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Cars, motorcycles and the big screen all have long and exciting histories. Vehicles play an integral role in the development of a film’s plot, creating unforgettable cinematic moments, from high-speed car chases to dramatic escapes and epic motorcycle stunts. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship where cars bring a sense of adventure and escapism. At the same time, movies help elevate the status of certain car models and provide a platform for car enthusiasts to pursue their passion. Some actors like Tom Cruise seem to take their performances to a new level while driving cool cars and motorcycles in movies.
A real gearhead, Tom Cruise has one of the coolest celebrity car collections around. He has starred in several cult films including top gun and its continuation Top Gun MaverickThe Impossible Missionfranchises and days of thunder. And his love of cars and motorcycles is a defining trait of his characters in most of these films, and the vehicles become an extension of his on-screen personality. Read on to discover some of the coolest cars and bikes Tom Cruise has driven in movies.
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10 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail FLSTC Classic – Days of Thunder
In the 1990 action drama days of thunder, Tom Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a talented but ruthless NASCAR driver who pushes himself to the limit on and off the track. Cole commutes to work on a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, which best reflects his free-spirited and adventurous nature.
It shows that Cruise will go to great lengths to fit a motorcycle into a movie, even if he’s playing a NASCAR driver. The classic cruiser debuted in 1986 and is known for its comfortable ride and classic design.
9 1949 Buick Roadmaster – Rainman
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In rainman, Tom Cruise plays a self-absorbed profiteer who is after his autistic brother’s legacy. It was one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1980s, and Cruise drove an iconic car, a 1949 Buick Roadmaster, in the film of World War II were built. One of the cars used rainman was recently sold at Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction for $335,000.
8th BMW R NineT Scrambler – Mission Impossible: Fallout
In action spy movie 2018 Mission: Impossible: Fallout, Tom Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt drives a BMW R nineT Scrambler in one of the film’s intense car chases. The BMW R nineT Scrambler is a retro-style motorcycle introduced in 2016 with classic looks and versatile capabilities.
Ethan Hunt flees from the police in a three-minute chase across Paris that remains one of the most thrilling stunt sequences in the franchise.
7 1990 Chevrolet Lumina – Days of Thunder
In the ’80s and ’90s, NASCAR reached a new level of commercial success, and automakers like GM were on their toes to build the next big car. So Tom Cruise’s movie days of thunder came out at the right time for GM as a marketing tool for the Chevrolet Lumina.
The howling monster of a racing car played a supporting role in the film. Still, the full range of Lumina family cars benefited as buyers flocked to showrooms after the film.
6 Kawasaki GPZ900R – Top Gun
The classic action film from 1986 top gun helped make Tom Cruise a household name. He had a prominent role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a brave and talented fighter jet pilot who demonstrated a bold and adventurous spirit by taking risks in the air and on the ground. He rode a Kawasaki GPZ900R, which suited his high-octane personality perfectly.
Cruise tried to drive an F14 fighter jet on the GPZ900R, which holds an important place in the history of the Japanese brand as First Ninja.
5 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS – Jack Reacher
Tom Cruise drives a red 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 Jack Reacher action movie. The Chevelle SS debuted in 1964 and featured powerful engines, sleek styling and impressive performance capabilities. The film example looks visually correct with a hood and black SS stripes.
It’s a perfect fit for Jack Reacher, a tough and resourceful ex-military investigator who uses his skills and expertise to solve a complex crime. He drives the classic muscle car furiously and ends up destroying it after a five-minute chase.
4 BMW Motorrad S1000RR – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Cruise has acted in many exciting motorcycle scenes Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation The chase on a BMW S1000RR is probably the most intense. All that 205 horsepower comes into play as Ethan Hunt speeds through the streets of Casablanca, trying to outmaneuver and outrun his pursuers.
Cruise reportedly rode the superbike at up to 130 mph during filming. The BMW S1000RR is one of the best superbikes on the market and since its debut in 2009 has set new standards in terms of performance and technological advances in the category.
3 1979 Porsche 928 – Risky business
Cruise is a huge Porsche 911 fan and has owned several of them including a sleek black 996. He has driven several Porsche sports cars on the big screen including a 911 Carrera in Security and a 1979 Porsche 928 in the 1983 film A risky venture. This was one of his formative films before becoming an A-lister.
Cruise’s character, Joel, borrows his father’s Porsche 928 while his parents are out of town and takes it for a spin through the streets of Chicago. The car recently sold for $1.98 million at a Barrett Jackson auction.
2 Kawasaki H2 – Top Gun Maverick
Cruise had to wait almost four decades to get his top gun Consequence. It was only fitting that Maverick ride the fastest production bike in the new film, having pulled off a similar stunt in the original film.
The Kawasaki H2 is the modern day successor to the GPZ900R, and Maverick uses the 200hp supercharged Ninja to recreate the nostalgic scene of him chasing a fighter jet.
1 Ferrari 250 GTO – Vanilla Sky
The Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most valuable and desirable cars in the automotive industry. Ferrari only built 36 examples from 1962 to 1964, making it one of the rarest cars priced at $70 million.
In the 2001 movie vanilla heavenDriving a Ferrari 250 GTO, Tom Cruise’s character David Aames perfectly represents his wealth and status, while also flaunting his flamboyant lifestyle and love of high-performance cars.
Sources: Bonhams, Movieweb, Barrett-Jackson