The John Wick series of movies starring everyone's favorite gearhead, Keanu Reeves, may be classified as an action movie, but it's got plenty of desirable performance cars to offer gearheads themselves. From the first John Wick movie to the most recent release, John Wick Chapter 4, you'll find the silent assassin behind the wheel of some of the most iconic muscle cars from Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge.
And the most important takeaway from all the movies still remains: don't mess with a car guy's ride. Or his dog. If you haven't watched the new flick yet, the car John Wick is driving is another unforgettable classic. Reeves certainly is a fan of the American automobile, and his own motorcycle brand, ARCH Motorcycle Co, takes what's good about the good ol' American cruiser and makes it better. We're pretty sure the actor's own taste in American muscle cars has influenced the characters on some level.
Updated April 2023: We've updated this article with the latest details on all the desirable (and one-odd) John Wick cars. The latest inclusion of a legendary muscle car he's power-sliding around Paris in John Wick: Chapter 4 cements the fact that Keanu Reeves just loves muscle cars.
John Wick's Ford Mustang That Started It All
We meet the original John Wick car, a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, in the first movie. It's the reason the entire plot actually unfolds! As John Wick is filling up his prized Mustang and is preparing to leave, three men pull up alongside. One of the men compliments him on his ‘Boss 429’. The man asks if it's a 1970 model year, and John Wick corrects him, stating it's a 1969 Mustang model.
Interestingly enough, the film's producers took creative liberty with the vehicle as the vehicle wasn’t, in fact, a Boss 492 homologation special model. The car seen in the film is actually a classic Mustang Mach 1. While the first film’s plot revolves loosely around the stolen Mustang and Wick avenging the thief and murderer of his dog, Daisy, the Mustang Boss 492 doesn’t appear much in the first film. The sequel, however, does justice to the Mustang with plenty of screen time.
John Wick Drives A 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS In Chapter 2
After the theft of his beloved Mustang, Wick needed a loaner to get around. A Toyota Corolla wouldn’t fit the bill, so Wick picked another relic in the shape of a gorgeous 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6. Chevrolet only built 4,460 examples of the Chevelle SS 454 sport coupe with the LS6 motor. The big block 454 engine made over 450 hp and 500 ft-lb of torque, making it one of the fastest muscle cars of its time.
It may not be Wick’s prized Mustang, but the Chevelle SS is no slouch. In its day, the Chevelle was a very quick car that could accelerate from 0-60mph in around 6 seconds. Furthermore, it perfectly fits his stoic personality as the one in the film is finished in a beautiful coat of dark forest green paint, accented by white racing stripes. The Chevelle SS 396 features in the first film but not in the final climactic chase sequence. However, it does appear again early in the second installment. Mr. Wick uses the Chevelle to drive to where his Mustang is being stored.
The Only Modern John Wick Car: An All-Black 2011 Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is a beast as it stands. The 2011 model, used in the John Wick movie, was available with a 375 horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V8, or a 470 horsepower, 6.4-liter V8. These engines made 410 and 470 pound-feet of torque, respectively. In the film, the model is possibly an SXT trim with the badges removed. However, one can catch a glimpse of a ‘Hemi’ badge on the fender in a particular shot. Painted in all-black, the Charger sports a dark and determined character that perfectly blends in with the role played by Reeves.
John receives a brand new Dodge Charger in the film. He uses this modern four-door muscle car in the climactic car chase. Wick follows the antagonist and his henchmen in a bullet-filled car chase ensues. We were initially bummed to see this rather underwhelming modern muscle among John Wick's classic car arsenal. But the silent assassin uses the four-door muscle car to great effect against his targets, and the Charger meets its demise at the bottom of an empty dock. This gave us relief on why the odd muscle car was used among iconic classics. It was destined to be doomed!
John Wick Drives Another Iconic Muscle Car In Chapter 4
Keeping with tradition, John Wick drives a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda in the fourth installment of the series. As is now expected from the series, the car chase sequences are high-octane and aren't exactly for the faint of heart. Especially considering how many hits the cars take.
John Wick may be an action-focused franchise, but the storyline is what captivates and draws in the audience. Complemented by great action choreography and cinematography, the franchise is a classic trilogy that is a must-watch for anyone remotely into movies.
While the cars in the film were not portrayed as the main characters in the film like they are in the Fast & Furious franchise. But they do play a pivotal role as supporting characters to the awesome personality of John Wick. Just remember, they're not just cars. They're John Wick's cars!