Classic Cars in Classic Fiction
One little known holiday happening this month is national Support Teen Literature Day. Happening on April 11, the day is meant to recognize the award-winning authors and books within the Young Adult genre and help encourage more readers of the genre. While most of our own readers are likely well past their 'young adult' phase, we couldn't help but spend a moment to reminisce on some of the great fiction we have read featuring classic cars. The following is a quick look at a few of the more memorable fictional classic cars, which took on a role of their own both in the book and our imaginations:
Top Classic Cars in Classic Fiction
- The Great Gatsby's 1928 Rolls Royce Tourer. The high rolling Gatsby is a perfect pair to the high luxury of the Rolls-Royce brand. The Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 is a gorgeous four-door saloon model of which, between the years 1925 and 1931, only 3,512 units were produced. It's a rare car but one that epitomizes the style and elegance of the roaring 20's. It's a perfect vehicle to star in Fitzgerald's masterpiece. For whatever reason, the 2013 film version of the book starring Leonardo DiCaprio swapped out the Phantom for a 1929 Duesenberg II SJ -- a model even rarer than the Phantom 1 with only 300 '29 units being built.
- From a Buick 8's 1953 Buick Roadmaster. From a Buick 8 is a fantastic horror novel by Stephen King and is an incredible page-turner featuring a stunning, if terrifying, 1953 Buick Roadmaster. The novel is about humanity's fascination with deadly things and our insistence on finding answers... even when there are none to be found. Of course, King wasn't the only one to be fascinated by the '53 Roadmaster. Famed billionaire, business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist Howard Hughes also had a specially customized 1953 Buick Roadmaster that sold for an unprecedented $1.65 million in 2014.
- On the Road's 1949 Hudson Commodore. Jack Kerouac's semi-factual novel On the Road quite arguably ignited the American public's love of modern road films, shows, and books. The novel itself was about an aimless road trip across and throughout the United States. What better vehicle could you do that in than a gorgeous '49 Commodore, among the largest and most luxurious models of its day. While On the Road also featured a 1947 Cadillac Limousine and a 1937 Ford Sedan, it was the Commodore that really set the stage and there are likely more than a few automotive buffs and classic cars lovers out there who dream of retracing some of the roads traveled by Kerouac's protagonist.
Reclaim Your Favorite Fictional Classic Cars
Have a fictional car that inspired you to get started on a restoration project? Tell us about it in the comments! Or, if you're looking to take the fictional and make it real, contact our team at Customs & Hot Rods of Andice today about scheduling a visit to our shop and getting work started on your dream car.