10 TV detectives and their iconic motors

Morse - Jaguar Mk II

Supposedly the most recognizable Jag Mk II in the world, by the time it was retired Morse's Jag had over 79,000 miles on the clock. John Thaw, the actor who played the sullen inspector, once described the car as being 'a beggar to drive'.

Knight Rider - Pontiac Firebird

KITT was a customized Pointac Trans Am with the hefty price tag of $100,000 designed by Michael Scheffe of Back To The Future fame. William Daniels provided the voice of KITT but chose to remain uncredited.

More after the jump...

Bergerac - Triumph Roadster

Bergerac's Triumph Roadster was another classic car which didn't want to play nicely for the actor on set, this time Trevor Eve. Apparently the car wouldn't always stop when it was supposed to and it was so noisy that a separate soundtrack was needed on the final sound mix where the car's engine sound was replaced.

Crockett & Tubbs - Ferrari Daytona Spider 365 GTS/4

The Ferrari Daytona in Miami Vice lasted until the first episode of season three where the car was destroyed. The reason being that Ferrari has issued a cease and desist against car manufacturer, McBurnie Coachcraft, for copyright infringement on the Ferrari name and styling.

Starskey & Hutch - Ford Gran Torino

src: coolridesonline.net

Starsky actor, Paul Glaser, had absolutely no love for the Torino which his character drives in the show. He regarded the car as 'ugly and childish' and nicknamed it the 'striped tomato', a name which stuck with the writers who worked it into the show in Hutch's dialogue.

Magnum PI - Ferarri 308 GTS

src: The Telegraph

The Ferarri 308 GT became one of the most iconic cars produced by Ferarri because of the popularity of Magnum PI.

Sherlock - TX1 Hackney Cab

A modern take on Sherlock Holmes' taste for travelling in old Hackney Carriages, the TX1, manufactured by the London Taxi Company, saw plenty of use in the reboot.

Batman - Lincoln Futura

src: netoramma.com

For many this is the iconic Batmobile. The heavily modified Lincoln Futura again proved that using vintage cars on set isn't without its drawbacks. The engine regularly overheated, the batteries were unreliable and the tyres were always popping.

Gene Hunt - Audi Quattro

src: edp24.co.uk

You can't look at this car without hearing "Fire up the Quattro!"

Lt. Columbo - Peugot 403 Convertible

src: boitierrouge.com

Just one more thing... a car as shabby as it's owner but which shared the dogged persistence which the police lieutenant was best known for. If ever a fictional motor car best suited its owner, this would be it.