The time travelling theme might drive viewer’s attention to the Ashes to Ashes TV series, but the Audi Quattro is surely the driving force behind the show. “Classic cars are now a feature of many popular TV series such as Inspector Morse, Heartbeat, Bergerac and Life on Mars”, reports the Vintage Classics website.

Ashes to Ashes returns to our screens this month with a new series including the notorious Gene Hunt character, who is portrayed as a proactive police officer and instils a strong sense of loyalty, who will do whatever it takes to get the job done – and all while thrashing around in a classic Audi Quattro.

Thanks to the success of the series, the rare 80′s classic car has seen an increase in desirability now it has achieved ‘star’ status. To be honest though, the Quattro hasn’t needed a helping hand in generating interest and stature since it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980. A police chase in real life can be quite hairy, but according to Philip Glenister who plays Detective Chief Inspector Hunt, “the hand-break turns are particularly fun”. Let’s face it who wouldn’t enjoy throwing around a legendary car that isn’t their own?

Another TV Detective who demands reverence is of course Inspector Morse, who famously drove a 1960 Jaguar which subsequently became synonymous to the Inspector Morse series. In 2005 the burgundy Jaguar Mark II was sold for around £100,000 – which is a “new world record for this particular model”, according to PistonHeads.com. The lucky owner of the legendary 2.4 litre, six-cylinder vehicle said he was “pleased that something so iconic will remain in the UK”.

Bergerac is another classic detective television series set on the lovely Channel Island of Jersey. It wasn’t however just the beautiful Jersey scenery that captured the viewers attention, the 1947 Triumph Roadster was another legendary classic car that ruled the roads in the 80′in the TV series Bergerac. According to UKTV.co.uk, Bergerac remains “fascinating and timeless”, just like the infamous Triumph Roadster.

“The Back To The Future films were classics in their own right” reports Suite101.com, but the car they chose was something even more legendary.  Back in 1985 when the film was first released, the DeLorean DMC-12 was already a pretty unique car, but imagine turning up to a school reunion now in this classic car – you may not have been cool at school but undoubtedly this vintage vehicle will ensure you’re now the king of cool.

The DeLorean, one of the most controversial cars of all time, featured in the Back To The Future trilogies in its much modified state and was created by Formula One design innovator Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars –“ little did he know that the car would become one of the most famous movie cars”, reports Suite101.com.

Imagine getting into trouble before you’re even born! It seems like a pretty difficult task, but Marty McFly managed to do it via the Back To The Future films – and all thanks to the metal marvel of the DeLorean. Vintage cars hold their classic status due to their rare existence, which is why the DeLorean earns its classic title with only around 8,500 DMC-12 cars produced.

Thanks to the films being regularly aired and the likability of the Doc Brown character, “it’s not just middle-aged dads who get a kick from the DeLorean car” reports the Times Online. The hype for the DeLorean was huge back in the 1980′s, but the classic vehicle still had some unflattering reviews, such as being said to be “underpowered”. However, with 130bhp (which seems nothing now), the difference isn’t that significant when compared to the “smog-strangled Corvette of the late seventies” and it’s 165bhp.

The hype generated by the introduction of such a unique vintage motor meant that in 1981 it was going for the kind of money you’d get a Ferrari or Porsche 911 for. It cannot be disputed that the Delorean was a revolutionary car for its time; with the Times Online reporting that “some people even thought it was a kit car” – but it of course was not.

You certainly feel like your back in the past driving one of these cars, with an 85mph speedometer and a three-speed automatic gear-box – taking you back to the 1980′s. The Times Online states that “the whole DeLorean thing is a fascinating chapter in automotive history, and the good news is that it could be around for a while”, with Stephen Wynne  taking on the DeLorean name and rebuilding these vintage cars – making them as good as new.