The cars that have starred in Olympic Games history

Olympic cars

To celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympics, we’re looking back at some of our favourite official and unofficial cars from events of the past. And yes, the list includes the Seat Toledo and the Hyundai Gold Medal Stellar. We’re under starter’s orders with the Summer Games, before tackling the Winter Games.

Athens 2004: Hyundai

Meet Phevos and Athena, the official mascots of Athens 2004, symbolising the link between Ancient Greece and the modern Olympic Games. They’re flanking Tucson: the ancient Greek god of five-year warranties. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Getz was the official car of Athens 2004.

Sydney 2000: Holden

Holden launched a range of Olympic Edition vehicles to mark its role as official vehicle supplier at Sydney 2000. A suitably Australian car was used to carry the Olympic torch for the Australian leg of the torch relay: a Holden VT Commodore. Strewth, mate.

Atlanta 1996: Buick Regal Olympic Edition

Team USA dominated the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, topping the medal table with 44 gold, 32 silver and 25 bronze. The motivating factor was the thought of the Buick Regal Olympic Edition, with the obligatory gold accents on the wheels and trim, along with USA badges. What you can’t see are the USA badge and Olympic rings on the head restraints.

Atlanta 1996: Buick Skylark Olympic Edition

In fairness, the third-generation Buick Regal has aged rather well, making the final model year Olympic Edition quite a desirable thing. Its sibling, the Skylark Olympic Edition, hasn’t aged quite so gracefully. Sadly, despite appearances, the flags weren’t attached to the car. That would have been quite a look, if a little tricky to manoeuvre at the drive-thru.

Barcelona 1992: Seat

The Seat Ibiza was the official car of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. This was the Games at which a Unified Team – consisting of 12 former Soviet republics – topped the medal table.

Barcelona 1992: Steve Backley

The thought of a Seat Toledo waiting for him back home wasn’t enough motivation for Steve Backley to take gold in the Javelin. That said, he did manage to grab a bronze medal. We’re not sure that javelin will fit in the boot, Steve.

Seoul 1988: Hyundai Gold Medal Stellar and Silver Medal Pony

This is the Hyundai Gold Medal Stellar – a car launched to mark the Stellar’s role as the official car of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. The Stellar is a rare best in the UK, with just three left on the road. You can see two of them in this photo, taken at the Festival of the Unexceptional.

Los Angeles 1984: Buick Century Olympia

‘Few of us can be Olympians, but some of us can own the car that captures the winning spirit of America’s contenders – the special edition 1984 Buick Century Olympia.’ With ad copy like that, how could anyone resist the temptation of a ‘gleaming white’ Buick? Gold accents, Olympic logos on the head restraints and the ability to stand out in suburbia came as standard.

Moscow 1980: RAF-2907

Riga Autobus Factory (RAF) built vans and minibuses for Soviet state enterprises. This is a RAF-2907, a minibus based on the RAF-2203 and used throughout the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. Approximately 300 were built, including one specially modified to carry the Olympic flame.

Montreal 1976: Chevrolet C10 Olympic Edition

Montreal probably wishes it never hosted the 1976 Olympic Games, as it left the city with crippling debt, a construction nightmare and a string of corruption charges. The event itself was overshadowed by 22 African nations boycotting the Games. The Chevrolet C10 Olympic Edition was a little less controversial.

Munich 1972: BMW 1602e

BMW launched the electric 1602e to coincide with the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. It was used as a camera car and to transport members of the Olympic organising committee.

Munich 1972: BMW 1602e

By BMW’s own admission, a 350kg 12v lead-acid battery and range of approximately 35 miles meant the 1602e was not designed for series production. But it hinted at a cleaner future.

Mexico 1968: Datsun Bluebird 1300

The Datsun Bluebird 1300 was the official vehicle for the Japanese team at the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games. This example was autographed by the entire team on the last day. Good luck getting your local bodyshop to respray a damaged front wing.

Tokyo 1964: Nissan Cedric Special

This rather intimidating car was Japan’s first domestic large vehicle and could easily pass as something driven by a Bond villain. It’s a 1964 Nissan Cedric Special – the car given the responsibility of carrying the Olympic torch at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

Rome 1960: Fiat Multipla 600

The Fiat Multipla 600 made its debut in 1960 when Fiat supplied a fleet of cars to athletes and officials at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games. If that isn’t Italian enough, Fiat also supplied a fleet of 500s and Lambrettas.

Berlin 1936: Opel Olympia

The Opel Olympia was named in honour of the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin and the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The name was associated with Opel models for many decades.

Now, with the Summer Games covered, it’s time to wrap up warm for the Winter Games.

Turin 2006: Fiat Sedici

The Fiat Sedici was the official car of the Turin 2006 Winter Games – an event that coincided with the launch of the 4×4. The car was co-developed by Fiat and Suzuki, with the design handled by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Sedici is Italian for Sixteen: 4×4=16. Geddit?

Turin 2006: Italdesign Structura

The Structura was built to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Italdesign Giugiaro, but was also the official car for Turin’s bid for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. The Structura’s doors were side-hinged, without any central pillar, while the car also featured a flat floor. Most sensational of all was the 5.6-litre W12 engine, which, metaphorically speaking, added 420hp to Turin’s bid.

Salt Lake City 2002: Chevrolet Avalanche

GM supplied a Chevrolet Avalanche to transport the Olympic flame during the torch relay prior to the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The relay covered 13,500 miles and passed through 46 states on its way to the Olympic Stadium.

Albertville 1992: Renault

In 1992, Renault lent 1,500 cars to the Olympic Organisation Committee as part of the company’s sponsorship of the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games. The cars were suitably white.

Albertville 1992: Renault

To mark the occasion, Renault launched a range of limited edition Olympique 92 cars, including a Clio, 21, Espace, 25, 19 and Alpine A610. Note the Jeep Cherokee Olympique 92, which was being distributed by Renault in France following the French’s firm investment in the American Motor Company (AMC), even though the pair had divorced in 1987.

Calgary 1988: General Motors

Here’s General Motors again, this time supplying cars for the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Under the banner of ‘Join Us’, General Motors delivered a range of limited vehicles, including one based on the GMC Jimmy (pictured).

Sarajevo 1984: Citroen and Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi was the official car supplier at the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games, with the likes of the L300, Pajero and Space Wagon used to transport athletes and officials. Cimos supplied the official emergency vehicles, which were based on the Citroen CX Ambulance.

Lake Placid 1980: Ford and Subaru – US team

The Lake Placid Olympic organising committee was given a fleet of 130 Ford vehicles, while the United States skiing team rolled around in four-wheel-drive Subarus.

Innsbruck 1976: Denzel and Mercedes-Benz

Wolfgang Denzel, a former racing driver, was also the owner and creator of Denzel – an Austrian car company. At the Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympic Games, Wolfgang Denzel AG supplied 210 BMW, Volvo and DAF cars, while Mercedes-Benz supplied the official fleet of buses and taxis.

Grenoble 1968: Renault

Renault supplied a huge amount of cars for its home games at Grenoble in 1968. In addition to the Renault 4 (pictured), the French giant laid on Renault 16 hatchbacks and Estafette vans.

Squaw Valley 1960: Renault Dauphine

‘Why was La Renault Dauphine chosen as the official car of the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley? Because La Dauphine is the best car for winter driving! Terrific traction on snow and ice, quick starting in the cold, toasty warm dual-outlet heater.’ If that sounds suspiciously like an advertisement, it’s because it is. At the time, the Dauphine was the only small-cylinder car to win the Monte Carlo rally.

Rover 45 Olympic Impression

Of course, not all Olympic specials are ‘official cars’ of the actual Games. Take the Rover 25 and 45 Olympic Impression, for example. The cars featured ‘Team GB’ and ‘Impression’ livery, with early customers qualifying for a free ‘Active bag’. Whatever that is.

Buick Regal Olympic Edition

Here’s yet another Buick Olympic special, this time in the form of the Regal Olympic Edition. Built to commemorate Buick’s support for Team USA at the 2004 Sydney Olympic Games, the Regal joined other Olympic specials, such as the 1984 Century Olympia, 1988 LeSabre Olympia and 1989 Olympic Regal.