Originally published April 8, 2016|Updated October 14, 2026
Some used cars come with a story. A few of them come with a movie story. When a car stars in a hit film or TV show, fans will often pay far more than the car is worth on paper. They are not just buying a vehicle. They are buying a piece of their childhood.
Here are three famous star cars that have been sold or offered at auction, plus what makes each one special.
Why Movie and TV Cars Sell for So Much
A famous car is not worth more just because it looks good on screen. Collectors look at a few key things:
- Screen time: Cars seen in the opening credits or key scenes bring the highest prices.
- Proof of history: Original titles, studio paperwork, and photos from filming help prove a car is the real deal.
- Nostalgia: Buyers often grew up watching the show and want to own a piece of it.
- Rarity: Studios often built many copies, and most were wrecked during filming. The ones that survived are hard to find.
Herbie the Love Bug: A Little Beetle With a Big Heart
Herbie is a white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with racing stripes and the number 53. He first hit theaters in Disney’s The Love Bug, released on Christmas Eve in 1968. The movie brought in more than $51 million at the box office and led to several sequels.
Disney built about eleven Beetles for that first film. Many were used as stunt cars and took a beating on screen. Today, fans and collectors still hunt for the survivors.
One of the best-known sales happened in December 2015. A Herbie from Herbie Rides Again and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo sold for $86,250 at a Bonhams and Turner Classic Movies auction in New York. At the time, that was a record price for a Beetle at auction. The car had been lost for years before it turned up in a Florida warehouse.
K.I.T.T. From Knight Rider: The Talking Trans Am
From 1982 to 1986, David Hasselhoff starred as Michael Knight on Knight Rider. His partner was K.I.T.T., short for Knight Industries Two Thousand. K.I.T.T. was a black Pontiac Trans Am with a talking computer brain, voiced by William Daniels.
In 2015, Julien’s Auctions offered a 1982 Trans Am used during production. The auction house estimated it could sell for $200,000 to $300,000, with bidding opening at $100,000. The listing came with studio call sheets showing where the car was used. It also came with one letdown for fans: the car could not drive itself, and it did not talk.
The General Lee: TV’s Most Famous Dodge Charger
The orange 1969 Dodge Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard ran on TV from 1979 to 1985. Bo and Luke Duke used it to outrun the law in Hazzard County, Georgia, and the car got as much screen time as the stars.
All those jumps came at a cost. Producers went through nearly 300 Chargers during the show, and only a small number survived.
The most famous survivor is “Lee 1,” the car that flew over the police cruiser in the opening credits. In January 2012, pro golfer Bubba Watson bought it at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. He paid $110,000, or about $121,000 after the buyer’s fee. Watson later painted an American flag on the roof in place of the original design.
Tips for Buying a Star Car
Thinking about owning a piece of screen history? Keep these tips in mind:
- Ask for proof. Look for original titles, studio paperwork, and photos that link the car to the production.
- Know the difference between a hero car and a stunt car. Hero cars were used for close-ups. Stunt cars were built to be wrecked.
- Watch for replicas. Many tribute cars look just like the real thing. Get the vehicle’s history in writing.
- Budget for repairs. Many surviving cars need restoration work after years of hard use.
- Compare recent sales. Check results from trusted auction houses so you know what a fair price looks like.
Find Your Own Star Car
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Sources
- Sports Car Market, 1969 Dodge Charger R/T “General Lee” profile
- Consumer Guide, Remembering the General Lee
- Autocar India, Original Herbie sells for $86,250 at NY auction
- Boston.com, Real Knight Rider car up for auction
- Fox News, New home for the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee?