This has boggled my mind for many years and counting that I can't describe my bemusement on why fictional characters would be driving an older car on screen.
Perhaps it was cheaper for them to buy an older car than a newer car or they wanted a car with personality so an older car would suffice for them.
Just ask Archie Andrews and his Jalopy in the comic below:
Way back when I was in my semi-final and penultimate years in High School, I always wondered about the kinds of cars that them cartoon characters drive and why they hand picked the older models.
My guess at the time is that it was easier to draw a more realistic car if it was an older model or it's due to the need for something that old just to provide all the comedy that them characters need because the more unreliable the car, the funnier it is for the car to break down.
And some of these characters are portrayed as too stubborn to take their car to the mechanic. Therefore, forcing the character to fix it themselves.
Here are characters and their many cars:
01-Homer Simpson's 1986 Plymouth Junkerolla(really a PLYMOUHTH RELIANT)
Homer Simpsons is always portrayed as a boorish father who despite his low intelligence, tries to do what he can to provide for his family.
His most prized vehicle is his Pink Plymouth Reliant.
The Season 28 Episode PORK & BUNS from 2017 did mention the car as a Junkarolla but I doubt that.
As expected, Homer doesn't really take good care of his Plymouth's exterior.
Every once in a while, Homer's reckless driving can cause physical damage.
The most famous being a FAN-FAVORITE:
The NEW YORK Episode where Homer's car gets damaged as he drives through NEW YORK CITY with that DAMN boot on his car
02-Hank Hill's 1986 Ford Ranger & 1999 Ford F20 Super Duty
In KING OF THE HILL, Hank Hill always goes around driving FORDS just because he firmly believes in MADE IN USA for products....
(No references to today's political climate please).
Throughout the series, Hank actually had to go through two trucks.
The first was his personal favorite: A 1986 Ford Ranger
Though until CHASING BOBBY, it was often drawn as a 1993-1994 Model with a Horizontally Curved Headlight/Grill look.
In 2001, Hank had no choice but to get a new Pickup Truck, even if it was no longer manufactured in the USA like he preferred.
But regardless, He'll always go for FORD because why not.
So since then, He's been driving a 1999 Ford Super Duty.
And yes, I will confirm that HANK still drives this truck even in the 2025 Hulu Revival as there was an episode I watched on DISNEY+(Before HULU entered CANADA, it was STAR)
where HANK was seen driving his SUPER DUTY implying he got the truck put into storage until he came back.
03-Peter Griffin's 1975 Ford LTD Station Wagon
Peter Griffin always drives his famous Ford LTD Station Wagon from 1975.
Enough said.
I don't know what was with SETH MACFARLANE making his character of PETER GRIFFIN choose to drive that red thing but I'm guessing it was to accentuate PETER preferring a station wagon dating from the 1970s as well as have Peter drive a Car that's made in the USA.
Who knows.
And yes, I can confirm that just like HOMER SIMPSON, PETER GRIFFIN can be a somewhat reckless driver.... Maybe even worse than Homer's driving skills.
04-Phil Funnie's 1990 Ford Taurus
When DOUG premiered in 1991, I always get confused about the Funnie Family's Station Wagon.
Even if it's from Nickelodeon, Even if it's from Disney,
I can't pinpoint what the artists were trying to accomplish when designing the car.
The Rather SPACE AGE design of the Funnie Family's Station Wagon has always confused the hell out of me due to the design of it.
It's just so.... BULBOUS.
In fact Early on, the cars in DOUG during the earliest NICKELODEON years were designed to be NON-DESCRIPT.
They sort of remind me of the design logic of the car in THE PHANTOM TOOLBOOTH.
Later on in the series
(I think starting in Season 3 of the Nick Series)
The Cars started to look like their REAL-LIFE Counterparts.
Probably because it was mandated by NICKELODEON who wanted more cleaner and better designs for the cars in Cartoons that weren't from JOE MURRAY.
One example is Edwina Klotz's Monster Truck.
and the Truck that DOUG & SKEETER almost took for a joyride to get to a BEETS Concert
And yes, another truck.
This time, the one that Splashed water on DOUG during the Halloween of 1998.
I think the idea is that the show is supposed to be timeless....
If you can ignore the fact that it's set in the 90s due to all the tape decks, Stereos, VCRs, CRT TVs, Computers who's clock speeds are in the MHz range instead of the GHz we use today, etc.
Even though the show premiered in 1991, I always think of the Nick version as being set in the 1995-1996 school year, just so I can claim that the Funnie Family's Station Wagon is 1990 model Ford Taurus with four doors...
Why is the Funnie Family's Taurus a Station Wagon?
Because a family of 4(Later 5 in the Disney series) would demand to have a car built for the perfect American Nuclear Family.
Sorry but this is the best screenshot of the Funnie Family in the car
that I have readily available.
Good thing that even when the show started in 1991, JUMBO was wise to design the car with a front trunk just so they can have PHIL perform his mechanic work on the engine.
Gotta love the way they designed the engine on the FUNNIE FAMILY's Ford TAURUS.
Ok. So It doesn't look that much of a FORD TAURUS.... doesn't it.
It looks more like this FORD I saw in between the two Buildings I clean up:
But this FORD is from the 2000s due to the Rounded Design.
And DOUG is set in the mid-90s.........
So I can't use whatever this FORD is in my photos without running the risk of anachronisms.
Sometime late in the Nick Series, JUDY FUNNIE got her license and was legally entitled to drive the car due to matters of economics during the transition into the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
A role that she retains come forth the Disney Series.
And yes, the Disney series still retains the car since it's set in the late 1990s but I've got a feeling that the car will have to be replaced once the HULU Revival happens.
So let me ask you a question.
Should DOUG drive a pure gas, pure electric, or a hybrid?
And if so, what Car model should he drive?
Your opinions on what he should drive can be fielded in the comments.
05-Clark Griswold's 1979 Ford Country Squire(aka The Family Truckster)
Ahh yes.
The Griswold Family's FAMOUS TRUCKSTER, the Station Wagon the family didn't want but had no choice but to accept when their intended car was revealed not to be ready for the next 6 weeks.
This car is heavily associated with the NATIONAL LAMPOON series of VACATION Movies from the NATIONAL LAMPOON franchise.
The car was described as God-Awful due to the myriad of issues revolving around an ignition that has a mind of it's own, too much wood paneling, Airbags deploying randomly, etc.
To quote the Ed the used-car salesman:
"You think you hate it now-but wait till you drive it!"
And yes, that car of similar model is used in RICK AND MORTY
06-Bob Belcher's 1978 Plymouth Volare
There's a written rule that when you made an animated sitcom about a family of 5 regardless if it's a workplace comedy, the Nuclear Family should have station wagon for the road trips or general vehicular use.
Bob Belcher's 1978 Plymouth Volare is no exception.
It's been a while since I watched BOB'S BURGERS but I've got to say, it's surprising that the family patriarch of the BELCHER family is often seen driving such a PLYMOUTH but what are you gonna do.
And yes, I can confirm that BOB is a better driver than HOMER or PETER but his driving skills still pale in comparison to HANK HILL's.
07-North Kaio(King Kai)'s Chevrolet Bel-Air
It's mystifying me on how this guy on his car parked behind GOKU on the image above drives such a car.
Let yourself be the judge the next time you read the manga or watch the various entries in the Dragon Ball franchise.
One thing that brings to mind for me is how does a car like that even survive the heightened gravity of the KAI's planet?
08-Arsene Lupin III's 1967 Fiat 500 F
We all know that LUPIN drives this yellow Mini around and should there be more to say?
I think so. Because the Car which was introduced during the middle of the 1971 series has become more synonymous than LUPIN's other car: A Mercedes-Benz SSK
But I guess KAZUHIKO "MONKEY PUNCH" KATO wanted something much more easier not only for his wrist but also the animators to draw the Gentleman Thief to drive around.
And since then, almost all the Cars that LUPIN drives around his his trusty old FIAT.
09-Mr. Bean's 1977 Leyland Mini 1000 Mark IV
What's with MR. BEAN & his fascination for small cars like his prized Mini?
That's what enduring about his fascination with them small cars.
And his car is customized to suit his needs.
For example, he's got a padlock on his doors for extra security
And if they're broken into, guess what?
Yes. He removes the steering wheel.
Much to the chagrin of this guy below
"Awwww BUGGER!!!"
I've seen a pattern within this post that with the exception of DOUG, the model of cars that I've listed above are from when Artists Mandated that no matter how cartoony a character is, their Cars have to be designed with a sense of realism whether they like it or not.
As for what my characters drive? It depends.
Until I draw more drawings on paper or on PHOTOSHOP, here are some old drawings I did back in the late 2010s
Believe it or not, I actually loved to draw this model of car during my final year of HIGH SCHOOL.
I don't know why but I have a soft spot for cars from the late 80s and early 90s.
But one of the plans is to have HAYDEN BRENTWOOD's older brother AUSTIN drive a refurbished/retrofitted with an electric engine 1988 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE.
If the OLDSMOBILE is not working well for him or the executives when I pitch the series to a network in the future, here's an alternative:
A late 80s or early 90s VOLVO Sedan.
That front license plate has an easter egg:
That's the date I first moved to Vancouver in 1999.
And yes, I am aware I posted this is MARCH 10 which is dedicated to MARIO from Nintendo.
But sorry, I don't have any MARIO KART references to use.
