General Facts About Lions

General Facts About Lions

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1. Lions live in Africa, mostly.

You may walk into a zoo in any country today and find a lion, but Africa is the only place with an existing native lion population. This is why we commonly refer to lions as African lions (Panthera leo). 

Historically, Europe and Asia had native lion populations3, but they are extinct. Lions live in open woodlands, dense scrub, grasslands, and savannahs. African lions roam the open plains of sub-Saharan Africa, not the jungles.

A subspecies of lions descended from the African lion called the Asiatic lion (Panthera Leo persica). The Asiatic lion population is about 650 individuals large and exists only in Western India's Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Asiatic lions are smaller compared to African lions.

2. The lion is just a big cat

The lion and the house cat belong to the same family, Felidae. Although the house cat and lion belong to the same family, they are different in so many ways. 

Lions belong to the category of felines referred to as big cats. Lions are the second-largest cat; tigers are the largest. They have long, well-muscled bodies, short legs, and enormous heads. A lion’s coat could vary from buff-yellow to silvery-grey or dark brown and orange-brown.

3. Male and female lions look different 

Male lions look different compared to females because of their manes. The females are also slightly smaller than adult males. Males stand at 1.2 meters with a 3.3-meter body length. Females are 1.1 meters tall and have a body length of about 2.4 meters. Male lions weigh about 189kg, while female lions weigh around 126kg2. 

The heaviest lion ever recorded weighed 272kg; it was a male lion in Mount Kenya. Lions use their weight to suppress large prey and defend their pride’s territory.

4. Lions can eat 40kg of meat at once

Lions are carnivores; they only ever eat meat. They hunt other land-dwelling mammals like zebras, antelopes, and wild hogs. Large animals like elephants, wildebeest, and giraffes also fall prey to lions, especially when they sustain injuries or are sick. Sometimes, a lion will feed on leftovers or outrightly steal from other predators and smaller animals like wild dogs, hyenas, or leopards.

In captivity, lions don’t need to hunt for their meal. They feed some lions domestic livestock while most lions eat ground beef specially produced to meet their nutritional needs. 

Lions are such big eaters; they can eat up to a quarter of their body weight in a single meal. That is about 40kg of meat. A lion’s tongue is super coarse and is used to scrape meat off bones. Lions in the pride share their meals together.

5. These big cats love their pride

What's a group of lions called? - Lions live in groups called prides. They appear to be social animals compared to other big cats. A pride can have 4 to 38 members, but the average number is around 15 members. The pride consists of several generations of closely related females, their cubs, and a smaller number of males.

Lion prides usually hunt and eat together. They have a defined territory that they defend. The area ranges from 20 to 400 square km, and they mark it out by roaring and scent from urine and feces. A pride can keep its territory for decades, passing it on to female cubs, not usually kicked out of the pride like the males.

6. Lions are powerful but lazy

We know lions are the laziest of all the big cats. They spend 21 to 22 hours a day sleeping, resting, and just sitting around. That leaves them with about 2 to 3 hours of daily hunting time. These big cats gorge themselves on so much food that they don’t have to eat for several days.

Thanks to the possession of excellent night vision, lions get up to hunt at night. This strategic move gives them advantages over prey. Lions mostly hunt at night but also take advantage of storms to hunt. The noise and poor visibility allow them to stealthily approach prey without spooking their dinner. 

When busy being lazy, lions are affectionate to other pride members, often rubbing heads and grooming. 

How long do Lions live?

7. Lions live between 8-25 years

In the wild, lions may survive for 8 to 10 years which is relatively short compared to an expected lifespan of over 25 years in captivity. Many factors contribute to the short life expectancy in the wild but female lions have a better chance at a long life than males. That’s because the young males often get kicked out of the pride around the age of three.

There are regular fatal fights to defend the lion’s position in the pride. Adult male lions also commit infanticide when they take over a new pride. Often, when a new dominant male joins a pride, he kills off all the cubs to start a new family carrying his genes only.

Interesting Facts About Lions

8. Manes are a big deal

Adult male lions grow an impressive mane, but manes are not just for cool looks alone. The manes can grow up to 16cm long and make lions look bigger than they are. That illusion of size proves useful in attracting mates and scaring off potential rivals. A lion’s mane also serves as protection for the neck and head during fights and hunting.

Lions start to grow manes at three years old. The older a male lion gets, the darker his mane becomes. A full and dark mane shows dominance. Note that not all adult males have manes. While some lions will have manes covering their head, shoulders, throat, and chest, some lions may just have a slight fringe around their face.

9. Lion cubs are spotty

Unlike other big cats, Lions have a plain sandy coat, but they don’t start that way. Lion babies have greyish rosettes and spots that gradually fade away as they grow older. The spots will have faded at about three months old. The spots do not fade entirely in some lions and are still visible in adulthood.

10. A lion has extremely sharp claws and a big mouth

A lion has five toes on its front paws and four toes on its back toes. Each toe has claws made of keratin, like human fingers and toenails. These claws can grow to 38 cm. 

On the lion’s front paws are toes with claws that act as thumbs called the dewclaw. Lions keep their claws sharp by scratching trees. They also use these sharp claws to climb trees to seek shade. Also, lions keep their claws sheathed under fur while they rest and sleep.

Lions have big mouths, not because they talk or roar too much. But because they can spread their jaws up to 28 cm wide, that is almost a foot. Their large mouth houses three types of teeth; incisors, canines, and carnassials. The canines are the most prominent and can be as long as 7 cm.

11. A mountain lion isn’t really a lion

The big cat known as the mountain lion is a new world cat species that belongs to the subfamily, puma. It is not a lion at all. The animal is also known as a cougar, catamount, or panther. The mountain lion is native to America and ranges from Alaska to Chile and Southern Argentina.

12. Hybrid lions exist

Lion captors have mated lions with other big cats like tigers and leopards in captivity. The offspring of a lion and a tigress is a liger, while the offspring of a tiger and a lioness is called a tigon. A leopon is the offspring of a lion and a leopard.

Ligers are about five feet tall and can weigh up to a thousand pounds, making them exotic curiosities. Some conservationists believe these hybrids should not exist in the natural world1.

13. A lion’s roar can be heard five miles away

Lions are not the only cats that roar, but their roar is so loud, we can hear it from five miles away. All the lions in a pride usually roar together as a way to mark their territory and warn intruders. The roaring usually lasts for about 40 seconds. 

Lions can also grunt, squeak or scream, amongst other noises, thanks to their unique voice boxes.

14. August 10 is world lion day

Every August 10, people all over the world celebrate lions. They use this day to raise awareness about lion conservation. You can find lions are used in many monuments and emblems to represent qualities like strength, bravery, royalty, and so on. 

The New York National Library has two stone lions, Fortitude and Patience, outside its building. Lions also feature in famous books like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Wizard of Oz. The Bulgarian word for money is ‘leva,’ which means lion in old Bulgarian.

15. Lions are polygamous

Lions breed once in two years in the wild but breed yearly in captivity. Both males and females mate with multiple partners. During the mating season, which is about four days, a pair of lions copulate about 50 times a day. Male lions secure their paternity through this frequent matting.

16. Lionesses are primary hunters

Female lions are the primary pride hunters because they are more agile than males. They are also in charge of the pride's welfare while the male lions protect their territory from intruders, which can cover a range as large as 100 square miles.

To increase the chances of a successful hunt, lionesses hunt in teams. The weaker lionesses act as herders, corralling the prey, while the stronger and more experienced lioness goes for the kill.

While males in prides may eat from the kill of the lionesses, nomadic males always hunt their meals themselves. Lions tire quickly when they run, so they typically stalk prey from short distances.

17. Lion cubs are raised communally

Female lions and their cubs make up the majority of the pride. The females are usually related and nurse their cubs through joint efforts. Lion cubs can suckle from any lactating female lion in the pride, and she weans them by the sixth or seventh month.

It takes 108 days from the point of conception for a baby lion to be born. A lioness may have one to six cubs at once. Four cubs are the typical average number of cubs in a litter. Cubs are born dependent. They don’t attain complete independence until about two years old, although they begin to learn how to hunt at 11 months old.

18. Lions don’t make the best parents

Lions care for their young and will protect them from attacks but are negligent parents. Lionesses often leave their cubs alone for a whole day. After cubs reach sexual maturity at three or four years, the females may be forced out, but the males are always expelled from the pride.

The expelled lions wander around as nomads until they are about five years old. That is the age when lions are strong enough to try to take over a pride. Young lionesses don’t have to defeat a competition to join another pride, so they may find new homes easily. Many lions remain nomads for life.

Environmental Facts About Lions

19. The lion population is vulnerable

The population of lions has been steadily decreasing for over three decades now. Lions used to exist in places like Europe, but those species were extinct a long time ago. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has listed the lion as a vulnerable species to extinction since 2014.

There are about 23,000 wild lions left which conservationists consider a concerningly small population. African lion numbers have declined by over 40% in the last three generations. Killing lions in retaliation or as preventive measures to protect human lives is one reason the population decreases. Another reason is the decline of natural habitats and prey.

20. People illegally source lion bones as medicine

In Asia, tiger bones are a popular traditional medicine, but poachers turn to lions as those are becoming less available. Illegal wildlife trade is one of the many ways humans are driving lion populations toward a decline.

Humans also hunt lions for fun, posing one of the main threats to their survival. Trophy hunting targets the healthiest and largest males, often the heads of their prides. Such killings take away the protection of the pride and leave them vulnerable to dangers from other lions.

10 weird and wonderful wildlife of Australia

10. Fitzroy River Turtle

This freshwater turtle is well known for its ability to breathe through its bum. This special

adaptation enables it to remain underwater for an incredible 21 days at a time to

feed underwater

for longer periods and hide from predators. This turtle can only be found in the Fitzroy

Basin in south

-eastern Queensland. Sadly, feral animals like foxes, cats and pigs, as well as pollution,

murky water

and sedimentation have rendered them Vulnerable according to the

IUCN list of threatened species.

9. Australian Southern Cassowary

What’s scarier than a 60kg modern ‘dinosaur’ with killer claws? One that can leap 1.5 metres

off the ground. To get the most out of their toe daggers, cassowaries can jump feet first, so their

claws can slash downward in mid-air towards their target.

They’re great sprinters too, with a top running speed of 50 km/h through dense

forest. Not only that, they’re good swimmers, with the ability to cross wide rivers

and swim in the sea.

That’s one animal you don’t want to be chased by!

8. Saltwater Crocodile

The Saltwater Crocodile (also known as Estuarine Crocodile) is a near-perfect predator—the result of millions of years of evolution. It is a ferocious, expert hunter that commands respect and fear. The salty is the largest reptile in the world with adult males growing up to 6m in length and weighing 1,000 to 1,200kg. Have you ever wondered why it keeps its mouth open in the sun? A crocodile cannot sweat, so instead it relies on the process of thermoregulation to control its body temperature. To avoid overheating, it will either go into the water or lie still with jaws agape, allowing cool air to circulate over the skin in its mouth. This process is crucial for many bodily functions including digestion and movement.

7. Mistletoebird

The pre-poop dancing and bum wiping routine of the Mistletoebird plays a vital role in the life cycle of this little native bird with its highly adapted diet.

After these sweet little red-breasted birds eat mistletoe berries, it defecates by twisting its body sideways, then purposely wipes its poop on the branch its perched on. The seeds of the berries, which are still intact, are sticky after passing through the digestive tract of the bird. These sticky seeds cling to the branch of their host tree and grow.

The parasitic mistletoe only grows high up on other trees and so this relationship ensures both the bird and bush can survive.

6. Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil, once seen throughout mainland Australia, can now only be 

found in Tasmania. It plays an important role in Tasmania’s ecosystem by helping to 

control introduced animals that prey on our native wildlife. It’s the only native animal to 

successfully outwit introduced species such as feral cats and red foxes. While the devil is 

around, it’s 

difficult for feral cats and foxes to breed in Tasmania which is good news—especially for 

our native animals that have a better chance of survival as a consequence. Fox dens, for 

example, are very smelly and quite messy, so the devil can quickly sniff them out. Such 

helpful little devils!

Unfortunately, it is listed as Endangered according to the IUCN Red List, with a decline of 

more than 60% in the last 10 years, mainly due to a contagious facial tumour disease.

5. Short-beaked Echidna

The Echidna has porcupine-like spines, a bird-like beak, quoll-like pouch and lays eggs like a reptile. It also feeds their young on milk (like all mammals) but have no nipples – the milk just oozes out of the skin in the pouch and the puggle (baby echidna) licks it up. This strange mix of characteristics is why it’s  named after “Echidna”, a creature from Greek mythology who was half-woman and half-snake, as the animal was perceived to have qualities of both mammal and reptile.

There are four species of echidnas, including the Short-beaked Echidna found throughout Australia in places like the Great Western Woodlands.

4. Laughing Kookaburra

Many of us are very familiar with the Laughing Kookaburra’s call usually at dusk and dawn, but what does their call mean? This family oriented bird does its communal call to establish the territory of the family unit and warn off other kookaburras. The family unit may vocalise together like a chorus to amplify their claim to their territory. If any rival families are within earshot they too may respond.

Interestingly, researchers have found that members of a family unit laugh in a similar manner. The kookaburra’s lauch is a social behaviour, so if it’s held in captivity alone, it won’t laugh.

3. Numbat

The Numbat is an endangered small marsupial that survives in southwest Western Australia. Due to its small size, the Numbat is hunted by many animals like feral cats, foxes, dingoes and birds of prey. Because it solely on termites which are active by day, the Numbat is the only diurnal (opposite of nocturnal) marsupial.

It spends nights hiding in hollow logs or burrows that are too narrow for its predators to enter. To further protect itself from predators at night, it uses its very thick-skinned rump to block the entrance. Now that’s using your behind to get ahead.

2. Pellucid Hawk Moth

The Pellucid Hawk Moth is a unique species that looks like a cross between a moth, a cicada, and a Glasswing Butterfly. Very few species of Lepidoptera, the insect order which includes all butterflies and moths, have scaleless, transparent wings.

Coloured wings can serve many functions, including communication, defence, thermoregulation, feeding, and waterproofing. So why the transparent wings? It’s thought these wings reflect about 50% less light than opaque ones, rendering the wings almost invisible in flight. It’s like an invisibility cloak which makes it a great defence against becoming prey.

1. Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)

Over 80 years ago the last Thylacine sadly died at Hobart Zoo. It earned its more common name at the time, Tasmanian Tiger, because of the distinctive tiger-like stripes along its lower back and tail.

In fact, this was no tiger or Tasmanian Wolf, as it was also known, but a marsupial and therefore not closely related to cats or dogs at all. It had the characteristic pouch of other Australian national treasures such as the wombat, koala and kangaroo. In most marsupial species, only females possess pouches, which they use to suckle and protect their young. Oddly enough, Thylacine males had pouches too. It acted like a protective sheath to cover their external reproductive organs when running through thick bush.

That’s not the only similarity to other marsupials. The Thylacine had strong hind legs which were longer than its front legs. It also had a strong stiff tail similar to that of a kangaroo. This, together with its rigid tail, gave the Thylacine a stiff awkward walk not suitable for sprinting. What is really unusual, is that it could stand upright on its hind legs with its tail acting as a tripod support, just like a kangaroo! It could hop short distances which was its quickest form of getaway when it was frightened or alarmed.

25 Classic Cars to Drive Before You Die

 Jaguar E-Type

Once called "the most beautiful car ever made" by Enzo Ferrari, the 1960s Jaguar E-Type is a classic sports car mainstay. "If you only choose one car from this list to drive, this is the one," says McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, the world's largest provider of collector vehicle insurance. This staple of British motoring history still has verve–it can perform up to 150 m.p.h. and brakes better than most cars from its era. Visit the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience program in Kenilworth, U.K., where you can pay for a day of driving the marque's classics.

Chevrolet Corvette

The emblem of Big Three muscle cars, the Chevy Corvette is the most collected vehicle in America. The second generation, which spanned 1963 to 1967, is "the most iconic American car ever made," says Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market. "It's still breathtaking and fresh today." Early generation Corvettes remain plentiful in the U.S., so you can scour auctions, collector car dealers, and websites like classiccars.com for deals.

Lamborghini Miura

Considered by some to be the sexiest car ever built, the Miura debuted in 1966 as a sleek mid-engine speedster designed to challenge Ferrari. "Piloting the Miura transcends driving experience to become a life experience," Hagerty says. "If the sound of six carburetors feeding a thirsty, vibrating V-12 moored right behind your head isn't enough, it's also arguably the most beautiful car ever produced." To buy one, contact the Lamborghini Club America or an auction house like RM Sotheby's or Gooding & Co. They're usually in the know about the cars before they reach the general market.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 represents vintage driving at its best—particularly during the golden era before the car's 1974 redesign. "There's magic in the early 911," Hagerty says. "It's an amazingly well-built machine that delivers one of the most honest driving experiences of any sports car ever built." Even by today's standards, first-generation 911s still have plenty of horsepower and can hold their own on the track. You can find one, even in mint condition, on eBay.

Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead

Based on the first full-size car Rolls-Royce made after the war, the original Silver Dawn drophead launched in 1949 and retired in 1954. The name was intended to mark the dawn of a new era for the world and Rolls-Royce's place in it. Slightly smaller than pre-war cars, the Dawn helped the British bespoke carmaker reintroduce motoring craftsmanship while bringing the company into the modern age. They're extremely rare: only three of the original 28 dropheads remain in the U.S., and those are owned by private collectors. Happily, the carmaker is introducing a successor model after a 60-year hiatus.

Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing

Among the first sports cars of the post-war era, the Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing was the fastest production car of its time when it was introduced in 1954. As the first direct fuel injection series production car, the SL 300 could travel at an eye-popping 160 miles per hour. "Nobody expected something like that from Mercedes," says Constantin von Kageneck, a specialist in classic car marketing at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, CA. Though about three-quarters of the original SL 300's survive today, many still belong to their original owners. To see one, visit the Classic Center or an automotive museum like the Petersen in Los Angeles.

Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari made just 39 of these elegant race cars between 1962 and 1964, so they are extremely rare. "The 250 GTO is probably the holy grail in terms of value and recognition, but the reality is only a handful of people in the world will ever have the chance to legitimately drive one," Hagerty says. An early model fetched $38 million at Bonhams' Quail Lodge auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance two years ago. If that's too pricey, know that any 1960s Prancing Horse with a V12 engine is worthy of making the list.

Aston Martin DB4

The precursor to James Bond's getaway car, the Aston Martin DB4 is an iconic workhorse. "The DB4 is a thoroughbred that never gets flustered," Hagerty says. "I wouldn't hesitate to drive one across the country. It's no wonder that James Bond favored the derivative DB5." They're in short supply, so if you want to drive one, your best bet may be to befriend a collector.

BMW 3.0 CSL

If any part of you harbors a race-track fantasy, this is the car to track down. When BMW came to America in 1975, it brought a quartet of models with it, including the 3.0 CSL coupe. Driven by racing legends Brian Redman, Sam Posey, and Hans Stuck, the car claimed victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring race that year and won Daytona the following year. The pair of triumphs established BMW's performance chops stateside. In addition to its engineering and performance legacy, the 3.0 CSL pioneered a host of technologies found in later BMW models, from its first-ever four-valve six-cylinder engine to its early anti-lock braking system. BMW offers a turn at the wheel as part of its BMW Classic Center in Munich.

Acura NSX

Acura's halo car from 1990 to 2005, the NSX is young but mighty. "While it's not as sexy as its European rivals, the Acura NSX showed the rest of the world that supercar specs and daily-driver manners could co-exist," Hagerty says. "It inspires confidence and begs you to keep pushing, braking later, and turning harder. It may be the most underrated car on this list." Its successor, the new Acura NSX, reaches customers this year and is likely to inspire renewed interest in the original. Fortunately, Acura made 9,000 first-generation NSX cars so finding one online is easy.

Shelby GT350

Also known as the Cobra, this high-performance descendant of the Ford Mustang was a darling of the late 1960s. With Ford's V8 engine, the Shelby GT350 was a legitimate racecar for the street. "When you get into it and turn the key, the car doesn't only rumble audibly, it also actually shimmies side-to-side and up-and-down, just a bit," Hagerty says. "And that's while it's still parked. When you get on the gas it leaps and roars." You will quickly see why designer Carroll Shelby is lauded as a 20th-century motoring genius. To drive a vintage Cobra, visit a high-end classic car auction house, dealer, or specialized broker.

Ford Model T

Produced from 1908 to 1927, this is the car that birthed the American automotive industry. Affordable by mass market standards, the Model T begat car culture and road trips. "Everyone needs to know where they came from," Hagerty says. "When it comes to American motoring, that starting place is the Model T." With a volatile hand-crank engine and two-speed transmission (not including the reverse gear), the Model T isn't easy to drive, even if you can get your hands on one. But rest assured–27 mph will never feel so thrilling.

VW Beetle

A counter-culture classic, the vintage VW Beetle represents simplicity and fun–in other words, motoring at its best. "Besides the easy driving experience, the Beetle's friendly exterior attracts people no matter where you're driving, and it seems everyone has their own Beetle story to share," Hagerty says. "This is not the car to buy if you're shy." If you'd like to get behind the wheel, old Beetles can easily be sourced from eBay and classified ads.

Volvo P1800

The quirky Volvo P1800 was stylish enough for Roger Moore to drive one in the spy thriller TV series The Saint. This two-seater sports car is durable: one surviving model has clocked more than three million miles. Its brethren belong to private owners, but check with the Volvo Owners Clubs if you'd like to find one for sale or make an owner an offer.

Dodge Viper GTS

The V10 Dodge Viper GTS of the 1990s couldn't be built today. At 450 horsepower, it's every bit as raw as its predecessor, the Shelby Cobra, without anti-lock brakes or traction control to correct driver error. "It's the automotive equivalent of whiskey, neat–no pretense, just one hell of an experience," Hagerty says. You can find one online or through a collector vehicle auction house such as Auctions America or Mecum.

DeTomaso Pantera

With Italian styling and a reliable Ford V8 engine, the DeTomaso Pantera represents the best of both worlds and is a worthy alternative to similar Lamborghinis and Ferraris from the same era. "You'd expect an early '70s Italian car to be garish, loud, and hard to drive," Hagerty says. "While it is garish and loud, the Italian-bodied and American-powered Pantera is actually rather easy to drive." Procure one at a high-end classic car auction house, such as Barrett-Jackson or Bonhams.

McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 announced the British supercar maker's foray into modern racing when it was unveiled in 1992. Six years later, it set the record for the world's fastest production car, at 242 mph. "The McLaren F1 was Formula One legend Gordon Murray's high-tech supercar answer to Porsche and Ferrari," Hagerty says. "And it didn't just exceed the standards they established, it obliterated them. Driving an F1 is a sublime ballet of shocking power, braking, and control." McLaren only built 64 of these, but fortunately, it just put up for sale chassis #69, the 60th model built. If you have eight figures to spend, you can contact specialoperations@mclaren.com.

Cizeta-Moroder V16T

Built from 1991 to 1995, this Italian-made V16 supercar was originally designed as the Lamborghini Diablo. But when Chrysler purchased a stake in Lamborghini and the Diablo's designers modified the plan, mastermind Marcelo Gandini took his original blueprints to automotive engineer Claudio Zampolli, who built it as a Cizeta. Cizeta built only a handful during the car's initial production run, but they occasionally resurface on the market.

Porsche 356

Porsche's first production car, the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive Porsche 356, survived four high-flying generations before it was laid to rest in the mid-1960s. Considered the most highly developed of the four-cylinder Porsches, the 356 is also regarded by vintage car experts as the most fun to drive. Procuring one isn't difficult: about half of the 76,000 cars originally produced survive.

Datsun 240Z

The Datsun 240Z started the Japanese sports car craze when it arrived in America in the early 1970's. Offering lots of power and a pleasant interior for not much money, the Datsun paved the way for Toyota, Honda and Nissan to gain acceptance with U.S. consumers in the following decades. Classified ads from Hemmings and AutoTrader Classics have many Datsun 240Zs listed for sale.

Ferrari 308 GTS

If you watched television in the 1980s, you will likely remember Thomas Magnum, played by Tom Selleck, tooling around Hawaii in one of these targa tops on Magnum, P.I. Produced from 1975 to 1985, the two-seater V8 Ferrari 308 GTS represented elegance and adventure. The originals used on set were auctioned when the series ended, but you might find one on display at attractions such as the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in Cumbria, England, or Universal Studios Hollywood.

Chevrolet Camaro

The original Camaro served as Chevrolet's answer to the Mustang–but with more style and power. General Motors introduced the Camaro in 1967, setting off an eight-cylinder pony war of American muscle power that persists today. First-generation Camaros abound online. If you'd like to buy one, search sites like eBay or AutoTrader Classics.

Fiat 124 Spider

The Pininfarina-designed Fiat 124 Spider debuted in the U.S. in 1968 to an eager audience. With ample trunk space and enough room in the cabin for two people not to touch shoulders, the roadster quickly became a road trip classic. "It doesn't have much power, but it's cute," Martin says. "It's a great summertime car." If you can't find an original model online, know that Fiat is introducing an updated 124 Spider for 2017.

Austin-Healey 3000

Introduced in 1959, the bulbous British roadster became the last of the "big Healeys" when it ended production in 1967. Curvaceous and brass, the Austin-Healey 3000 was an automotive icon of the Swinging Sixties. "This was the final version of the 'Big Healey,' with its powerful six-cylinder engine and overdrive," Martin says. "It will cruise easily at 75 mph on today's freeways." You can occasionally find a late-model Austin-Healey 3000 through Hemmings and other classic car-buying websites.

Vintage Jeep

Jeep rose to prominence as a GP, or "general purpose" vehicle driven by the U.S. military during World War II. In 1945, the 4x4 was sold commercially as the Civilian Jeep, considered by some to be the first mass-produced SUV. "It's neither quick nor comfortable, but it's the automotive embodiment of democracy," Hagerty says. "And if you're planning on going off-road, you could do far worse than the Jeep's simplicity and ruggedness." An integral part of American history, the Jeep can be found in equal parts in museums and online classified ads.