[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/the-perfect-drive-in-movie-cars\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/the-perfect-drive-in-movie-cars\/","headline":"The perfect drive-in movie cars","name":"The perfect drive-in movie cars","description":"The idea of the drive-in movie is deeply embedded within US culture and has been romanticised so successfully by Hollywood over the decades that we Brits have often looked upon it with envy. The truth is, we\u2019ve never been particularly well set-up to translate the format over the pond in the UK. Our winters are too cold, our summers too soggy, and more often than not, it\u2019s far more convenient to just fire up Netflix and chill. That doesn\u2019t mean […]","datePublished":"2017-06-06","dateModified":"2017-06-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/drive-in-cinema-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/drive-in-cinema-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/the-perfect-drive-in-movie-cars\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":605,"keywords":["Drive-In cinema","Mazda MX-5","Mini","National Drive-In Movie Day","porsche 911","volkswagen golf"],"articleBody":"The idea of the drive-in movie is deeply embedded within US culture and has been romanticised so successfully by Hollywood over the decades that we Brits have often looked upon it with envy.The truth is, we\u2019ve never been particularly well set-up to translate the format over the pond in the UK. Our winters are too cold, our summers too soggy, and more often than not, it\u2019s far more convenient to just fire up Netflix and chill.That doesn\u2019t mean drive-in cinemas aren\u2019t a thing in the UK though, you\u2019re sure to find at least one not too far away from your home if you do a properly worded online search.As today (June 6) is National Drive-In Movie Day, we\u2019re paying homage with our rundown of the perfect drive-in movie cars.Mazda MX-5Price range: \u00a318,795 – \u00a329,295 OTRWhat we\u2019d watch: Hairspray, Blow Dry, Vidal Sassoon The MoviePerhaps the weather gods have been kind and your trip to the local drive-in is rain-free and ripe for getting the roof down; this is one of the best cars to be in. It is the best-selling two-seater sports car in existence, which means there are loads of them in the second-hand market, so you can pick up a tidy example without straying too far into four-figures.Porsche 911Price range: \u00a376,412 – \u00a3154,614What we\u2019d watch: Cars, Cars 2, Cars 3Beginning production in 1963, this classic Porsche rages on today. This two-door 2+2 sports car has consistently relaunched itself as one of the most powerful models of its ilk over the decades.With timeless design, sensational handling and a seemingly unlimited supply of cool, it is likely that some people will spend more time looking at your 911 than watching the film they\u2019ve paid money to see.We have to admit Disney\u2019s tribute to the 911 with Sally Carrera in the Cars franchise also had more than a little influence on the model\u2019s inclusion here too.Volkswagen GolfPrice range: \u00a317,765 – \u00a335,830What we\u2019d watch: Happy Gilmore, Caddyshack but not Caddyshack 2Links don\u2019t get any more barefaced or literal than this, but in all fairness, there\u2019s a VW Golf for everyone and all occasions.Frugal motorists will be impressed by the Bluemotion variant. Friends of the Earth will be won over by the all-electric e-Golf. Petrolheads will fulfil a rite of passage by owning the 261bhp GTI, while the Golf R caters for those who hunger for a little more horsepower (310bhp). Until 2016, there was a cabriolet too, even if it did look a bit odd.Yep, every kind of motorist is catered for with the Golf, hence why it is consistently one of the best selling cars in the UK every year.MiniPrice range: \u00a314,620 – \u00a328,910What we\u2019d watch: The Italian Job (obvs), Austin Powers in Goldmember, PixelsFew cars are more iconic as the Mini and even though the current model has its critics for being not particularly mini anymore, it remains an accomplished and stylish car in its own right.Pretty much any iteration of the Mini makes for memorable cinema. We all have fond memories of it racing through the sewers in the original Italian Job from 1969 (we shall not speak of 2003\u2019s monstrosity), and in the disappointing meh-fest that was 2015\u2019s Pixels, it was the centrepiece for the film\u2019s most inspired scene, with four individually coloured models posing as Pacman\u2019s nemesis ghosts.The Mini may not be the most spacious car to spend the best part of two hours watching a film, but maybe the occasion calls for a bit of cosy time with whoever is accompanying you\u2026"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The perfect drive-in movie cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/the-perfect-drive-in-movie-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]