The Cars of Miami Vice

Miami Vice became a cult program for car lovers. Lavish automobiles constantly graced the scenes and became equally as iconic as the show itself. In fact, there seemed to be very few episodes, if any at all, that viewers did not see at least one race car screaming down the streets of Miami, stirring up all of the fine neighborhoods of Miami Real Estate owners!

Sonny Crockett’s original car on the series was a Daytona Spyder, or rather a look-alike Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder. This was the first significant vehicle that was a prop that Sonny needed to fit into the high-rolling world of drugs, prostitution and gambling. If you are going to dress the part, you have to pull off the whole routine and play up the ostentatious lifestyle of a Miami Vice-lord.

Tubbs’ car was a ’63 Cadillac DeVille convertible. It may not be as flashy as the other vehicles seen on the show, but has an air of a hard worker who has managed to snag some of his own turf in the tough city of Miami.

Switek, another detective cast member, partnered with detective Zito, got to drive a ’63 Ford Thunderbird in turquoise.

Calabrese drove a 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7 convertible.

Some other cars were used as ‘roll-ons’ and were not excessively ostentatious to the naked eye. In one episode, a drug dealer drove a mint-condition ’68 Pontiac GTO, original red body, black interior, hideaway headlights and Rally II wheels. Most cop shows of the time, and even in the 21st century would have a drug dealer driving a beat up van or a Monte Carlo. Miami Vice still exceeded expectations, even with its ‘roll-on’ cars.

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