Press release -
Bond’s Aston named most iconic classic car in film history
- Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger named as most iconic classic car in cinema
- Inspector Morse’s Jaguar Mk II most popular from British TV, with Delboy’s Robin Reliant in third place
- British men select Clarkson as their ideal driving partner, ahead of Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie
James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger has been named as the most iconic classic car in cinema history, according to RAC research*.
More than a quarter (28%) of people voted for 007’s DB5, with Michael Caine’s 1968 Mini Cooper S from The Italian Job making off with second (24%) and Herbie – the 1963 VW Beetle – racing away with third on 14%.
The survey – carried out for the launch of RAC’s Classic Car Insurance – asked visitors to rac.co.uk their classic car preferences from both the big and small screen. Inspector Morse’s Jaguar Mk II was found to be the runaway choice (43%) for the most iconic car from a British TV series. Third place was taken by Delboy and Rodney’s Reliant Regal van from Only Fools and Horses (15%), which was considered more iconic than Jim Bergerac’s more glamorous Triumph Roadster (11%).
Strangely, almost a fifth of male drivers (16%) said their ideal partner for a classic car ride would be Jeremy Clarkson! The Top Gear presenter clocked nearly twice the number of votes for big screen beauties Cameron Diaz (9%), Jennifer Anniston (8%) and Angelina Jolie (7%), with male respondents opting for a passenger with superior motoring knowledge. Less surprisingly, George Clooney emerged as the female favourite with nearly a fifth of women (18%) wanting to go for a spin with him in a vintage motor. Clarkson, however, still proved popular with the opposite sex, taking second spot with 13% of the vote.
In the US TV classic car category The Dukes of Hazzard’s 1969 Dodge Charger was judged to be most iconic (27%), just edging out Starsky and Hutch’s 1976 Ford Gran Torino on 26%.
Mark Godfrey, head of RAC Insurance, said: “Bond’s DB5 is one of the most desirable cars ever designed, so it is no surprise to see it named the most iconic in film history. Delboy’s Robin Reliant, on the other hand, shows that there are any number of cars which can be seen as ‘classics’, and that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
“In fact, to take advantage of our new Classic and Cherished Car Insurance a car only has to be 15 years or older, made as a standard production model and be driven fewer than 7,500 miles a year.”
To mark the launch of its Classic Car Insurance RAC is giving away a 1969 MGB Roadster to one lucky person. To enter visit: http://www.rac.co.uk/car-competition.
For more information about RAC Classic Car insurance visit: http://www.rac.co.uk/insurance/classic-car-insurance.
Topics
About the RAC
First formed in 1897, the RAC has been looking after the needs of its members and championing the interests of drivers for more than 120 years.
Today it has more than eight million members and is one of the UK’s most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, insurance, buying a used car, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information – the RAC offers a solution for all motoring needs. The RAC is committed to making motoring easier, safer, more affordable and more enjoyable for drivers and road users.
The RAC is the motorist’s champion and campaigns to support the interests of its members and UK drivers at a national level. This includes voicing concerns about the increasing cost of motoring, particularly the price of fuel and the high level of tax levied on it, advancing levels of road safety, and supporting the needs of all drivers, from young to old.
The RAC’s annual Report on Motoring – first published in 1989 – is one of a kind and provides a clear insight into the concerns and issues facing today’s motorists.
For the very latest news on UK fuel prices, check RAC Fuel Watch. It provides a comprehensive guide to the latest UK unleaded petrol and diesel prices – both at the wholesale level and at the pump - and tracks these prices daily to help drivers check if the price they pay to fill up is a fair one.
