Line #26 Main/SignatureTeamTransport


1	[[quoteright:300:[[Franchise/ScoobyDoo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mystery_machine.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:Taking them everywhere since TheSixties.]]
3
4	Some teams have their own outfits, others have a TeamPet, and then there's these guys and their ([[TheAllegedCar usu]][[WhatAPieceOfJunk ally]]) CoolCar. This vehicle is the team's metallic pet: Most of the time, it will sport the team's or character's logo, have its own affectionate surname and be seen in almost every episode.
5
6	The transport is typically relative to the setting, and scope of the story. In a sea/space faring series it may be the team's main/mothership. A group of teenagers probably has a van they can all fit into. A solo adventurer probably has some type of one-seater.
7
8	For most characters, that one car is part of the team/family, and they don't care if it's a rusty old pile of scraps. In science fiction, if the vehicle has a sufficiently advanced AI/navigation system it can double as a RobotBuddy. In fantasy it may be a ([[NominalImportance named]]) horse, or mythological creature in which case it can double as a TeamPet.
9
10	It's not unusual for TheLancer or otherwise the 'coolest' member of the team to get a personal vehicle (see CoolBike) that rides alongside the main car just to emphasize just how cool they are.
11
12	SisterTrope to ThemeMobile, where the vehicle sports the team colors but isn't iconic/emotionally linked to the character/team. See also GlobalAirship, which is usually a Signature Team Transport for a party of RPG heroes.
13
14	Compare HerosClassicCar for an individual character.
15
16	----
17	!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* Anime/CaptainHarlock, his crew and his ''Arcadia'' .
23	* Until ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' came along, the Magic Cloud was this to Goku. Then there's Frieza's flying seat. He only left it when there was literally nobody else left to fight the heroes.
24	* ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'' has Tabitha and her familiar, ''a dragon'', Saito and the WWII plane...
25	* Almost every single crew in ''Manga/OnePiece'' has his own ship with their customized Jolly Roger, the most obvious example being the Strawhats' ship, the Going Merry [[spoiler:and later, the Thousand Sunny.]] There's also Aokiji and his bicycle. That he uses to cross the seas. [[SuperDrowningSkills Better not fall off]]...
26	* ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'' has The Condor. It's even mentioned in the theme song.
27	* ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' has the angel's Hummer "See-Through" and the demon's limousine "G-string".
28	* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' (aka ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets''): G-Force had the ''Phoenix'', a ship which contained four smaller vehicles and could change into a fiery bird-shaped craft.
29	* ''Anime/SpeedRacer'' and Racer X had the Mach 5 and the Shooting Star, respectively.
30	* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': While not customized, Ryo-Ohki blurs the line between this and TeamPet.
31	* The Dai-Gurren in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' serves both as this and as the team's headquarters.
32	* ''Anime/ZoidsChaoticCentury'': When Moonbay was introduced, her Gustav would become this. Near the end of the series, it would be the Ultrasaurus, again with Moonbay as the driver.
33	* ''Anime/ZoidsNewCentury'': The Blitz team would ride around in the Doc's custom transporter, the snail-like Hovercargo. Other teams would utilize Gustavs or Whale Kings.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Card Games]]
37	* In the ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' TCG, The Gigant Carrier is a transport vehicle that carries the Gearunits (Geargiaccelerator, Geargiattacker, Geargiarmor, and Geargiarsenal).
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Comic Books]]
41	* The Bat-vehicles for Franchise/{{Batman}} and the Bat Family, especially the Batmobile. Robin, meanwhile, is typically seen with a motorcycle, though [[ComicBook/Robin1993 Tim]] had an armored red sport car called the Redbird.
42	* The ComicBook/FantasticFour have the Fantasticar, a huge jet that can be separated into four smaller ones.
43	* ComicBook/GastonLagaffe's ''death car''. That thing is responsible for at least half of global warming. ''AT LEAST.''
44	* ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer'''s surfing board.
45	* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Nite Owl II has "Archie", an owl-themed aircraft that recalls his old days as a vigilante.
46	* The Blackbird from ComicBook/XMen. The original was literally a modified Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, illustrating that Professor X is both [[Fiction500 ridiculously wealthy]] and incredibly well-connected, because Lockheed never sold such planes to ''anybody'' except the US government.
47	* Franchise/WonderWoman has the invisible airplane, which she continues to use even though she can [[FlyingBrick fly on her own]].
48	* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' have their Quinjets.
49	* The second ComicBook/BlueBeetle (Ted Kord) has his "Bug", a beetle-shaped airship.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Fan Works]]
53	* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': The CoolPlane USS ''Argo'' which featured prominently in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' eventually reappears, acting as the main flagship, on which resides the same key Monarch brass who used it in the film plus the Russells.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
57	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'''s magic carpet, who also doubles as a character.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
61	* ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'': Doc Brown's Delorean. [[spoiler:[[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII And later]], his ''train''.]]
62	* ''Film/BrassedOff'': When the band travels to the Albert Hall for the final of the brass band championships, their coach is absurdly decorated with streamers and balloons in the band colours, and a huge banner saying "Good luck Grimley".
63	* The Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}' car with their logo on each side, "Ecto-1"
64	* ''Franchise/StarWars'' Episodes IV through IX feature the ''Millennium Falcon''. Except for Luke, who prefers his trusty old X-wing.
65	* Tallahassee's tendency in ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'' to paint a 3 on any car he chose to drive.
66	* The ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' have the ''Milano'', one of a class of ships used by the Ravager clan Peter grew up with. Future films in the MCU sees the team flying a larger vessel of similar design, the ''Benatar''.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Folklore]]
70	* SantaClaus' magic sled and his reindeer (they all have names, the most well-known being Rudolph).
71	* Just about any deity with access to a set of wheels has a customised personal vehicle. Apollo's fiery chariot of the sun; Ares' chariot drawn by the terrible horses Phobos and Deimos; Thor's goat-drawn war-wain; the Chariots of Fire of the Judeo-Christian angels; right down to [=CuChullain=]'s personal war-chariot in Irish mythology, horribly festooned on every surface with blades, hooks, and barbs.[[note]]In the hands of imaginative Victorian amateur historians, the source of the otherwise mythical blades on Boudicca's hub-caps.[[/note]]
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Literature]]
75	* ''Literature/TheDreamsideRoad'' has the Aesir. It’s a [[FlyingCar flying]] and [[AmphibiousAutomobile amphibious]] camper, distinct enough that just seeing it informs everyone that Wayfarer One has arrived.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
79	* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Walter Denton usually drives Miss Brooks to school in his jalopy.
80	* Almost every single ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' show will have a team ''Mecha'' made of each character's own vehicle:
81	** ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger'' had the camper Ginjiro, which had their name written on the side but isn't otherwise super-special.
82	** The old-school sentai series really liked to travel in style, with the mechs stored on a giant airbase. However, sometimes it wasn't a signature transport as much as a flying hangar that only appeared to release the bots.
83	** ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' does this trope more due to MerchandiseDriven. There's about always at least one vehicle that wasn't in sentai, and sometimes it's big, like the Mobile Command Center in ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm.'' The most awesome must be the SHARC (Special Hydro-Aero Recon Craft) which can travel on air or water as the name suggests. The Rangers often arrived by leaping down from it in a circle formation.
84	* Series/TheATeam has its signature black van with red stripes, owned by [[TheBigGuy B.A. Baracus]]. This is deconstructed, as the A-Team are wanted fugitives and their iconic vehicle allows the authorities to easily identify them.
85	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
86	** Angel's black Pontiac GTO convertible.
87	** Gunn had his own for his team, his Ford F250, the War Wagon.
88	* ''Series/Batman1966'' had several. The Batmobile, Batcycle, Batcopter and Bat-boat.
89	* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'': The compact cars driven by Chuck and others are technically owned by the Buy More and have the "Nerd Herd" logo on them.
90	* ''Series/DoctorWho'''s TARDIS, and the Third Doctor's "Bessie", a 1910's vintage car that he hyped up with a few (awesome) gadgets.
91	* Series/TheDukesOfHazzard have the ''General Lee''
92	* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' had Moya, who as a LivingShip was a character in her own right.
93	* ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' has the eponymous ''Serenity''. For land transportation, they used a front-end loader/quadracycle mashup called the Mule.
94	* In ''Series/FXTheSeries'', the crew has their "Fx" van.
95	* ''Series/TheGreenHornet'' and Kato have their tricked car, the Black Beauty.
96	* ''Series/KnightRider'': [=KITT=] doesn't ''quite'' qualify as this, being a member of the team in his own right and in fact arguably more valuable than Michael, but the 18-wheeler that served as a BaseOnWheels does.
97	* The red Ferrari in ''Series/MagnumPI'' Robin Masters actually owns it, and there's often plot complications when Higgins takes away the keys, but it's still effectively Thomas Magnum's car. There's also TC's iconic striped Island Hoppers helicopter as seen in the opening credits, which Magnum and TC frequently (and in TC's case, ''reluctantly'') use during Magnum's investigations.
98	* Every series of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has its own primary starship, though on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' the Federation's small Runabout-class starships are given as much or more screentime as the team's main starship, the U.S.S. Defiant.
99	* Series/MrBean's apple green compact car, which gets trashed in almost every episode.
100	* In the first season of ''Series/TheModSquad'', they had Pete's Woody. It would get wrecked early in the second season.
101	* ''Series/TheMunsters'' had their CoolCar, the Munsters Cocah.
102	* ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily'' had their iconic Mondrian-inspired tour bus.
103	* ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'' had Starsky's red Gran Torino, which Hutch nicknamed "the striped tomato".
104	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has the Impala, which is almost a member of the family
105	* Eric Forman's 1969 Vista Cruiser station wagon in ''Series/That70sShow''.
106	* ''Series/TheGoodies'' had the "[[http://goodies.getlivesite.com/trandem_ID_guide Trandem]]", a bicycle-built-for-three which they invariably mounted and fell off before riding off on the adventure of the week.
107	* ''Series/{{Psych}}'' had "The Blueberry", a blue 2002 Toyota Yaris. It was technically a company car that belonged to Gus, but since Shawn only had a motorcycle (that seldom showed up after the first season) and the police usually used interchangeable cruisers, it was easily the most distinctive car on the show, and the unofficial transport of the Psych Detective Agency.
108
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Video Games]]
112	* ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'':
113	** Rush fulfills all three roles by being Mega's one seater transport, TeamPet and RobotBuddy. Though in a series where all the main characters are androids the last bit is debatable.
114	** Dr. Wily's Wily Saucer. Though initially part of the doctor's final boss weapons, it later became regulated to an escape/transportation vehicle and, with the exception of ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' has remained consistent in appearance.
115	* The Blue Falcon for Captain Falcon in ''VideoGame/FZero''. (Most characters' vehicles would count, but we see Falcon using it in other games such as ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'') In the ''Smash Bros.'' series he also have the Falcon Flyer.
116	* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' has the Lemurian ship used to travel from continent to continent.
117	* Corki's plane in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''.
118	* Each ''Franchise/MassEffect'' game has its own transport vehicle to get Shepard from the ''[[CoolStarship Normandy]]'' to the surface: the [[TankGoodness Mako]] in 1, the [[DropShip Kodiak]] in 2, and the [[SpaceFighter upgunned UT-47A Kodiak]] in 3. Of course, the Normandy itself applies, going through a different iteration in each game (The SR-1 SuperPrototype in the first game, then the MidSeasonUpgrade SR-2 and 3 in the succeeding games).
119	* Samus's [[FaceShip Gunship]] in the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series.
120	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
121	** Wario has his purple Wario Car in the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series and a motorbike in the ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' series, both of which have appeared in ''VideoGame/MarioKart''
122	** Bowser has the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Koopa Clown Car]], which his army occasionally uses variants of. In particular, his son has a variant known as the [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii Junior Clown Car]] which he uses far more often (and has many more tricks and weapons).
123	** Rosalina is never far from [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy the Comet Observatory]].
124	* The Gold Saucer Buggy and later the Highwind airship for AVALANCHE/Team Cloud in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
125	* The Corvega Motors Highwayman (the only working car in the wasteland!) for The Chosen One's team in ''VideoGame/Fallout2''.
126	* The Great Fox from the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' series, had several emotional moments such as when it was in disrepair in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', and how they had to destroy it after it was upgraded in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault''.
127	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
128	** The Gummi Ship transporting Sora and company across the Disney worlds, but specifically the Highwind models.
129	** The Keyblade Gliders from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''.
130	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
131	** Link is typically associated with Epona, or other unnamed red furred, white maned horses. Though some Links get their own transports depending on the game such as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker's'' The King of Red Lions or ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword's'' The Crimson Loftwing.
132	** Ganondorf also has The Black Gerudo Stallion.
133	* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
134	** The Tornado. Though the plane is Sonic's, Tails usually flies the biplane while Sonic stands on it's wings to get where they want to go. Playing as Tails (or Knuckles) in the Genesis games will put Sonic at the controls, however.
135	** Meanwhile, [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] has the Egg Mobile, which doubles as the cockpit for most of the doctor's [[HumongousMecha giant machines]].
136	* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Morgana can turn into a van, which serves as the Phantom Thieves' primary transport for getting through Mementos and escaping from Palaces.
137	* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' (and the expansion, Enemy Within) has the Skyranger (codenamed "Big Sky") that transports your entire army to each of its destination, one squad at a time, one mission at a time. Deconstructed, with a dash of SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome, when (due to having one Skyranger) you can only go to one crisis zone at a time while ignoring others (resulting in an increase in panic).
138	* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the Recruit steals the Ebon Hawk blockade runner from an arms dealer on [[CityPlanet Taris]] and uses it to flee the Sith fleet. The Ebon Hawk is designed to evoke the [[Franchise/StarWars Millennium Falcon]], and functions as a HubLevel for traveling between planets, switching party members and having conversations. The Hawk returns in [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the sequel]], albeit [[GhostShip sans most of its hull and almost all the crew]] until it is repaired, where it serves the same function as the first game.
139	* Each playable class in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' gain their own personal ships after clearing story missions on their hub world. There are six vehicles total, with Jedi classes and Sith classes sharing the same model.
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Web Animation]]
143	* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': The I.M.Pmobile, a run-down old van with the [[Characters/HelluvaBossImmediateMurderProfessionals I.M.P.]]'s logo painted onto the side of it.
144	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'': The Red Team had their M12 LRV Warthog and the Blue Team had [[TankGoodness Sheila]].
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Web Original]]
148	* Since the Amazing Three of the Literature/WhateleyUniverse are an {{Expy}} of the Fantastic Four, they have their own building and their own transport, the famous Techno-Trike.
149	* ''WebAnimation/CheatCommandos'' has the Action Figure Storage Vehicle, a parody of MerchandiseDriven Saturday morning cartoons.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Western Animation]]
153	* The ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' gang and their Mystery Machine. The van's exact model has changed over the years, but it almost always sports the famous green-and-blue paintjob[[note]]The "classic" model (in the trope image) appears to be most like a 1961-1966 Chevy Sportvan, while later models resembled a 1980's Chevy G-Series van or a Chevy Astro Minivan. Contrary to popular belief, it's never been based on a VW Minibus.[[/note]].
154	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' spoofs this in the episode where nu metal band Music/{{Korn}} take on the roles of the Scooby-Doo gang, investigating the terrible haunting by Pirate Ghosts in South Park, Colorado. Their band bus had a suspicious resemblence to the Mystery Machine.
155	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': As of TheMovie the kids would sometimes ride around in the Reptar Wagon. They also occasional rode on Tommy's [[TeamPet dog Spike]] as if he were a horse.
156	* ''WesternAnimation/BeverlyHillsTeens'':
157	** There's the Teen Club Stretch Limo, which has a hot tub in the back.
158	** [[TheHero Larke Tanner]] usually drives solo in her [[CoolCar Pink Ferrari]].
159	* The Trio from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTeddyRuxpin'' have the Airship.
160	* ''Appa'' from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.
161	* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'': The Planeteers are most often seen in the Geo-Cruiser.
162	* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' has the Gadgetmobile, AKA the Gadgetvan.
163	* ''WesternAnimation/KiddVideo'' had that cool car-vehicle thing in which they rolled around the Flipside, that served as a mobile home.
164	* The titular vehicle in ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicSchoolBus''.
165	* The Dethcycle from ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}''.
166	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' have two cars, the pink one being Homer's and the orange one Marge's. Also, Otto is almost always seen with the School Bus.
167	* The ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' have the Party Wagon or Turtle Van (a converted T2 Bus) and the [[HighlyVisibleNinja Turtle Blimp, both with their logo on it.]]
168	** One of the few things kept from ''[[Series/NinjaTurtlesTheNextMutation The Next Mutation]]'' series was giving Raphael a personal motorcycle.
169	** The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]] reimagined the Turtle Van as The Battle Shell (a converted armored truck), and Raph's bike as The Shell Cycle. It also gave them a bunch of other vehicles like the Sewer Slider (hovercraft) and Turtle Tunneler (drill). As the series went on they kept acquiring and building more including a submarine, helicopter, and a train. All of these vehicles were destroyed halfway through season 4, probably because they had way too many to keep track of. It was eventually limited to another new version of the Battle Shell (a converted moving van) and the helicopter.
170	** The [[WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}} '07 movie]] also implies that the Turtle Van has since been re-appropriated into Cowabunga Carl's van since they stopped being crime fighters. Raph still rides a motorcycle as Nightwatcher.
171	** The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 2012 series]] re-imagines the Turtle Van again as The Shellraiser (a converted subway car). They also have interlocking and detachable go-karts called Patrol Buggys, and Raph has a Stealth Bike.
172	** ''[[WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Rise]]'' once again reimagines the Turtle Van, this time as the Turtle Tank, a converted moon buggy. The sides can detach into motorcycles referred to as Shell-Hogs.
173	* Each racing team from ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'' has its own car with a unique design and gadgets along with a distinctive name.
174	* The Thundertank from ''WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats}}''
175	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Being able [[TransformingMecha to transform into airborne vehicles]], the Decepticons don't need much in the way of transportation. But whenever interstellar travel is required, they can rely on Astrotrain (who can transform into an improbably large shuttle) to get them to where they need to go.
176	* The Team from ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' typically flies around in Ms. Martian's bio-ship. Eventually Superboy gets his own vehicle when Sphere transforms into a flying motorcycle.
177	* Dojo, the team's 1200 year-old shapeshifting dragon from ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' has a giant flying form that the team usually flies on at least once per episode. To a lesser extent: the Silver Manta Ray that's used whenever Dojo is unavailable for some reason.
178	* ''WesternAnimation/WonderPets'': the Flyboat
179	* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' have their Javelins.
180	* The Planet Express Ship in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''
181	* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeRenegades'': In keeping with the show's similarities to ''The A-Team'', our heroes basically lived out of a huge van called the Coyote. Since it was designed by Cobra, it came with camouflage and its own plasma weapons.
182	[[/folder]]
183
184	[[folder:Real Life]]
185	* Standard practice for the leader of most national governments. They're almost always built by a domestic automaker, and are usually a more powerful, armored version (with other modifications) of a mass-produced vehicle available to the public, occasionally with custom trim to differentiate it from the rank-and-file.
186	* The United States Presidential state car, colloquially known as "Cadillac One" or simply "The Beast", is a limousine designed from scratch and built on a ''truck platform'' specifically for the US President; unlike the vast majority of state cars around the world, it has no civilian or even rank-and-file military counterpart whatsoever. In the air, while technically, "Air Force One" refers to any airplane that the President is currently in, the planes normally taking the role are heavily modified Boeing VC-25s [[note]]a militarized version of Boeing's iconic 747[[/note]] with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Force_One_over_Mt._Rushmore.jpg custom livery]].
187	* UsefulNotes/{{The Pope}}mobile.
188	* The [[RedBaron Richthofen brothers']] red fighter planes are one of the examples (the less well-known Lothar von Richthofen had his planes painted red with yellow, and after his brother's death black, tail).
189	[[/folder]]
190

Context Main / SignatureTeamTransport