Yes, dear reader — that cartoon family from Springfield turns thirty today. A brief list of items not yet invented or discovered in 1989 include the internet, reliable anti-lock brakes, and the ineptitude of Rick Wagoner.
The Simpsons have gifted us not only with plenty of great one-liners over the years (“Uh, no, they’re saying, ‘Boo-urns! Boo-urns!”) but also a parking lot full of automobiles.
We’ll kick things off with the rig whose name is dropped in reviews of the Expedition and Suburban when the author is addled on OEM-provided shrimp and cannot think of another pun. Can you name the truck with four-wheel drive? It smells like steak and seats 35. Canyonero!
Who can forget The Homer, a brand new car from Powell Motors! Complete with rack-and-peanut steering, it equalled only the Aztek in tone-deafness (which also had about forty bucks worth of steel in it).
Actually, the unveiling of The Homer went about as well as the media event when Bentley debuted it concept of the EXP 9 F.
Speaking of auto shows, I’ve seen this type of stereotypical crap still happen on occasion, especially when some fossilized journosaur dips into the free booze and suddenly thinks they’re clever.
There’s plenty of debate as to the model on which Homer’s pink car with a wrinkled fender is based, but most point to it being a 1973 Plymouth Valiant. Every family member has driven it, including Maggie, and it was apparently made in Croatia out of old Soviet tanks.
Speaking of Simpsons cars that have been around the Bloc, no one forgets the rig Crazy Vaclav tried to sell Homer. “Put it in H!”
Like all good red-blooded Americans, Marge drives a station wagon. Did good in the derby, too.
Ned Flanders had problems outrunning Homer in his Geo.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon enjoys listening to Cheap Trick while washing his Firebird, as we all do.
Either the creators of The Simpsons really like American muscle or they’re totally trolling us with a commentary on the type of people who drive the things. Lil’ Bandit belongs to Snake, even after Homer bought it. “She needs premium, dude!”
Unsurprisingly, Moe drives a piece of crap.
There are plenty of others — from Burnsie’s fleet to Fat Tony’s limo — but, given the cold and misery falling from the sky outside your author’s window at this hour, we’ll end with Mr. Plow. Now, if you lot will excuse me, I’m off to play Hungry Hungry Hippos.
What’s your favorite car from The Simpsons? There are plenty more than shown above! Chime in below.
“Is there a chance that the track could bend?”
“Not on your life my Hindu friend!”
What about us brain dead slobs?
Who can forget Homer’s declaration from that same episode, “I call the big one Bitey.”
Leonard Nimoy is an anagram for “deny monorail”.
I’m on the lookout for a maroon 1936 Stutz Bearcat. But I can only find them in burgundy.
“What advantages would you say this motor car has over say, a train? Which I could also afford.”
“Zhese are speed holes. Zhey make zee car go faster.”
“You want my advice? I zhink you should buy zhis car.”
“Do you find something comical about my appearance when I’m driving my automobile?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto that I could afford. Should I, therefore, be made the subject of fun?”
“I guess so.”
I have a Hot Wheels Homer sitting on my desk here at work along with the Chevelle from Talladega Nights.
I also have the hot wheels homer car!
Superintendent Chalmers’ 1979 Accord should make the list. “I used to think a car was just a way of getting from point A to point B — and on weekends, point C. That man died the moment I laid eyes on the 1979 Honda Accord.”
My “H” has been stolen! Oh, that’s how people know it’s a Honda!
Still waiting on Ford to steal the Elec-Taurus name.
The Saturn SL2 owned by Homer’s mom’s hippie friends was pretty funny, especially when they painted it in psychedelic colors like John Lennon’s Rolls and drove around Springfield freakin’ people out, man.
Around 1996-98 I often watched the Simpsons with school friends whom I was sharing a place with. None of them were car guys. Also note this was before the era when everyone carried a smartphone with Google to instantly produce an image of whatever you wanted.
Before the ’68 Firebird shown above, I remember Snake driving a red 1969 Charger R/T. I was quite excited the first time I saw that. Everyone else thought I was full of it. They didn’t believe that the Simpsons animators would draw a car so realistic that I could ID the make, model and year, when most Simpsons cars were just blobs. (None of them were Dukes fans as kids either.)
Marge’s sisters drove a VW Thing. My friends didn’t believe me when I told them that was the actual model name. Then they didn’t believe that any manufacturer would make an actual car that looked so weird. (This was before the Aztek too.)
I remember a few others, but those are my favorites.
Gotta wonder how big of Simpsons fans they were if that kind of thing surprised them.
edit: dumb i autocorrect!
Way back in the 90’s Bart and his buds want to reclaim the Lemon tree out of the of car impound in Shelbyville
“The impenetrable fortress of Suburbia” ..Such an apt description of such a business .
That reminds me of the road trip they took to Knoxville to see the “Wod Fir?” Where they saw the Sun Sphere which was filled with thousands and thousands of wigs.
I believe the car they rented was based on a Mercury Grand Marquis.
I seem to remember Marge driving a Gremlin at around the time she met Homer, which was a great piece of vehicular casting. But not quite as scathingly, cuttingly spot-on as Hans Moleman’s Ford Contour.
Edit: At one point, Hans Moleman had a Gremlin too, it seems.
I think you’re right. Was Marge’s Gremlin in the episode where Homer took Marge to the prom? I think Homer had a rusty green ’68 or ’69 Plymouth (Road Runner? GTX? or just a Belvedere?).
The first ten seasons of the Simpsons were probably the Best Sitcom Ever (Comic Book Guy voice).
Otto! There’s a Gremlin on the side of the bus!
Mo: The “garage”? Hey fellas, the “garage”! Well, ooh la di da, Mr. French Man.
Homer: Well, what do you call it?
Mo: A car hole.
“Speed holes”
(What I call the embellishments on aughties-decade product from certain GM nameplates)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ja6Hn8ps4
Also, Burnsie’s car is identified as the Bugatti Sexarosa.
Homer took part in a self-driving car program in a recent episode.
I believe Principle Skinner had a Camry, that spent time at the bottom of a lake, and was burned by a disgruntled artist/ex-con. Seemed ideal car for him. Bland, tasteless, no personality whatsoever.
In season 28 episode 11 “Pork and Burns”, the car wash attendant calls Homer’s car a 1986 Plymouth Junkerola.
At one point, Abe Simpson had a Studebaker Starliner Commander.
There is the episode at Disneyland or wherever with the electric car exhibit sponsored by the gasoline producers of America.
Little pink car “Hello I’m an electric car. I can’t go very fast or very far. And if you drive me people will think you’re gay.”
Animatronic gays chant “one of us, one of us, one of us…”
You, there! Fill it up with petroleum distillate and re-vulcanize my tires…POST-HASTE!
There have been so many real life cars in The Simpsons i probably couldn’t list em all out here, but i can try. sauce at the imcdb.
Acura NSX
AEC Routemaster
1982 Airstream 345
1967 Alan Mann Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Alvis FV 601 Saladin
AM General HMMWV
AM General M-35
1973 AMC Gremlin
AMC Pacer
1977 AMC Pacer Wagon
1962 Amphicar 770
2004 Audi A6 Stretched Limousine C6 [Typ 4F]
Austin FX4
1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Series I
Autocar AT-64F
Bentley Continental GT
1992 Bentley Continental R
1978 Bentley Corniche Drop Head Coupé by Mulliner, Park Ward
Bentley S-Type
Blue Bird All American
BMW 3 [E36]
BMW 3 Coupé [E46]
BMW 5 [E28]
1978 BMW 7 [E23]
2014 BMW i3 [I01]
BMW R 75
Bugatti Type 50
1971 Buick Estate Wagon
Buick Regal
1981 Buick Regal
1987 Buick Skylark
1959 Cadillac Ambulance Eureka Hi-Boy 54”
1959 Cadillac Ambulance
2004 Cadillac CTS-V
1965 Cadillac DeVille Convertible [68367F]
1969 Cadillac DeVille Convertible [68367F]
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Cadillac Escalade [GMT435]
2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV [GMT830]
Cadillac Fleetwood
1964 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special Stretched Limousine
1981 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1973 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado
1955 Cadillac Funeral Coach Superior [8680S]
1967 Cadillac Funeral Coach
1980 Cadillac Funeral Coach
1973 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Custom Convertible
1978 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1959 Cadillac Series 62
1956 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1958 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
Cadillac Stretched Limousine
1959 Cadillac Stretched Limousine Six Window
1969 Cadillac Stretched Limousine
Checker Taxicab
1974 Checker Taxicab [A11]
1949 Chevrolet Advance-Design 3100 [3104]
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
1975 Chevrolet Bel Air
1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1986 Chevrolet Caprice
1992 Chevrolet Caprice
1992 Chevrolet Caprice
Chevrolet Caprice Wagon
1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova
Chevrolet Chevy Van [G-20]
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Convertible [967]
1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 [2934]
Chevrolet Corvette C2
1970 Chevrolet Corvette C3
1984 Chevrolet Corvette C4
1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible C5
Chevrolet El Camino
1983 Chevrolet El Camino
1961 Chevrolet Impala
1965 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
1967 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
1967 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
1964 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
1968 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
2011 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR
1941 Chevrolet Light Delivery [3104]
1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet unknown
Chevrolet Veraneio [C-1416]
1990 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
Chrysler M4 A3 ‘Sherman’
2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible [JR]
Citroën DS
1968 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet
1971 Citroën DS 21 Pallas
1973 Citroën Dyane
Datsun 620
1981 De Lorean DMC 12
1956 De Soto
1978 Dodge Aspen
1991 Dodge Caravan
1996 Dodge Caravan
1992 Dodge Caravan C/V
2006 Dodge Charger [LX]
Dodge Charger NASCAR
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
1968 Dodge Coronet
1970 Dodge Coronet
1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
1974 Dodge Monaco
1996 Dodge Neon
2000 Dodge Neon
2002 Dodge Ram
1981 Dodge Ram MaxiWagon
Ducati 999
Duesenberg J
E-Z-Go Royal Ride
Ferrari 360 Spider
Ferrari F40
1965 Fiat 850 Spider [100GS]
1947 Ford
1988 Ford AeroMax
1992 Ford Aerostar Stretched Limousine
Ford C-Series
1968 Ford Country Squire
1992 Ford Crown Victoria
1998 Ford Crown Victoria
2003 Ford E-350
2008 Ford E-Series
Ford Econoline
Ford Econoline
Ford Econoline [E-350]
Ford Econoline [E-350]
1995 Ford Econoline [E-150]
1995 Ford Econoline [E-350]
1997 Ford Econoline [E-350]
Ford Excursion [UW137]
1991 Ford Explorer [UN46]
1995 Ford Explorer [UN105]
1992 Ford F-150
Ford F-350
1968 Ford F-350
1992 Ford F-350
Ford F-Series
1967 Ford F-Series
1971 Ford F-Series
1962 Ford Fairlane
1957 Ford Fairlane 500
1957 Ford Fairlane 500
1957 Ford Fairlane 500
2006 Ford Fusion [CD338]
2006 Ford Fusion [CD338]
2011 Ford Fusion NASCAR
1965 Ford Galaxie 500
1965 Ford Galaxie 500 LTD 2-Door Hardtop [63F]
Ford Gran Torino
Ford L-Series
1970 Ford LTD
1971 Ford LTD
1979 Ford LTD [54H]
1973 Ford LTD Country Squire
1973 Ford LTD Country Squire
1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria
1928 Ford Model A
1909 Ford Model T Open Tourer
Ford Mustang
1965 Ford Mustang
1967 Ford Mustang
1968 Ford Mustang
1982 Ford Mustang
1985 Ford Mustang GT
1987 Ford Mustang LX
1990 Ford Mustang GT
1995 Ford Mustang [SN95]
2005 Ford Mustang GT
2010 Ford Mustang GT [S197]
1977 Ford Pinto Squire Wagon
1986 Ford Taurus
1986 Ford Taurus
1996 Ford Taurus
1955 Ford Thunderbird [40A]
1958 Ford Thunderbird
1965 Ford Thunderbird [76A]
1966 Ford Thunderbird [76A]
1970 Ford Torino
1934 Ford V8 De Luxe Fordor [40]
2007 Freightliner Cascadia
Freightliner FLB
1989 Geo Metro [SF310]
1995 Geo Metro
GM ‘New Look’
1960 GM C/K-Series Panel
1992 GM CV200
1996 GM EV1
GM G-Series
1971 GM G-Series
1978 GM G-Series
GM PD 4106
GM PD 4107 ‘Buffalo Bus’
1967 GMC B-Series
GMC C-Series
GMC General
1995 GMC Suburban
1973 GMC Transmode [TZE]
1985 GMC Vandura
Harley-Davidson Chopper
Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Harley-Davidson FL
Harley-Davidson FLHP Road King
1955 Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide
Harper Invacar
1979 Honda Accord [SJ]
2006 Honda Accord
1973 Honda Civic [SB1]
Honda Monkey
1999 Honda Odyssey [RL1]
1953 Hudson Hornet 4-Door Sedan
Hummer
2003 Hummer H2
Hummer Stretched Limousine
1995 Hyundai Accent [X3]
1984 Hyundai Pony
International 4000-Series
International 4700 Armored Truck
International DuraStar
1950 International Harvester M
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8B
2006 Isuzu NPR
Jaguar XJ-S [XJ27]
Jeep Cherokee [SJ]
Jeep Cherokee [XJ]
Jeep CJ-5
Jeep Grand Cherokee [WJ]
Jeep Grand Cherokee [ZJ]
1992 Jeep Wrangler [YJ]
2018 Jeep Wrangler [JL]
John Deere Model A
Kawasaki KZ 1000 Police
Kenworth K-100
Kenworth unknown
2006 Kia Rio [JB]
2017 Kia Sportage [QL]
1983 Lada Riva [2105]
1986 Lada Samara [2108]
Lamborghini Countach
2003 Lamborghini Gallardo
2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
1971 Lancia Fulvia Coupé 2a serie [818]
1971 Land-Rover 109” Series III Station Wagon
Land-Rover Defender 90 Station Wagon
Land-Rover Range Rover Series III [L322]
Land-Rover Range Rover Sport [L320]
2002 Lexus IS 300 SportCross [XE10]
1965 Lincoln Continental (with a 1963 Buick Wildcat trim) [53A]
1975 Lincoln Continental
1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III Barris Kustoms
1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV [65A]
1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine SS-100-X Presidential State Car Hess & Eisenhardt
1978 Lincoln Continental Stretched Limousine
Lincoln Futura Batmobile by Barris Kustoms
2005 Lincoln Navigator Ultimate [U228]
1981 Lincoln Town Car
2003 Lincoln Town Car
1989 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine
1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental
Made for Movie ‘Humungous’ Truck on Ford F-100 chassis
Mazda MX-5 Miata [NA]
MCI MC-7
1965 McLaren M1A Oldsmobile
MCW Metrobus Customised
1968 Mercedes-Benz [W108]
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe ‘Gullwing’ [W198 I]
Mercedes-Benz Actros [Mp1]
Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse Stretched Limousine [W202]
Mercedes-Benz CLK [A208]
Mercedes-Benz CLK [A208]
Mercedes-Benz CLK [C208]
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse [W212]
Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse [W463]
2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 [X204]
1998 Mercedes-Benz ML [W163]
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse [W126]
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse [W126]
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse [W140]
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine [V221]
Mercedes-Benz SL [R230]
1990 Mercedes-Benz SL [R129]
Mercedes-Benz SLK [R171]
1986 Mercedes-Benz T [S124]
Mercedes-Benz unknown
1970 Mercury Cougar
1992 Mercury Grand Marquis
1950 Mercury Station Wagon
2001 MINI Cooper [R50]
2001 MINI Cooper [R50]
2014 MINI Cooper [F55]
1932 Morgan Super Sports
Nash Metropolitan
2000 Nissan Altima [L30]
2009 Nissan Cube [Z12]
2004 Nissan Quest [V42]
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
1979 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Luxury
1962 Oldsmobile Starfire
1958 Oldsmobile unknown Holiday Sedan
1956 Packard Patrician
Peterbilt 359
Peterbilt 362
2001 Peugeot 307
Piaggio Vespa
Piaggio Vespa
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1971 Plymouth Barracuda
1970 Plymouth Road Runner
1951 Pontiac
Pontiac Fiero
1968 Pontiac Firebird
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ‘KITT’
Pontiac GTO
1966 Pontiac GTO
1967 Pontiac GTO 55
1963 Pontiac Tempest
1994 Pontiac Trans Sport
1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio
1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio
1974 Porsche 911 Targa
Porsche Carrera GT [980]
1967 Rambler Rebel
1990 Renault AE
Renault LeCar [5]
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn
2003 SAAB 9-3 Gen.2
2002 SAAB 9-3X
SAAB 900 Cabrio Gen.1
1997 Saturn SC2
1996 Saturn SL1
1996 Saturn SL2
smart Fortwo [450]
1998 Spartan Gladiator
1940 Studebaker Commander
1954 Studebaker Commander Starliner
1955 Studebaker E-Series
1955 Studebaker E-Series
1912 Stutz Bearcat
Stutz DV32 Groening
1998 Subaru Forester [SF]
2000 Subaru Legacy [BH]
2005 Subaru Outback [BP]
2018 Tesla Model 3
2013 Tesla Model S
2017 Tesla Model S
2008 Tesla Roadster
1989 Tiffin Allegro
1995 Toyota Camry [XV10]
2002 Toyota Camry [XV30]
2007 Toyota Camry [XV40]
2011 Toyota Camry NASCAR
Toyota Corolla Sport Liftback [AE86]
1997 Toyota Hilux [N60]
2004 Toyota Prius II [NHW20]
2004 Toyota Prius Stretched Limousine Mk.II [NHW20]
2001 Toyota Sienna [MCL10]
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
Utilimaster Aeromaster
Volkswagen [Typ 1]
1968 Volkswagen 1500 [Typ 1]
Volkswagen Campmobile [Typ 2 / T2]
Volkswagen Convertible [Typ 1]
Volkswagen Golf II [Typ 19E]
1958 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible [Typ 14]
Volkswagen LT II [Typ 2D]
Volkswagen New Beetle [Typ 1C]
Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible [Typ 1Y]
Volkswagen Panel [Typ 2 / T1]
1964 Volkswagen Panel [Typ 2 / T1]
1968 Volkswagen Panel [Typ 2 / T2]
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible I [Typ 17]
Volkswagen Sedan [Typ 1]
Volkswagen Station Wagon [Typ 2 / T1]
Volkswagen Station Wagon [Typ 2 / T1]
Volkswagen Station Wagon [Typ 2 / T1]
Volkswagen Station Wagon [Typ 2 / T2]
1963 Volkswagen Sun-Roof Sedan ‘Beetle’ [Typ 1]
1973 Volkswagen Thing [Typ 181]
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon [Typ 2 / T3]
Volvo 240 [244]
1986 Volvo 240 [244]
1979 Volvo 244
1975 Volvo 245
Volvo 740 [744]
1990 Volvo 740 [745]
Volvo 760 [764]
1995 Volvo 960 [964]
Volvo FM
1999 Volvo S80 Gen.1 [TS]
2000 Volvo V40 Gen.1
2000 Volvo V70 Gen.2
1950 Willys Jeep Pickup Truck
Willys MB ‘Jeep’
Winnebago Super Tram
I was googling for something else and found Hans driving a Ford Contour
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HummerDinger
Was watching an episode the other day where Homer forgets to pick Bart up from soccer, he looks out for a pink station wagon with a roof rack.
I was thinking that if the Simpsons was started today they would be driving Canyoneros.
Remember Homer got a loaner Cadillac?
Skinner is mentioned as owning a Merkur (imported European Fords) and a Volvo at various points.
There’s a Simpsons-themed driving video game from about 15 years ago called “Hit and Run”, it’s kind of like Grand Theft Auto but in Springfield. You can steal any car on the road and use it for all kinds of mayhem.
For pure speed, nothing beats Martin Prince’s “Honor Roller”, but it handles like John Force’s car. Apu’s T/A is a much better choice, it handles well but isn’t as fast as you would expect- perhaps it has the dreaded 301 under the hood.
The most useful car in the game, by a wide margin, is Snake’s “Lil Bandit”, which appears to be a Charger. Great balance of speed, handling, and durability. There is also a car that you get from Professor Frink, but it’s a special that is only available for one specific mission.
Great game, and as is often the case, a driving game where you bash stuff and run over pedestrians is way more fun than a driving game based on realistic racing.
Don’t forget about Otto and the school bus!
Not related to cars, but… “You’ll have to speak up. I’m wearing a towel.” Is possibly one of my favorite lines of all time. Whether I’m wrapped in a towel or not, I try and use it whenever possible.
Homer being impressed with the Dodge Caravan Mel Gibson was chauffeuring them in, always sticks out in my mind