It's been witnessed in the film industry and several British series that the companies set aside humongous budgets for the props, which include state-of-the-art motorsports that possess cutting-edge technology.
Ordinarily, any layman would jump to the conclusion there were camera tricks involved, such as the use of deceptive angles while shooting the movies so as to delude the viewers. However, the opposite is actually true—many of the scenes involve the actual wrecking of vehicles, and the irony is that some of these cars are high-end machines, which have huge price tags. I’m talking about millions of dollars at the filmmakers' disposal, their sole purpose being to shoot a film that'll be thrilling and will fascinate any potential viewer.
In the event that these blue-chip film companies want to achieve a set of goals so as to stand out in the industry by releasing a movie that'll have a good reception and rating, then it goes without an iota of doubt that a huge sacrifice has to be made, thus affecting the capital expenditure that eventually translates to millions of dollars. I know that some of you would ask ourselves whether or not this is worth it. My thinking is that yes, it usually is. If the numbers add up, then these guys will break even as soon as the film is released even if they destroy your dream car, which is ultimately the least of their worries.
Anyway below are the top 25 cars that were actually destroyed in movies, some of these cars being wrecked beyond recognition.
25 Aston Martin DB10
This British-made automobile was featured in the famous James Bond film Spectre, which owns the record for being the most expensive bond film to date. What's more amazing is the bold move to destroy not one but seven Aston Martins, all of them possessing a market price of close to £24 million. The car features a stunning twin- turbo V8 engine, and its performance that cannot go without being noticed can be compared to some of its rivals like the Ferrari Superfast. However, the series isn't new to this game of destroying spectacular cars that would've cost a fortune for their purchase. Most people would kill for a chance to be behind the scenes and watch James Bond doing what he does best. This contributes to the uncountable number of fantasies you’ve heard on how it would feel like being the one who's in action, pulling stunts and driving a car worth millions only for it to be wrecked just for entertainment. Well, the Aston Martin in Spectre was definitely wrecked, and Bond's plan ultimately came to fruition.
24 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
This Italian-made sports car is a mega-machine whose V12 engine is the most prolific and evolved, making it gear up with the aid of its manual transmission to the top speed of 330km/h. In case you want to be seen cruising around the streets in this baby, then it would cost you a whopping $311,000 and the value for your chunk of dollar bills can be seen in the kind of efficiency this car has been meticulously been designed with.
This car is featured in The Dark Knight, where Bruce Wayne veers off the road and, as a result of the deliberate attempt in the film, ends up crashing the dark-gray Lamborghini against a truck.
Can’t really blame Bruce Wayne—he's a playboy billionaire, and the producers had to make sure he lives up to his image. But what would you do as a producer if you wanted to go on a low budget and it so happened that the film involved the real wrecking of a rolling piece of art like a Murcielago? Maybe talk to the manufacturing guys back in Italy and ask for a clone? Well, nothing changes the mind of the team back in Hollywood, as blowing huge cash by actually crashing these expensive cars in movies seems to be fascinating to them.
23 Lykan Hypersport
This is the first sports car to be produced in the United Arab Emirates, specifically in Lebanon, and it's one of the most expensive cars in the world. Word on the streets is that the car has been fitted with about 420 precious stones—diamonds in the headlights, to be precise, and so this answers the question as to why this car would cost as much as $3.4 million. The brains behind this customization resulted in unique specifications that would attract a lot of attention in the high-end automobile industry. We cannot ignore its elite performance on the road or what it was built for. This fearless machine has a top speed of 245 mph, and people are a bit skeptical as to whether any daring race driver would achieve hitting this kind of momentum. The Lykan was featured in Fast and Furious 7, the series being the usual suspects in the film industry if the subject involves the wrecking of cars. In this particular movie, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel are both set to steal and unleash the red beast that belonged to a Prince in Abu Dhabi. They're later seen doing the most unimaginable car stunt of jumping from one high-rise tower to another, and finally, the monster is totally ruined.
22 Lamborghini Huracan
For those who don’t know about this Italian handicraft, it's named after fighting bulls, something that impressed the founder and later influenced the decision to create a logo of a wrathful bull for the Lamborghini brand. Its sensational speed is accelerated by its twin gears and an enormous V-10 engine, which was specially designed alongside the steering, which makes it more efficient for the driver. A Lambo is a choice for many celebrities like Diddy and Kanye West. Even the Holy Pope himself owned this amazing Italian machine, and its exuberant performance has been attested to and reaffirmed by big car reviewers such as Top Gear.
This car is capable of making you break the bank since you'd have to cough up around $274,000.
Most definitely, you get real value for your money, considering the specifications that come along with it. In the Marvel film Dr. Strange, a Huracan was used as a sacrificial lamb where the actor who was a surgeon got involved in a tragic car accident that caused the paralysis of his arms. It was wise for the filmmaker to make the character own a Lamborghini Huracan since featuring this sports car in the movie actually matched with the actor's demeanour.
21 Chevrolet Corvette
This is an American-born car, and only a few of them are remaining at the moment thus making it the Chevrolet Corvette one of the legendary classic cars. Despite the year of manufacture, its price tag still remains high in the market. It has an exemplary 270 horsepower, which can make the car accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds. This muscle car was featured in the Fast and the Furious movie. Michelle Rodriguez, who used the stage name "Letty," was behind the wheels and was seen in the movie drifting in the streets of New York when she crashed while making dangerous moves that obviously would be exciting to anyone who bought a ticket to watch the movie. This calculated step by the filmmaker seems to have been so enticing that the fans are always anticipating each and every time a release date is announced. Ask any expert about the Chevrolet Corvette, and they'll tell you that its magnificent performance is incomparable to the many other muscle cars in the market, given its sleek shape and the amount of power that the engine can produce while in motion. Now, that's a car you don’t want to mess with.
20 1961 Ferrari 250 GT
One of the most astonishing things about this car is the fact that it's been rated to be among the vintage cars that recorded a high bid price in an auction sale. This is backed up by its outstanding Turbo engine that was efficient during racing, and the irony is that there were no special modifications that were done for the race cars. The makers of this car have evolved to date with efforts made to change the body kit, its technology, and the engine performance, and this explains why its price still stands tall. One of the most unique features included the convertible design, which was adored by many.
This car was used in filming the famous 1986 teen movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which involved a crash scene.
But you wouldn’t guess the price of this Ferrari. Wait for it! On a good auctioning sale, this 1961 Ferrari can be sold for at least $10,000,000. Yes, the 1961 Ferrari GT is so rare that even the price is outstanding. It would be really sad for the movie producers if they destroyed such an expensive Ferrari and they didn't make more than 10 million dollars in profit.
19 Porsche Carrera GT
Most people argue that the Porsche Carrera GT is one of the most magnificent manual-transmission sports cars in history. Well, some people will disagree with that statement, but you can’t really know for sure until you've felt the power of that car in your hands. Judging by its performance, it will no doubt walk over any normal car like it was designed by aliens. Even if it isn't the best manual-transmission sports car, it's the closest and within the top-1o range. Unfortunately, the famous Fast and Furious actor, Paul Walker, died in a Porsche Carrera GT after it crashed into a post and caught fire. Nobody really knows the exact speed at which he was driving, but it’s obvious that this guy really enjoyed the adrenaline he experienced while racing in one of these fast cars. Or maybe the car experienced a malfunction, and that's why there have been talks of a lawsuit. Everything nice has to come with a price, and the same is true for the Carrera, which will go for above $450,000 for a brand new purchase. The same car is featured in the famous movie Redline, and as expected, it's wrecked.
18 Bentley Continental GT
This luxury car is a guzzler that's beautifully designed for the elite and the upper business class. One would be forgiven for thinking that it's easy to hit the Bentley store and get one for yourself just overnight. However, you can't—unless you've got a handsome figure to the tune of $264,000.
This turbocharged car has been engineered to its full perfection from its engine to its interiors to its shape.
There's a lot to mention about this particular vehicle. The British manufacturer has proven to have what it takes in making a high-end automotive. What more would you want other than a Continental GT? This precious ride was featured in the comedy movie The Longest Yard, where Adam Sandler is pulled over by the cops and later crashes the car after a police chase. Well, this is a no-brainer for the filming team who had set a budget of over $82 million for the shoot. If we all had this kind of financial muscle, then you wouldn’t need to stress out about getting yourself a few of these toys to crash.
17 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet
If you’re really thirsty for a classic car, then the Cabriolet, a German vintage car, would be perfectly suited for you. The name describes the car; it has a roof that folds. Well, that means that this Mercedes-Benz is more or less a convertible. During its year of manufacture, the V8 engine Cabriolet sold only around 1,232 units and to date, this car has a pretty decent price tag. Well, the American singer Jidenna didn’t go wrong when he filmed his ‘classic man’ jam with this pretty machine. The American comedy The Hangover featured the car in the film where it was involved in a car crash. The eCommerce online store eBay had an opportunity to auction the very same car, and what’s interesting is that the starting bidding offer of $95,000 wasn't debated or put into any form of contention. This piece of art is fine like wine, and maybe, the Hangover team regarded the car as an old-fashioned vehicle whose resale value wasn’t worth that much, but the opposite was actually true. The Cabriolet is an endangered species that would fetch a couple of thousand dollars if it's put up on auction.
16 BMW Z8
This German invention is a two-seater convertible bimmer that was manufactured between the year 2000 and 2003. This high-priced car is built with a lot of precision.
A used one would cost around $200,000 despite its limited passenger space.
During the time when this car was released, the budget was too high and out of reach for any secret admirer of this car. It came to the attention of many when it was used in filming one movie in the James Bond series, The World is Not Enough, since it had a lot of high-tech details, including stinger missiles that were used in bombing a chopper, a self-destruction system, and other crazy stuff that you wouldn’t imagine such a sports car would contain. Bond is seen cruising in the car in the movie, but the car was later dismantled into two pieces by a huge sharp object. This was, however, not any bother to the Bond series team since the $135 million budget was more than enough, and the price of the Z8 was just a small fraction of it, but we cannot ignore the crazy stunts Bond performed using this amazing German machine. The craftsmanship wouldn’t go without being noticed.
15 1996 Ferrari F355 Spider
This won’t be my first time to mention this brand, and it seems like the Ferrari was a point of interest to many filmmakers. In the 1996 film The Rock, a yellow Ferrari F355 Spider is mercilessly crushed. The Italian manufacturer at that time demanded nothing less than $130,000 during the launch, and remember, guys, that this was during the '90s, yet even with this market price, it wasn’t a hassle for the Ferrari team to sell the Spider, which had a significant amount of horsepower. I mean, given enough wealth, who would mind paying for this road monster that's designed to cruise aggressively at a very high speed? It would take a lot of progress to master all the skills in achieving the top speed of this demon. What's more interesting is the dedication that the Italian team put into the evolution of the Ferrari series. If wishes were horses, as they say, then a Ferrari F355 would be on the bucket list, and what’s ironical is its logo: a fearless horse ready to flaunt its momentum.
14 Aston Martin DBS
Once again, the Aston Martin was put to the test by James Bond in another movie, this time, Casino Royale. This exotic car is a limited edition and one of the collections that the manufacturers pride themselves in. The secret agent seems to have much love for the Aston Martin, and one could be deluded to think that he's an affiliate or a silent partner of the said manufacturing company. However, this isn't the case. Actions speak louder than words, and this can be attested to by all the efforts joined together in designing the DBS V12. Even a rookie who's not familiar with car specifications could take a guess and tell you that a V12 is actually a high-performance engine. It's difficult to disagree with this assumption, considering the special features it's designed with and the asking price for this elite machine. Apparently, during the filming of Casino Royale, the stunt team discovered that the car was too stable to lose balance when jacked by an 18” ramp. Hence, they added a gas canyon to the car to upset the stabilization and ended up breaking a new world record by rolling the car 7 times. If you probably didn’t watch the car stunt pulled by Bond in the film using this car, then please do so, as it's necessary.
13 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
This Camaro was put on the road battle in the classic comedy movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It belonged to this high school teenager, Charles Jefferson. At that time, this was an iconic muscle car that descended from the lineage of an American manufacturer, and to date, the Chevy has been re-designed to beat all odds. The car in the movie comes to a halt when Jefferson’s brother decides to take a spin while smoking some weed; then, he accidentally hits a brick wall. However, he tries to get away with the mess by parking it in front of Jefferson’s School to make it seem like this was all done by some guy who had a bitter grudge against him. Something to note about these classic movies is that however how old-school or long ago the movies are, these filmmakers had sensible taste when it came to featuring elegant automobiles, and you have to give credit where it's due. In this case, credit belongs to the entire team that picked this aggressive beast of a machine. And who would pick anything less than a Camaro Z/28 if they had a chance to film a movie in the '70s?
12 1941 Lincoln Continental
Can you take a wild guess on how much this vintage would cost at an ordinary auction sale? Well, if I gave you an estimate, then you'd probably judge me and think that I’m exaggerating, but keep in mind that old is gold. T
his was an automobile that pretty much dominated in the '40s, and anyone who was seen behind the wheels of this genius invention was regarded as part of the elite class in society.
It came with a huge purchase price, as well as various customizations, such as the convertible option. Its sleek design was a center of attraction to many, and it got featured in a number of films during the '40s. A special film that's worth mentioning is The Godfather, which had an interesting story relating to the mafia, and this was the perfect car suitable for the theme. It was some sort of a gangster-like car, which was still embraced by Americans in its next models. Still, The Godfather producers had to put everything on the table and wreck one of the most sought-after cars in the 1940s just for show. With that kind of spirit, no wonder The Godfather is considered one of the best films ever made.
11 1979 Porsche 928
Well, in the early '80s, there was this Hollywood mogul by the name Tom Cruise, who entertained his most avid fans as he was starring in several thrilling films, such as Top Gun and Risky Business. In the latter, Cruise was driving a manual Porsche 928. He spun this impressive car in most of the scenes, but misfortune follows when he forgets to put his car in handbrake mode. After efforts to save his chick magnet machine, it plunges down into the lake. What will capture your eyes about this car are the headlights that are popped out, and this proves that the manufacturer was so meticulous in making this design fit its era. It actually appears with a touch of perfection. This exact car that was driven by Tom Cruise sold high at an auction sale, but this isn't a surprise since the trend still continues; legendary cars that were used by famous actors tend to fetch a lot in auctions. Besides, the 1979 Porsche 928 is definitely a priceless vintage car.
10 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
This make dates back to the '60s, and one would describe it as a fine wine; it gets better with age, and the best is yet to come. The Italian machine was fitted with a V12 engine, and it would be hard to deny its outstanding performance on the road. During its era, this Lambo triumphed over so many other sports cars, and this was evidenced by the numerous magazine covers it was featured in. In fact, its popularity influenced the demand by many potential customers.
In the 1969 movie The Italian Job, this costly vehicle is deliberately crushed by a bulldozer in a tunnel and later dropped down the cliff, leaving the scene looking like an accident.
The $1.5 million Miura is later recovered about 46 years later, and surprisingly, it was still in a repairable condition. So, did these guys play us for dummies and make it look like the car had rolled down the cliff completely? If these classic movie stars were smart enough to pull such tricks, then they were so perfect at their job, even in the '60s without a lot of advancement in filmmaking.
9 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500
The internal secretion of adrenaline one would feel while speeding in this muscle car is no doubt endless and breathtaking. The irony of this masculine machine is that it has a feminine name, "Shelby," which sounds like the name you' would give your little cute Chihuahua. Let the year of manufacture not deceive you, though—this car that was used in filming Gone in 60 Seconds set a record of $1.3 million in an auction sale, being one of the most expensive Mustangs that was sold in the world. So, if you ever land a very cheap deal for this asset, then you ought to think twice because you know what they say about a deal being too sweet. In Gone in 60 Seconds, two Mustangs were destroyed while shooting the movie, and it really caused a lot of attention. In fact, one of the cars attracted far much more than what was expected during an auction. Arguably, it's difficult to understand why the car attracted such a cool figure, but anyway, the highest bidder would be the best person to explain the interest in this piece of American muscle.
8 1992 Jeep Wrangler Sahara & 1992 Ford Explorer XLT
The producer of Jurassic Park was so enthusiastic in making such a great film. The above-mentioned cars were among the vehicles that were destroyed by dinosaurs during the filming of the movie. The most interesting thing is the huge amount of money that the producer had to put at risk. These two SUVs were critical to the script, and one thing to praise about the Jurassic Jeep is its special features that are capable of conquering all types of weather and roads. It's suited for occasions such as camping, adventures, or even sunbathing on the beach. When the film was released, people were so fascinated about the Jurassic Jeep and this explained the huge sales numbers that were recorded by the car dealers around the time that Jurassic Park was released.The most worthy detail about this make is its durability. One would think that it's made out of titanium; don’t be shocked to see a 1992 make still on the road, running like a new pair of wheels and still looking stunning. Its durability is probably a result of its body kit being made of strong steel. Unfortunately, the Jurassic Park filmmakers still to find a way to wreck the Sahara.
7 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible
Back in the days, if the script of the movie was all about bad boys in a gang being involved in drug trafficking or cartels that were illegal, then this old-school Ford was the perfect car for the occasion. It had characteristics close to a Lincoln Continental that was still one of the most preferable cars to shoot such kinds of films. And the other thing is these kinds of movies had a warm reception in the cinema halls. In the '40s, over $50,000 was spent in making this set of wheels. This convertible was a favorite of most movie producers back in the days, especially when celebrities like Michael J. Fox was being featured in their films. To be precise, the celebrated movie Back to the Future saw this super-fine convertible being destroyed to the point of no return when Fox was being chased by Marty, who later crashes into a huge truck. If damaging such a V8 engine was a hobby to them, it was a very expensive one. However, the most important thing is that this team all did this for their fans.
6 1967 Corvette Sting Ray
The list would end up being too long if I mentioned all the movies that have featured this convertible Chevrolet. The price for this classic Chevy is still high, probably because of the amount of horsepower it can produce while in motion. They were actually absolutely right for nicknaming this 1967 beast a Sting Ray for its outstanding performance and advanced specifications as compared to the first generation. This would explain the reason why this specific make has been featured in a couple of popular movies like The King of the Mountain (1981), Animal House (1978), and The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999). One of the most thrilling movies of all time that featured this roadster is Con Air, where this beautiful Chevrolet got hooked on a flying plane, and it later hit a tall watch tower, making it fall to the ground and get crushed terribly. This left the renowned actor Nicolas Cage so furious and devastated as the car was no more. The V8 engine was also cast in the Fast and Furious 5; well, we all know that these guys don’t mind spending huge budgets in their films. Whatever it is about the Corvette Sting Ray, it seems filmmakers really love using it for stunts.