For over a century, cinema has helped us do this by telling incredible, wonderful stories or deeply human experiences that touch us personally.

As a gateway to dreams, cinema naturally uses objects and locations that have helped us escape reality, and in countless films, that object is the car.

A vehicle to flee danger or simply chase freedom; a means to travel back in time or a space where life’s story unfolds.

The examples are endless and it would be fun to ask everyone which movie car comes to mind first.

The Bluesmobile of Jake and Elwood, a former police car turned rebel, companion in wild chases until its final destruction after completing its mission. Or perhaps more famously, the Rome-licensed Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible from Il Sorpasso, a co-star of one of Italy’s most iconic films, symbolizing a magical and dramatic summer and reflecting its owner’s character with its quirks and speed.

James Bond’s Aston Martin? Of course. What would the UK’s most famous spy be without his sleek sports cars? Ian Fleming helped cement the brand’s timeless aura of class.

These examples are the most iconic, often featuring cars as central to the story.

Yet many films feature important or modest cars almost incidentally that have nonetheless become beloved by enthusiasts: Sophia Loren’s Ferrari 250 California SWB arriving near Milan in Ieri, oggi, domani or Paul Newman’s Porsche 356 Speedster crashing on the hills of Los Angeles in Detective’s Story are four-wheeled cameos etched in memory.

The specific cars used often led complicated lives, with many disappearing after filming. But some, simple or sophisticated, have survived the extraordinary stories they starred in.

Occasionally these automotive stars reappear on the market, carrying a slice of their cinematic allure to new owners who might one day cruise Beverly Hills in Pretty Woman’s Lotus or roam endless country roads without drawing attention, even with the Confederate flag painted on the roof.