8 TV detective and hero cars, from Columbo’s Peugeot to The Saint’s Volvo

Television has long used cars to tell viewers who a character is before the first line of dialogue. Rumpled detectives, suave adventurers and glamorous crime-fighters each arrived behind the wheel of something memorable. Here are eight TV detective and hero cars that did the job.

1. Peugeot 403 (Columbo): The Rumpled Rolling Wreck

A grey, derelict 403 convertible served as Lt. Columbo’s car in the 1970s series, a perfect companion for his crumpled raincoat and disarming manner. The 403 was also Peugeot’s first model to pass one million sales, which makes the scruffy television example an odd tribute.

The contrast is the joke: a car that sold in huge numbers looked like an afterthought in Columbo’s hands, and suspects underestimated both. Enthusiasts today treat the 403 cabriolet as a charming piece of French mid-century design with an unmistakable screen association. Finding one that looks properly weathered, rather than genuinely worn out, is part of the fun.

2. Volvo P1800 (The Saint): Plate ST1

In The Saint, which aired from 1962 to 1969, Roger Moore’s Simon Templar drove a white 1962 Volvo P1800 wearing the plate ST1. The car became so tied to the character that Moore later bought a P1800 of his own.

The P1800’s sleek coupe lines gave the show an unexpectedly stylish Swedish hero car, at a time when most screen adventurers favored British or Italian machinery. Buyers chasing one today are paying for a design with real period flair and a famous television pedigree. The coupe also stands as a rare case of a Swedish car becoming a British television star.

3. Pontiac Firebird Esprit (The Rockford Files): Looks Humble, Drives Hard

Jim Rockford’s Firebird Esprit looked like a base model, but most of the show’s cars were Formula 400 versions, with three used per season. Hagerty lists it among the greatest detective cars, a nod to how well it suited a laid-back private eye.

The deception was part of the charm, since the investigator’s ride hid more muscle than it showed. Anyone shopping for a replica should check which trim lies underneath, because the car seen on screen and the badge on its flank did not always match. Knowing that detail also helps when judging claims about screen-used cars.

4. Ford Gran Torino (Starsky & Hutch): Striped Tomato on Patrol

Detective David Starsky drove the Ford Gran Torino in Starsky & Hutch, while his partner Hutch made do with a beat-up Ford Galaxie 500. Hagerty includes the pairing in its roundup of the best detective cars, and the two vehicles set the tone for the buddy dynamic.

The mismatch between the flashy hero car and the tired sidekick sedan gave the show easy visual comedy. The big two-door Ford became so tied to the series that its name alone now evokes the characters, and replicas remain popular with fans. Getting the pairing right with a humble sidekick car is the first step for anyone building a tribute.

5. Ferrari Testarossa (Miami Vice): Missile-Proof Replacement

Sonny Crockett’s 1986 Testarossa replaced a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona that was destroyed on screen by a Stinger missile. The swap kept Miami Vice supplied with an exotic Italian star after its first one met a spectacular end.

The Testarossa’s wide, slatted look fit the pastel-and-neon mood of the show, and it became a defining image of the era. Few television cars changed so abruptly, or so dramatically, midway through a run, and the story of the swap is still repeated by fans. Italian exotics of that kind became shorthand for the show’s entire visual style.

6. Buick Century (Kojak): Brown Sedan, Red Light

Kojak, which premiered in 1973, put its detective behind the wheel of brown Buick Century sedans, often wearing a roof-mounted red light. Hagerty counts them among TV’s most famous vehicles, even though the car itself was far from exotic.

The plain family-car body made the flashing beacon feel like a street cop’s improvisation, which suited a gritty city drama. It is a reminder that a detective car does not need to be glamorous to be memorable, and that context counts for plenty. A modest sedan with the right prop on its roof can carry a whole series.

7. Ford Mustang II (Charlie’s Angels): The Angels’ Signature Ride

Jill’s Mustang II Cobra became the signature car of Charlie’s Angels, which ran 115 episodes over five series before ending in 1981. Hagerty includes it among TV’s most famous vehicles, and the car helped define the show’s glamorous, action-ready image.

The Mustang II is often remembered as a downsized Mustang, yet television gave it a glamorous afterlife that sales charts never could. Cobra-trim examples carry the clearest link to the show, and fans of the series tend to seek those out first. Anyone restoring one should expect plenty of interest from admirers of the show.

8. Rolls-Royce Corniche (Hart to Hart): Plate 1 HART

The Harts’ Rolls-Royce Corniche wore the plate 1 HART across a show that ran 110 installments through 1984 and was syndicated in 60 countries. The car conveyed the couple’s wealth at a glance, long before a single line of dialogue was spoken.

The Corniche suited a series built on champagne-and-mystery escapism, with a rich couple solving crimes for fun. Its appeal for collectors rests on a rare pairing of British luxury and a globally viewed television romance, which few other cars can claim. A personalized plate like the one on screen remains a popular way for owners to nod to the series.