As the weather cools and winter sets in, many Brits are trading nights out for cosy evenings in front of their favourite films and TV shows. According to a study by used car marketplace Motorway, 86% of UK adults watch up to 20 festive favourites in the lead-up to Christmas.
Classics like Home Alone and Gavin & Stacey Christmas specials top the list, with one thing in common—iconic car scenes. From heartwarming “driving home for Christmas” moments to thrilling car chases or love stories unfolding in the front seat, it all plays out on four wheels.
So, this festive season, the valuation experts at Motorway have teamed up with ex-Top Gear presenter and car expert Quentin Wilson, to reveal just how much some of the motors in Christmas classics would be worth today, if sold on its platform:
- Smithy’s 1996 Volvo 850S Estate from Gavin & Stacey S2 Christmas special: £2,213
- Daniel’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE in Bridget Jones’s Diary: £223,450
- The Weasleys’ 1960 Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: £9,472
- Amanda Woods’ Mini Cooper S in The Holiday: £1,637
- The Prime Minister’s 2003 Jaguar XJ6 that drove the ‘Nativity octopus’ in Love Actually: £4,476
Motorway’s survey revealed it’s no easy feat to identify the potential sale price of these classic cars – with almost half (48%) of Brits not guessing any of the prices correctly. In fact, only 5% said they’d price Daniel’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE in Bridget Jones’s Diary as more than £100,000 today.
The research also revealed which of these iconic cars Brits would most want to own, with the Prime Minister’s 1987 Jaguar XJ-S from Love Actually (10%), Daniel Cleaver’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz convertible from Bridget Jones’s Diary (9%), and Cameron Diaz’s Mini Cooper from The Holiday (9%) topping the list.
Of all the memorable on-screen moments, one in five (21%) Brits see The McCallisters’ race to the airport in Home Alone as the most iconic car scene of all time, with Hugh Grant’s Prime Ministerial ride with the Nativity octopus in Love Actually (16%) coming in close second.
When it comes to driving home for Christmas, a moment that half (51%) of Brits said they look forward to each year, more than one in 10 (12%) said Bridget Jones would be their ideal passenger princess, followed by Buddy the Elf (10%). On the other hand, only 3% of Brits would share the ride with Home Alone’s burglar and Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter.
Motoring expert and former Top Gear presenter, Quentin Willson, comments: “These iconic cars are no strangers to our screens during the holiday season, but it’s surprising how much they could fetch if sold today. According to research from Motorway, many Brits are in the dark about the value of these iconic cars, with 30% of Brits saying they have no idea how much some of them are worth.”
“The majority (60%) guessed that Daniel’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE in Bridget Jones’s Diary would sell for less than £75,000, but as it’s a super rare 280 SE convertible, with only 68 ever made in right hand drive, it would likely sell for as much as £223,450 on today’s market.
“Despite being some of the most recognisable festive cars, most people have no idea what the wheels from their favourite scenes could be worth. Similarly, lots of car owners have potentially thousands of pounds of value in their car without even knowing it. So if you’re wondering just how much your own set of wheels could be worth, always get a proper valuation from a reliable source, like Motorway.”
Taking inspiration from James Corden’s larger-than-life character, Smithy, Brits are already thinking about their ultimate road trip playlist to get them in the festive mood on their way home. While Chris Rea’s Driving Home For Christmas tops the list for one in five (19%) Brits as their go-to soundtrack, Justin Bieber’s holiday hit, Mistletoe is a track that only 3% have in their favourites. Others in the top 10 include Wham!’s Last Christmas (18%) and Mariah Carey’s anthem All I Want For Christmas (15%).
