If you pay attention to the papers then you'll know that today isn't likely going to be a very happy birthday for pint-sized Tom Cruise.
It's his fiftieth, and for the man who has it all (millions of dollars, adoring fans, he still somehow looks younger than Justin Bieber), his main present today is likely to be frosty divorce papers served to him by the Scientologly-hating Katie Holmes.
"I Feel the Need - the Need for Speed."
But we're not Hello!, TMZ or any other celebrity website. We write about cars, and we're going to try to put a smile on Tom's face by reminding him about the amazing cars he's driven over the course of his fabulous career.
Tom has appeared in so many incredible films, and his co-stars have more often than not been drop-dead gorgeous cars that have stolen the show. Cars such as...
Mission: Impossible's BMW i8
"Wait until you see the car," Cruise quipped at reporters when he graced the red carpet at last year's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol premier. He was talking about his BMW i8 supercar that helps him and Paula Patton out of a tight spot in Mumbai. The super-hybrid concept (in our opinion) stole the limelight from Cruise, thanks to its beautiful silver, black and blue colour scheme.
Days of Thunder's Chevrolet Lumina
Nicole Kidman starred as Tom's love interest, but that's not the only on-screen car crash in Days of Thunder. It's the story of a young man who rises against the odds to win blah blah yadda yadda... Aside from the usual Jerry Bruckheimer schmaltz, Days of Thunder is a veritable NASCAR orgy. Cruise screams across the track in his 500hp 1988 Chevrolet Lumina stock car to take first prize.
Vanilla Sky's Ford Mustang
Though the entire plot of Vanilla Sky focuses around the circumstances surrounding Cameron Diaz's 1970 Buick Skylark (no spoilers here guys!), we're going to concentrate on Cruise's amazing 1967 Ford Mustang. It's a duplicate of the car Steve McQueen used in 'Bullitt' and is still incredibly impressive to this day. Variations of the Mustang have appeared in other films - Goldfinger being a prime example.
Rock of Ages' Ridiculous Limo
Tom stars as 80s rocker Stacee Jaxx in his latest flick, Rock of Ages. Picture car coordinator, Chris Gorden, had his work cut out though trying to find a fleet of 80s vehicles to fit in with the tone and feel of the film. As well as securing a Harley softtail springer bike, Gorden found an 80s Cadillac limo that apparently blew Cruise's mind. "That car screamed 1980s," says Gorden.
Real Life
No, not a film called real life. We mean 'as in real life'. Tom doesn't just drive some fantastic cars in the movies. His lifestyle and status means it's absolutely imperative that he drives around in some of the most expensive, jaw-dropping cars on the planet. One of his (and our) favourites is his 16-cylinder Bugatti Veyron. The engine is fed by four turbochargers - the car was rumoured to cost Tom $1.5million. Who needs a wife, anyways...
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