomorphic racecar is a star in Cars (2006), its sequel Cars 2 (2011), and TV shorts known as Cars Toons. He is based on Toyota NASCAR vehicles, but with design influences from the Mazda Miata and Dodge Viper and painted much like the Chevrolet Corvette C1.

Runners Up: The Mean Machine, "Wacky Races": The Batmobile, "Batman: The Animated Series"; Ninja Turtle Party Wagon, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"; ThunderTank, "Thundercats": The Gadget Mobile, "Inspector Gadget".

Sources: ComiCon, Wikipedia and Ain’t It Cool News