The 20 Best Songs About Cars

Hot-rod surf songs, soul strutting and synth-pop paranoia, all about four wheels. Some are about the car, some only pretend to be.

1. 1
   Fast Car

   Tracy Chapman's 1988 song about escaping a dead-end town, a hit again in 2023.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Cars

   Gary Numan's 1979 synth-pop hit about feeling safe inside a car.
   756pts
3. 3
   409

   The Beach Boys' 1962 hot-rod song about the Chevrolet 409 engine.
   665pts
4. 4
   Low Rider

   War's 1975 funk anthem for the Chicano lowrider scene.
   665pts
5. 5
   Highway Star

   Deep Purple's 1972 speed anthem from Machine Head.
   665pts
6. 6
   Maybellene

   Chuck Berry's 1955 debut single, a V8 Ford chasing a Cadillac Coupe de Ville.
   664pts
7. 7
   Drive My Car

   The opening track of the Beatles' Rubber Soul (1965).
   596pts
8. 8
   Hot Rod Lincoln

   Commander Cody's 1972 hit about a souped-up Lincoln racing a Cadillac.
   517pts
9. 9
   Radar Love

   Golden Earring's 1973 driving-all-night rock classic.
   517pts
10. 10
    Rocket 88

    Jackie Brenston's 1951 song about the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, often called the first rock and roll record.
    517pts
11. 11
    Racing in the Street

    Bruce Springsteen's 1978 ballad about a '69 Chevy and street racing.
    423pts
12. 12
    Mercedes Benz

    Janis Joplin's a cappella 1970 prayer for a Mercedes, recorded days before her death.
    423pts
13. 13
    No Particular Place to Go

    Chuck Berry's 1964 story of a drive that goes nowhere.
    423pts
14. 14
    Little Deuce Coupe

    The Beach Boys' 1963 ode to a hopped-up 1932 Ford.
    310pts
15. 15
    Pink Cadillac

    Bruce Springsteen's 1984 B-side that became a Top 5 hit for Natalie Cole in 1988.
    310pts
16. 16
    Mustang Sally

    Wilson Pickett's 1966 soul hit about a woman who won't slow her Mustang down.
    310pts
17. 17
    GTO

    Ronny & the Daytonas' 1964 Top 5 hit about the Pontiac GTO.
    310pts
18. 18
    Freeway of Love

    Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit about riding in a pink Cadillac.
    310pts
19. 19
    Brand New Cadillac

    Vince Taylor's 1959 rockabilly B-side, covered by the Clash on London Calling.
    0pts
20. 20
    Little Red Corvette

    Prince's 1983 breakthrough single, a car metaphor that crossed him over to pop radio.
    0pts

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