Christmas has inspired some of the best movies and TV specials in motion picture history. So after binge-watching all the holiday flicks we could get our cocoa-covered hands on, we came up with a list of some of the coolest vehicles we saw. Did we miss any big ones? Let us know in the comments section below.

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1. Oldsmobile Six, A Christmas Story

1938 Oldsmobile F-Series Touring Sedan
SpeedArticle writer Will Schertz actually caught up with the owner of the real Christmas Story house, along with one of the vintage Oldsmobiles that was used in the film. Check out that story and podcast here. (Image/Brian Jones)

Any car that would freeze up in the middle of the summer on the equator deserves a spot on the list. And, since it was the catalyst for the “Ohhhhh Fudddggge” scene, its appearance here is mandatory.

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2. Volkswagen Beetle, Gremlins

red first gen Volkswagen vw beetle bug
A red air-cooled VW Bug propels Billy to safety—once he gets it started, of course. (Image/SpeedArticle)

When we first meet Billy and his Beetle, Darlene Love’s “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home” is blaring through its speakers. We couldn’t think of a better way for Spielberg to begin his beloved Holiday classic.

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3. Ford Condor II, Christmas Vacation

Cousin Eddie's RV
This humble RV is being meticulously cared for and occasionally appears at car shows. (Image/Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Sure, we could have picked the tree-toting family truckster station wagon, but Cousin Eddie’s “tenement on wheels” is far more memorable.

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4. Dodge Ram Van, Home Alone

The actual van from the movie wears “Oh-Kay” Plumbing livery, which some say is a nod to Pesci’s character Leo Getz from Lethal Weapon. (Image: Dodge Ram Van by Jason Lawrence | CC BY 2.0)

There’s something about Marv’s collection of stolen snow globes stuck to the dash that makes us smile every time. We also appreciate the irony of the Wet Bandits posing as plumbers.

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5. Checker Cab, Scrooged

The once-ubiquitous Checker Cab is now a rare sight on New York City streets. Cue the Niagara Falls. (Image/SpeedArticle)

Perhaps the second-best time-traveling car ever, this one gets bonus points for having Buster Poindexter behind the wheel. And it’s the only cab that delivers to the floor of your choice.

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6) Chevy Camaro, Better Off Dead

1968 Chevy Camaro
From Transformers to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the Chevy Camaro is no stranger to the silver screen. (Image/Summit Racing)

Another under-the-radar Christmas movie, this film’s got some memorable holiday scenes. But the drag races are still the best, particularly the final one involving a freshly-tuned F-body.

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7. Chrysler LeBaron, Planes Trains & Automobiles

woodgrain Chrysler lebaron convertible K-car
The actual car from the movie wears metallic pea green paint, perhaps as an homage to the wagon from Vacation—an earlier John Hughes film. (Image/SpeedArticle)

We can think of maybe one other Hollywood vehicle that met such an ignominious fate. While it’s more a Thanksgiving movie, this noble K-car definitely deserves a spot on the holiday list.  

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8. British Motorcycle, The Snowman

vintage triumph Bonneville british motorcycle
While it’s tough to determine which precise model the Snowman rides, it appears to be an amalgam of classic British bikes from Triumph, BSA, Royal Enfield, and Norton. (Image/SpeedArticle)

What do you do if you’re a Snowman that’s magically come to life? Well, you kickstart a classic Brit bike and scramble through the serene English countryside—with a helmet on, of course.

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9. Dodge Brothers Touring, It’s a Wonderful Life

This particular Dodge Brothers Touring Car has a very interesting backstory. You can read it here. (Image/Summit Racing)

Another mandatory vehicle for this list. George’s venerable Dodge plays a pivotal role in the iconic film and, in many ways, echoes Mr. Bailey’s honest, humble nature.

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10. Berkshire Steam Locomotive, Polar Express

This is the Nickel Plate Road Class S-2 Berkshire locomotive #765, similar to the Class N-1 Berkshire that inspired the Polar Express. (Image/SpeedArticle – Alan Sakalas)

While it may not be a car or truck, we just figured you’d be on board (pun intended) with putting a 3,000 horsepower, 400 ton Berkshire steam locomotive on the list. 

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What’d we miss? Is there some favorite holiday movie or special that we’ve just got to see? Let us know in the comments below!

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Author: Paul Sakalas

Paul is the editor of SpeedArticle. When he's not writing, you'll probably find him fixing oil leaks in a Jeep CJ-5 or roof leaks in 1972 Corvette ragtop. Thanks to a penchant for vintage Honda motorcycles, he spends the rest of his time fiddling with carburetors and cleaning chain lube off his left pant leg.