The Most Memorable Christmas Movie Cars

The holidays are upon us again, the season for chaotic shopping trips and anxiety-inducing family gatherings. Luckily, it’s also the season to kick your feet up by the fire, grab a glass of eggnog, and drift to sleep in front of the Hallmark channel’s endless parade of classic (and some not-so-classic) holiday movies.

It wouldn’t be Christmas time without its accompanying films, and many of the rotational classics have been made more memorable by the iconic vehicles featured in them. Today, Healdsburg Chevrolet takes a chronological look at movies that have become staples of the holiday movie rotation, and the vehicles that played key supporting roles.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

We begin, appropriately enough, with the godfather of Christmas movies (if not The Godfather of Christmas movies). We all know the story by now: down on his luck George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) loses some cash, contemplates an early exit, is saved by a wing-seeking angel, and proceeds to learn he’s not ruined, but in fact the luckiest man in town.

In a film brimming with fascinating cars from the 1940s, from Ernie’s taxicab to Burt’s police car, George is appropriately stuck driving a 1919 Dodge Brothers Touring. When an inebriated George drives said Touring into a tree on Christmas Eve, it sets off the chain of events that leads to both his low point and his ultimate salvation.

The actual Dodge from the film — which still includes its original studio ID badge — is currently owned by a Colorado couple. They actually put the Touring up for auction in 2014, but ultimately held off selling it. Perhaps, like George himself, they learned that some things in life are too precious to stick a dollar tag on.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Ralphie may be the face of 1983’s classic A Christmas Story (which is also set in the 1940s, despite its 1983 release), but real ones know that the heart and soul of the movie is his turkey fiend of a father. Unfortunately, Old Man Parker’s 1937 Oldsmobile Six seems perpetually in need of maintenance. (Or, as its owner puts it, “That son of a b**** would freeze up in the middle of summer on the equator!”)

The Oldsmobile’s flat tire leads to one of the film’s many iconic scenes, as Ralphie totally whiffs on his first attempt aiding his father with the tire replacement, throwing in some profanity for good measure. The incident is mostly forgotten one bar of soap later, but the Oldsmobile’s issues would presumably persist. If only Parker had won a time machine to visit Healdsburg Chevrolet’s Service Center, instead of that leg lamp.

Die Hard (1988)

Consider this intermission. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about the 1988 Lincoln Town Car limousine that escorts John McClane from LAX to Nakatomi Plaza. (The driver, however, does wind up playing a crucial role). It just seemed like a good excuse to work in our annual reminder that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, full stop.

Christmas Vacation (1989)

Clark Griswold’s 1988 Ford Taurus wagon is arguably just as important a character in this holiday classic as any member of the extended Griswold clan (save perhaps Cousin Eddie). It’s certainly the star of one of the film’s most memorable scenes, where Clark (Chevy Chase, notably not driving a Chevy) gets into it with some fellow roadsters on the way to the Christmas tree farm. During his ensuing road rage, Clark doesn’t even realize he’s steering the Taurus beneath a tractor trailer hauling enormous pine logs across the highway.

Clark does eventually navigate out of harm’s way, immediately evading a snowplow afterwards for good measure. And the Griswolds do arrive at their destination, albeit via an airborne detour. This intro scene sets the tone for the entire movie, and it’s all made possible by some impressive vehicular choreography.

Home Alone (1990)

You can’t say that the Wet Bandits didn’t put work into their backstory. Marv (Daniel Stern), one half of the criminal duo alongside Joe Pesci’s Harry, is obsessed with leaving their calling card in the form of running water at each house they burglarize. To further their cover, the pair travels around in a 1986 Dodge Ram Van, “Oh-Kay Plumbing & Heating” painted on its side.

One of the unsolved mysteries of Home Alone is what – if anything – Harry and Marv are keeping in the spacious van. Are they sticking to their front by traveling with actual plumbing and heating equipment? Is it stuffed with underutilized burglar tools? Whatever the case, the Wet Bandits were clearly ill-equipped to combat the squatter Kevin’s unhinged, DIY booby traps.

It’s Christmas Time in the Chevy

When it’s time to take a pause in your holiday movie marathon, consider making your way to Healdsburg Chevrolet. Our huge inventory of new and used Chevys will put you in the holiday spirit year-round. Drive into the New Year the right way with an assist from Sonoma County’s premiere Chevy dealership, Healdsburg Chevrolet.