Cars for film & TV hire

1980s car hire for film and TV

Eighties vehicles can support domestic routines, work journeys or more deliberately styled shoots. Start with the part of the decade the story needs; a broad retro mood is not the same as a dated street scene. Background choices, plates and shop signs should agree with the clothes in view. Include quieter everyday vehicles when the location is meant to feel lived in. 1980s is represented by 379 listings here, dating from 1980 to 1989; the individual vehicle pages provide a closer look when you have a particular story year in mind. This selection appears most often under Classic, Sports car and Hatchback; look through the individual vehicles to find choices that sit comfortably with the scene you are developing. The colours listed most often are red, blue and white; those choices can help you narrow the search when the visual reference has a clear palette in mind. For 17 listings, the images were supplied by the vehicles' owners.

The 1980s are a popular setting for coming-of-age dramas, retro commercials and synth-heavy music videos. CarSeen lists 379 cars from the 1980s for film, TV, commercial and photoshoot hire, from Ford Sierras and Austin Metros to Golf GTIs, Mercedes W123s, Porsche 944s, DeLoreans and Lamborghini Countachs. Browse below and send us a brief.

Casting a period scene? Read our period car guide

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Casting a period? See period cars for film or browse all picture car hire.

Everyday cars of the 1980s

Ordinary 1980s cars are now surprisingly hard to find in original condition, which makes them valuable for period work. The Ford Sierra, Escort and Fiesta, the Austin Metro and Maestro, the Vauxhall Astra, and Volvo estates are the cars that filled real driveways and supermarket car parks. A believable 1980s street also includes plenty of 1970s survivors.

Hot hatches, coupés and poster cars

The Golf GTI, Peugeot 205 GTI, Ford Capri and Escort XR3i defined the decade's youth culture. The BMW 6 Series, Mercedes SL and Porsche 911 and 944 signalled yuppie success. The Ferrari Testarossa and Lamborghini Countach were the poster cars of the decade.

Vans, police cars and working vehicles

VW T25 vans, Land Rover 90s and 110s, coaches and ex-Met panda cars complete the picture for crime drama and street scenes. See police cars for filming.

Screen icons

Some 1980s cars are characters in their own right, such as the DeLorean. The catalogue includes replicas of famous screen cars. Note that using a recognisable film replica in a production may raise clearance questions, so check with your legal or clearance team.

Casting an 1980s scene

Number-plate prefixes, colours and trim levels date a car to within a year or two. Tell us the year your story is set, and we'll check model years and suggest a realistic mix. For more on period accuracy, read our guide to period-correct cars.

FAQ

Can I hire 1980s cars for filming or a music video?

Yes. CarSeen sources 1980s cars for film, TV, commercials, music videos and photoshoots, from everyday hatchbacks to sports cars, supercars, vans and police cars.

Do you have a DeLorean?

The catalogue includes DeLorean DMC-12s, including replicas styled on the film car. Availability is confirmed when you send a brief.

Can you supply ordinary 1980s cars for background?

Yes. Everyday 1980s cars are essential for believable period streets, and we cast them in groups with a realistic mix of ages and colours.

How quickly can you supply 1980s cars?

It depends on the car and the owner's availability. The more notice you give, the more options we can offer, so send a brief as early as you can.

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