- Photo: René Staud, via Carstyling.ru - http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1959_jaguar_mk2_mark_2_240_340/images/17408/

The Five Greatest Getaway Cars

Choice of car matters in the criminal underworld. And over the years, there have been some great cars for the job.

3y ago
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Criminals and fast cars go together like Bonnie and Clyde. And while their cars have been as varied as each mafia kingpin, across decades of bank robbery and police persuits, they have always had certain things in common. A mobster's car is fast, preferably good looking and definitely a status symbol. So, in no particular order, here are five of the greatest getaway cars of all time.

1930 Ford Model A

This car is not only a real-life getaway car legend, but it's also a hero of the silver screen. Famously used by Depression-era gangster and first Public Enemy #1 John Dillinger to evade police while on the run, the film 'Public Enemies' about John Dillinger's life, where he is portrayed by Johnny Depp, reinstated the four-cilinder coupe's claim to fame as a mobster car of choice. John Dillinger purportedly even busted out a window to fire at his pursuers with a machine gun.

John Dillinger's actual Model A. via Apetogentleman.com - https://www.apetogentleman.com/john-dillingers-1930-ford-model-a/

John Dillinger's actual Model A. via Apetogentleman.com - https://www.apetogentleman.com/john-dillingers-1930-ford-model-a/

Jaguar Mark 2

The first, second and third choice of any self-respecting British outlaw in the 60's, the Jaguar Mark 2 is a lawless legend on four wheels. The Jag owes its popularity among the more nefarious population of England to the newspapers as much as to its performance. While it already was a very good car for its day, featuring a 220 bhp straight-six which set its top speed at a brisk 125 mph, when the British press reported that criminals were using it as a getaway car, it became the obvious and only choice for any UK-based 60's criminal.

© Marc Vogers, via Classiccarsgarage - https://www.classicargarage.com/garages/smiths/sold/jaguar-mk-ii-3-8-litre-1960.35

© Marc Vogers, via Classiccarsgarage - https://www.classicargarage.com/garages/smiths/sold/jaguar-mk-ii-3-8-litre-1960.35

BMC Mini

Small, nimble and fast. It may not have the same impressive presence as the Jag, but it'll race through alleys and turn on a dime better than a lumbering big saloon car ever could, and all that with plenty space for duffle bags full of money in the back. Its claim to the status of getaway car came from the infamous film 'The Italian Job', which featured three Mini Coopers as getaway cars. And while it's excellent at racing through busy Turin traffic, it may be quite a squeeze getting a gang of more than four in the car. A Mini is many things, but spacious isn't one of those.

via Ranwhenparked.net - https://ranwhenparked.net/2013/05/12/sunday-classic-rover-mini-cooper-monte-carlo/

via Ranwhenparked.net - https://ranwhenparked.net/2013/05/12/sunday-classic-rover-mini-cooper-monte-carlo/

1934 Ford Fordor V8

The Ford V8 is possibly the most infamous of all mobster cars. One famous Ford driver is Baby Face Nelson, the gangster who killed more FBI agents than any other. Another is John Dillinger, who used a V8 he stole from a sheriff. He is even said to have written a letter to Henry Ford thanking him for building the Ford V8. However, the most well-known fugitives ever to drive the 1934 Ford V8 are Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who not only used many different Ford V8's during their crime spree, but also died in one.

via Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/8367570783

via Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/8367570783

1993 Ford Bronco

While not the most popular getaway car, or even much of a status symbol, the Ford Bronco is arguably the most well-known. It was famously used by O.J. Simpson in a low-speed chase which was broadcast live on American television and seen by 95 million Americans, making it easily the most watched getaway car on this list. Ask anyone to name one getaway car, and there's a reasonable chance they'll name a white Ford Bronco.

via Screenertv.com - http://screenertv.com/television/o-j-simpson-white-ford-bronco-resurfaces-after-20-years/

via Screenertv.com - http://screenertv.com/television/o-j-simpson-white-ford-bronco-resurfaces-after-20-years/

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Comments (17)

  • I’d like to add Ford Transit MK1 to this list.

      3 years ago
  • No nothing good starts in a getaway car ~

      3 years ago
  • In Italy,in the eighties,Lancia Thema turbo i.e.

      3 years ago
    • No way! I just imagined that Lancia topping at its max rpms while cornering trough narrow streets away from a bank robbery.

        3 years ago
  • there's a getaway car for everyone! For me it is any car on Ronin! Shared to the D_TRB USA facebook page!

      3 years ago
  • Brilliant. I'd add one to this - the Citroen Traction Avant. It lent its name to a gang, the Traction Gang, which was led by France's first Public Enemy Number 1.

      3 years ago
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