Christmas is almost here and people all over the UK are preparing to watch some great films, with many including iconic classic cars.
From the luxury of Jaguar to the power of Dodge Ram, many have become the stars of a variety of festive viewing as we relax after a hearty Christmas dinner.
© Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com
A recent poll revealed 76% of us will be settling down to enjoy our favourite films this Christmas, with the main reason being they are comforting, predictable and often have a happy ending.
Other viewers remember watching certain films with their family as they grew up, so they feel a sense of nostalgia as they watch them again as adults with their own kids. A lot of people simply feel films are a traditional part of the season, like the Christmas tree and decorations.
1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This holiday classic was the first Christmas film to need professional stunt drivers within the first four minutes of action. The third in the National Lampoon franchise, Christmas Vacation featured the Griswold family’s road trip to cut down a Christmas tree and transport it home atop their Ford Taurus Wagon.
On the road, they’re involved in a skirmish with some locals in a pickup truck, which escalates into major road rage within minutes. Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, fails to notice a tractor trailer loaded with pine logs on the narrow country road. With three vehicles and only two lanes, something has to give, so Griswold somehow manoeuvres his wagon underneath the heavily loaded trailer. As he rockets out the other side, Griswold realises he’s heading straight for a snow plough, so does a Dukes of Hazzard style piece of steering, with his wagon flying through the air and landing in a snow pile.
The 1988 Ford Taurus in the film was custom-made with wood panelling: two different cars, from 1988 and 1989, were used for the production.
The model was produced between 1985 and 2019 by Ford in the US and had six generations in its design evolution.
2. Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone was the second highest grossing Christmas film ever made when released in 1990, raking in £375 million at the box office. The comedy revolved around eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, who was accidentally left behind in Chicago after his family flew to Paris for the festive holiday.
Fending for himself as his frantic parents try to fly home again, Kevin is targeted by bungling burglars Harry and Marv, who make a living by breaking into homes to loot them while the occupants are on holiday. Dubbed the Wet Bandits, they flood the homes they’ve targeted.
The car star of Home Alone is a 1986 Dodge Ram van, driven by the thieves in an effort to look like legitimate tradesmen, as it has “Oh-Kay Plumbing and Heating” painted on the side. Secretly, it’s simply a cover for the criminals throughout the film, providing a base from which to plan their crimes.
Manufactured from 1970 to 2003, the Dodge Ram was launched by Chrysler Corporation and became one of the longest lived designs in the history of American automobiles. Between 1971 and 1978, Dodge had produced a variation of the van called the Dodge Tradesman.
In Home Alone, Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, plot to burgle the McCallister home, but soon find they are no match for the smart little boy, who sets a series of boobytraps to outwit them. Although their Dodge Ram van can provide cover for the would-be intruders, it can’t protect them from the hazards devised by the eight-year-old.
3. Deck the Halls (2006)
The iconic car star of Deck the Halls is a 1986 Volvo 740 Turbo, which becomes a pawn in a battle between two families over Christmas.
The plot revolves around the Finch family, who live in the fictional town of Cloverdale, Massachusetts. They love Christmas and follow all the traditions, with dad Steve considering himself an “expert” on the festive season. Then, Buddy and his wife Tia move in across the street and soon, battlelines are drawn between the two families, who try to outdo each other with Christmas decorations. Steve begins to envy Buddy, as his display grows bigger and better, including live animals.
The car salesman becomes known around town as having a massive festive display, threatening Steve’s reputation as “Mr Christmas”. Soon, their rivalry takes a serious turn, as Buddy’s horses are startled by sleigh bells and bolt, ruining Steve’s Christmas card family photo and dragging him on a wild ride. Disaster ensues when Steve’s pride and joy, his Volvo 740 Turbo, is seriously damaged when Buddy’s spectacular lights show goes wrong. The car doors are totally ripped off, starting a chain of events which results in Steve’s Christmas tree lot being burned to the ground after Buddy spills petrol.
Viewers could understand Steve’s frustration, as the Volvo 700 series was a range of luxurious executive cars produced by the Swedish car giant between 1982 and 1992. A real status symbol of the era, the 740 was launched in 1984 and remained a highly sought-after classic car. It was even used as a police car in Scandinavian countries across Europe.
4. Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually is an iconic Christmas comedy about a multitude of couples and their interlinked romantic dramas over the festive period, starring an ensemble cast including Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson and many more. The car star is a luxurious 2003 Jaguar XJ-S, a timeless classic that remains a popular collectors’ vehicle today. While viewers love the heart-warming tale and characters, Jaguar fans were more interested in the car, which features throughout the film.
In Love Actually, it belongs to Hugh Grant’s character, a fictional British Prime Minister called David, who is seen swanning around in his Jaguar many times, living a glamorous lifestyle. In his role as PM, he meets a new junior member of staff, Natalie, played by Martine McCutcheon, and an attraction develops between the pair. However, is it protocol for the PM to romance a junior staff member and will they have the traditional happy ending, where he whisks her off in his Jaguar?
Launched in 1935, the British car manufacturer is still known as producing the world’s most luxurious cars today, with the X-JS being a grand tourer manufactured from 1975 to 1996 – it has made cameo appearances in a number of films, with Love Actually being its main starring role.
Merry Christmas
So, there you have it, our little run down of automobile stars of Christmas shows. All that remains for us to say, is from everybody at Logbook Loans, we wish our customers and readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
